Le'Veon Bell is no longer a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, but that doesn't mean the Steelers don't think they will be able to run the ball this coming season.
Pittsburgh has a very deep backfield that includes James Conner, Jaylen Samuels and rookie Benny Snell Jr., and Samuels thinks that the Steelers running game may put some fear into opposing defenses, especially if they employ two-halfback formations:
“We did a little bit of it [last season], but we didn't really run it in a game, so I guess this year we're going to try and put that a little more in the offense,” Samuels said, according to Sarah K. Spencer of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
“I think that could be kind of special with me and [Conner] in the backfield. Me and him in the game, period. We're just building on from that right now… He's more of a runner and a catcher, as well, but I can get outside and run routes, as well. To have that dual threat with me and him in the game, it could be really scary for defenses.”
Samuels is coming off of a rookie campaign in which he rushed for 256 yards while averaging 4.6 yards per carry, but he figures to have a larger role in the Steelers' offense in 2019.
Conner in particular loves what Samuels brings to the table and certainly thinks the two-back set could be interesting:
“Oh, man, Jaylen?” Conner said. “He's super talented. (Two-back sets are) something we've had in for a little while, but I think we're going to use it a little more this year, and I'm excited about it because we're both really talented. So it kind of puts the defense in a mix of who they really want to pay attention to because he's shown what he can do.”
Conner made the Pro Bowl this past season after totaling 973 yards and 12 touchdowns.
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