Why are we not signing a Running Back?

If we can swing OJ Howard at the same time I say trade him trade every one

 

fournette is not a full size bus, maybe a short bus.

 

They don't need both of their top 2 RBs going into the last year of their contracts, that's what you would have in Fournette and Conner, Fournette's 5th year option if picked up would be 10 million. I would rather get a cheap rookie RB in the mid rounds, the team would control him for 4 years.

 

Me, you and others chewed on the possibilities of acquiring Minkah when those trade rumors regarding Pittsburgh floated about back in September. Look what happened then! Nothing is set in stone just yet.


As I said, Tomlin was at LSU's Pro Day back in 2017. Even if it was with Carnell Lake, I doubt the team was simply looking at the likes of Jamal Adams and Tre'Davious White at the time. Leonard Fournette was also likely someone that caught Tomlin's interest then. I doubt that interest has gone away.



However, with all that said, here is a truth that cannot be ignored. One that sadly will keep all of us in suspense. We will simply have to wait and see!

 

Also 18 fumbles if that's accurate, over 3 college seasons. Avg of 6 carpet cleanings per season. Kid is bad ass but that's a lot of cough ups and a lot of mileage.

 

There is definitely a risk with the wear and tear, but is there a history of concussions? If not, his situation is nothing like that of Ladarius Green. Concussions were a concern when he arrived and it is ended his career with the Steelers.

 

I wasn't speaking of a direct comparison of the two as far as injuries more of a player who had a big upside, some of which we glimpsed but was a risk due to injuries and wear and tear. It ended up not working out with Green. Same type of risk/reward in trading for Fournette. He could be the bell cow Tomlin loves, one that he could run the wheels off and misses the playoffs. So then they have given up getting a younger back in the draft for a single year player. He could also lead the league in rushing, propel this team to its next title and be the next great Steelers running back for the next 5 years. So is the front office riverboat gambler or are they gun shy after being burnt before? I guess we will see by Sunday.

 

I like Fournette but he likes to ride the bench collecting paychecks when he can play. So I'm with , draft a good one.

 

Fournette has been a PITA for Jax since the day he was drafted, although the culture there is probably partly the issue. No way I’d give up anything significant for him, if he is available for a late round pick and they see him as a one year $4m rental then maybe. Looks like they just want him gone now.

The talent is there no doubt about it, a lot of wear on those tyres though as others have pointed out. He has run hard against stacked boxes his entire three years there. With Ben under center it would be interesting to see what he could do with presumably a bit more room to operate.

 

The first Tweet made me start thinking??????


The second doesn't make sense, hearing that LF could be had for a 3rd, so why not use our 4th The Steelers seldom draft in the early half of the rounds and even with Tomlin's mediocrity I doubt if our 4th at 20 - 22 (116 - 118 overall) would get it done.

 

I'm of the camp that we turn the clock back, put Conner on a strengthening and conditioning program, and run with what we got. It all hinges on Ben anyway, so why waste a draft pick. Not to mention an OC who's use of talent is like drawing to an inside straight.

 

I suspect Conner is already on a strength and conditioning program. He's just not durable. Maybe it really is due to the lasting effects of cancer treatment, as some have suggested. I'm sure part of it is the upright, physical running style. Some guys just can't stay healthy no matter what they do. I think it is a combination of all of that. Maybe at some point the Steelers will get lucky and he will get through an NFL season healthy, but I doubt it and I certainly wouldn't count on it.

They may have no choice but to roll with what they have. Hopefully, Snell will be at least a little better and the return of Roethlisberger will open up the running game a bit. Watt should help there, too, after the team went most of last season without a fullback. They have other needs, so I can see them not taking a running back and hoping the combination is enough to regain a semblance of a ground game.

 

I wouldn't be sure of "anything" with this coaching staff....other than non-losing.....but the comment about turning the clock back was meant to imply that if they haven't put him on a program they are even dumber than we thought. Maybe Conner simply can't take the HGH and PED's that the other 90% of the league takes....who knows.

 

Now we're back to exaggerations again, or do you really believe the rest of the league is on HGH and other performance-enhancing drugs?

In all seriousness, my point is that it is very unlikely that there is some quick fix for Conner's injury-prone nature.

 

I think Ben has enough weapons with Conner but that won't last more than 6-9 games. When Conner goes down, that's when we will need a better pass catching, blocking, threat to score out of the backfield for Ben.

 

I'm not ready to give up on Conner yet. Three seasons with injuries is bad but it could be a fluke too. Let's hope!

 

I see many of conners injuries happen when he tries to punish the defender and impose his will on them. If he would take more of the Franco Harris approach he would do well and last longer. Not downing either guy but he's got to run smarter.

 

Agreed.....and let's hope that either he, or our brilliant coaching staff, can see that as well and he runs a little smarter this year.

 

Elaborate please.

 

It sure looks like Conner is on a strength and conditioning program to me .

 

Super Bowl !!!