The Pittsburgh Steelers will be looking for a true feature back after injuries and ineffectiveness led to one of the worst rushing attacks in the NFL in 2012.
Steelers will look to upgrade at running back in offseason
The Steelers are looking to upgrade their running game in the offseason after putting up their worst rushing statistics since 2003.
Karl Walter
Rashard Mendenhall missed the first three games of the season rehabbing from a torn ACL. He then went on to miss another four games with an Achilles injury, served a one-game team suspension and was a healthy scratch for another two. An unrestricted free agent, Mendenhall is fully expected to walk.
Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman are both restricted free agents, but neither did much to stand on his own. Dwyer finished the season with 623 rushing yards, two touchdowns and 4.0 YPC. Redman rushed for 410 yards, two touchdowns and an anemic 3.7 YPC. Baron Batch finished the year on IR and Chris Rainey was released after a domestic violence arrest.
Overall, the Steelers combined for just 1,537 rushing yards, which was 26th in the league and their lowest total since 2003. GM Kevin Colbert was not impressed, stating, “I can say collectively that group wasn’t as good as we anticipated.”
If Pittsburgh looks to upgrade through the draft, they could take a closer look at Alabama’s Eddie Lacy. Lacy is only grading out as a second-round pick, but his stock could rise with a solid outing at the Combine. Fixing the offensive line may be another priority after injuries blew up the continuity.
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