The NFL draft not only provided a rocket booster to the Steelers' offense, it might change part of their playbook. Get ready for the arrival of the Pony backfield, a concept that disappeared from the Steelers' playbook more than 15 years ago.
The idea of lining up two runners in the same backfield went out the window for the most part when Chuck Noll retired in 1991. Since then, the Steelers almost always paired a blocking fullback and a tailback, or deployed a one-back offense. The arrival of Illinois running back Rashard Mendenhall in the first round of the draft Saturday changed all that.
Bruce Arians -- who called Mendenhall a bigger, faster Edgerrin James -- said he will dust off the Pony backfield portion of the playbook he used in Cleveland and try it next season. Mendenhall and Fast Willie Parker in the same backfield at the same time should give defenses plenty to think about.
"Other than the normal one-two punch, they can play together," offensive coordinator Arians said yesterday. "Rashard has enough size as a pass blocker and pass receiver and Willie is improving in that area every year as a receiver."
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Original Story:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08120/877....
The idea of lining up two runners in the same backfield went out the window for the most part when Chuck Noll retired in 1991. Since then, the Steelers almost always paired a blocking fullback and a tailback, or deployed a one-back offense. The arrival of Illinois running back Rashard Mendenhall in the first round of the draft Saturday changed all that.
Bruce Arians -- who called Mendenhall a bigger, faster Edgerrin James -- said he will dust off the Pony backfield portion of the playbook he used in Cleveland and try it next season. Mendenhall and Fast Willie Parker in the same backfield at the same time should give defenses plenty to think about.
"Other than the normal one-two punch, they can play together," offensive coordinator Arians said yesterday. "Rashard has enough size as a pass blocker and pass receiver and Willie is improving in that area every year as a receiver."
CLICK!!!!!!!!!
Original Story:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08120/877....
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