There has been some discussion amongst Steeler fans on using a low pick in the 2007 draft to try to pick up a running back; most would prefer a bigger back (Bus type).

The Pittsburgh Steelers have put very little emphasis over the past two decades in making a running back a priority in the draft. You have to go back to 1989 when the Steelers used their number one pick to get Tim Worley. In fact, the Steelers have used only a number one or two pick on a running back five times since 1970:

1989: Tim Worley
1982: Walter Abercrombie
1979: Greg Hawthorne
1977: Sidney Thornton (#2)
1972: Franco Harris

Out of those top picks for RB, clearly Franco Harris produced and the others did not. Harris was the only back out of this group to break the 1,000 yard milestone.

With such little emphasis on the running back situation, low draft pick wise, how did the Steelers become known as a power running team?

1. In the 70’s the Franco/Rocky combo worked and worked well. Franco was durable and a great #1 draft pick.
2. In the 90’s, Jerome Bettis was picked up during free agency and became the Steelers’ running staple.
3. The Steelers traditionally had strong offensive lines that could make lower tier backs look decent.
4. The Steelers got some bang for the buck during the later rounds of the draft.
5. Dick Hoak was the continuity of the Steelers running backs until his retirement in 2007. He was able to find and develop potential talent and few can argue he was very effective at this.

Looking back at #4, the Steelers have had (historically speaking) success at drafting a RB high in the draft. These backs may not have been at the pro-bowl level, but they complimented the starter or became the starter and produced more then a typical day two pick up.

2002: Haynes, 5th round
1999: Zereoue, 3rd round
1998: Fu, 6th round
1996: Witman, 3rd round (Fullback)
1994: Morris, 4th round
1990: Foster, 6th round
1987: Hoge, 11th round
1980: Pollard, 13th round

Cowher looked at backs later in the draft and Noll spent 1st or second round choices five times during their tenures. Noll drafted a Hall of Famer but Cowher picked up some work horses.

The question is: Should the Steelers invest in drafting a running back this year in round 1-4? The obvious answer is no. If you look back to number three above, some work needs to be done on the offensive line. With Tomlin as the new head coach, we’ll see early in the draft what type of defense he wants to use or build to.

The Steelers have cemented Willie Parker as the starter. Parker, an undrafted back, has been the rare find in the NFL, making it to the pro-bowl after an 8-8 season. The problem is a true #2 back to spell him. Will surprised many this past season with his durability. I for one thought that he was going to get abused and beaten over the course of a 16 game season because nobody was spelling him. We’ve found utility in Haynes as the 3rd down back, but have nobody that looks like they can spell Willie and produce 5-15 carries per game and gain some yardage. During the 2006-07 season the backs under Willie Parker combined for 78 carries for 332 yards. That is a paltry average of 4.8 carries per game (combined).

Davenport: 60 carries for 221 yards
Haynes: 15 carries for 78 yards
Kuhn: 2 carries for 18 yards
Kreider: 1 carry for five yards

Parker: 337 carries for 1,494 yards.

I don’t propose drafting a RB at round one or two or even three. But we do need to find a suitable second down back for Willie Parker. Maybe Davenport can do that. Free Agency beings on March 1st and maybe there will be someone out there, although the Duce fiasco may have given the Front Office some cold feet when having to bring in and pay for a veteran.

The resting of Willie Parker is an issue that will need addressed by Tomlin and new running backs coach Kirby Wilson. Parker has proven to be a durable back over the past two seasons and durable with results. The state of the union with the linemen is not clear or all that favorable. Willie isn’t the true up the gut back and if used as such, his durability will decline. Getting a strong #2 RB should have some priority for free agency or early on Day 2.of the draft.