The Steelers didn’t change the gameplan for James Conner. And he delivered in Le’Veon-esque style.
The BIG question was: How would the Steelers offense perform in the absence of all-world RB Le’Veon Bell?
Everybody knows how difficult it is to replace a dynamic RB. Last season Pittsburgh’s do-it-all Le’Veon Bell ran for 1,291 yards (3rd in the NFL) and led all running backs with 85 receptions.
The BIG answer was: Just fine, thanks to James Conner, a 2nd year RB out of Pitt.
Conner alleviated agita by delivering a breakout performance against the Browns, collecting 192 total yards in wet and sloppy conditions–135 yards on 31 attempts, 57 yards on 5 receptions, and 2 TDs.
Conner rarely went down on initial contact and challenged the Browns repeatedly. And the Steelers didn’t change the gameplan to accommodate Conner. Conner did what Bell does–run and catch the ball. In fact, in total yards, Conner led all NFL running backs in Week One.
And for those who say, “Well, it was just against the Browns,” I say this: that’s a short-sighted opinion. Cleveland is much better this year than it has been recently–especially in the secondary–and that improvement comes on top of Cleveland’s previously solid front seven. Want proof? Against the Steelers, the Clevland defense forced 6 turnovers–3 on fumbles and 3 INTs.
James Conner (photo, Yahoo! Sports)
But it’s just one game and expectations need tempering. Indeed, Conner’s fumble in the 4th led to a Cleveland score.
Besides, any comparisons to Bell–and certainly thoughts about replacing him permanently–are misguided. One good game from Conner can’t possibly measure up to what Bell has done over three seasons–amass 1000+ yards rushing each year.
Still, though, Steeler fans and GM Kevin Colbert have to be delighted to see consistency in running back productivity. That’s critical because it’s uncertain when–even if–Bell’s holdout will end.
The BIG question now is: Can Conner sustain his production? The answer will come in Pittsburgh’s home opener (on Sunday) against the Chiefs. And don’t be surprised if he does. In KC’s 38-28 win against the Chargers, the Chiefs’ defense was torched for 541 total yards.
On Sunday, the spotlight will again be on James Conner. My prediction is that he won’t wilt under the glare.
Get ready to wave those Terrible Towels!
