Haley happy with variety of running backs
August 3, 2012 12:12 am
By Gerry Dulac / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Offensive coordinator Todd Haley does not seem worried about beginning the regular season without running back Rashard Mendenhall, who is on the physically-unable-to-perform list while he recovers from surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
In fact, Haley said he is "excited" about the group of running backs he has behind Mendenhall, including Isaac Redman, who will be the starter.
"I'm not just talking ... we got a wide range of body types and skill sets, and that's good," Haley said.
"You got some big, strong guys like [Redman], where you can hump it up in there when needed. But you also got some of the sports car-type bodies that offer some different weapons. It's a good mix, a good group of guys."
The latter reference was to rookie Chris Rainey, the team's fifth-round pick from Florida who is not very big (5 feet 8, 178 pounds) but makes up for his lack of size with 4.3 speed and elusive moves.
"He's going to be awesome," said center Maurkice Pouncey, who also played at Florida. "He's a smaller guy, but he's been dealing with that his whole life. We can use him like Darren Sproles."
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sports/steelers/haley-happy-with-variety-of-running-backs-647397/#ixzz22UaWAPnj
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