What does McFarland need to do this offseason to get back in the backup RB talk?

I was really high on McFarland during the offseason as he was getting a lot of reps in practice and preseason. He led the team in carries (18) for the preseason. Then the regular season started and he was inactive more games than he was active.

Were the practice reps because of his background with Canada: just knowing the terminology gave him a leg up in the offseason.


Then the 2021 season came and he was no where to be seen.
2020 33 carries for 113 yards
2021 3 carries for 3 yards.


Going into the 2021 season I saw his speed being the perfect compliment to Najee's power, but that never happened.

 

I think McFarland is just going to be an after thought. Doesn't seem that he can stay healthy enough to see the field.

I think they move on.

 

What does McFarland need to do this offseason to get back in the backup RB talk?

Sign with a USFL team.

 

Staying healthy would be primary objective number one. That has been the biggest challenge for him.

 

After I watched him, with a full head of steam, not make 4 yards for a 1st down against a completely flatfooted CB that was 7 yards away, I knew he was done. In fact, he came up a full yard short. I actually couldn't believe what I saw. It was truly pathetic. They should have cut him immediately after that play. Before the end of the game.

Somebody else made a thread about it after the game.

 

I totally agree, guy has no instincts, and constantly stumbled over his own feet.

 

McFarland is one of Tomlin's coveted DMV players.

 

You got that right. I remember wanting to puke when that happened.

That said, I wish he could effectively use his burst and speed, too. Wasting them is a terrible shame. But for me it's pretty simple. Don't drop the ball when you get hit hard. And that includes by the ground, too, not just by defenders. This ain't tiddlywinks, pal. Toughen up. You bring back bad memories of another sad Steeler by the name of Scott Shields. Guy had all the athletic ability in the world, and a big, giant vagina to go along with it. BLECH!!!

 

Definitely the DMV love needs to be done with and Haskins should be the last straw and I've said this previously. That's not to say I'm not hoping for the best, but you're kinda forced to root for him since you know for sure what you have in Rudolph. Fact is, not one single player from a college in that area (DMV) or born in that area has panned out on this team that has been drafted or brought in under Tomlin.

 

No one is talking about him starting so he is already in the backup talk. Who he’s backing up that’s another question

 

Nobody’s talking about me starting, does that put me in the backup talk?

Right now, what is going to put him back into the conversation?

 

Dang, I can't believe I'm sitting here reading a thread on McFarland. I need a funny out.

 

All he had to do was keep running and he would have had the first down and a lot more but for some unknown reason he stopped running and tried to juke a guy that he had already run by. It was something you would see in a U-10 Pop Warner league.

 

He's still has a roster spot? Go figure...

 

And Colbert.

 

True

 

What does he need to do? A real life Madden edit a player and increase his ratings, especially durability

 

Always injured
Hesitates too much

 

I think they should cut their losses and try to get something for him.

 

He will be an afterthought until we get an o-line that can open and sustain holes..... Macfarland is not the kind of runner that will create his own hole, or make enough people miss to manufacture yards

 

Cowher drafted Heath Miller (UVA) and acquired Farrior (UVA) from the Jets. Both of those players were excellent and contributed to 2 Super Bowl wins.

But yeah, Tomlin's drafted and acquired DMV players have been mediocre at best.

 

I'm not sure I understand Tomlin's logic at RB currently.
I get that they had to purge contracts but the depth reads
Harris, Snell, Ballage and McFarland.

Harris needs no explanation, he's the man.
Ballage is supposed to be the big guy to get tough yards.
Snell, he has never impressed me.
McFarland, I see a couple posts here that are pretty much spot on.

Tomlin and company could pick up a vet like JD McKissic who did a fine job in DC. He was banged up in the stretch but should be ok.
That's not an endorsement, that's just an example of a backup that can catch passes like a WR and run between the tackles.
There are others.

I imagine they will stand pat and spend what little they spend in FA on one of the available corners or maybe a LB.

 

Quit drafting guys from Maryland