Tomlin - Toussaint likely will be Steelers' featured back

From today's media session

Coach Mike Tomlin said this afternoon at his weekly news conference that starting running back DeAngelo Williams is day-to-day with a right ankle injury, but he will proceed with the assumption that Toussaint will be the starter Saturday night when the Steelers visit Paul Brown Stadium.

“DeAngelo is being evaluated and getting treatment,” Tomlin said. “He can be characterized as day-to-day. I don’t know what his availability will be. We’ll let his practice participation be our guide. We’ll have daily discussions and planning regarding that. It’s appropriate to build our plan around Fitz and [Jordan] Todman. We’ll challenge those guys to have a big week and deliver for us the way others have when injuries struck.”

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2016/01/05/Fitzgerald-Toussaint-will-likely-be-Steelers-featured-running-back-against-Bengals/stories/201601050181

Ed B. of the P-G sums up what that means

Steelers without Bell and Williams. Bengals without Dalton. Which team will be more affected with the absence of these players?

Bouchette: Steelers ...

Will the Steelers win without Williams?

Bouchette: They can, but it will be a one-dimensional offense.

http://www.post-gazette.com/chat

I know the Bengals always screw up the playoffs, but I am surprised the Steelers remain favored

Marvin Lewis disagrees

Marvin Lewis, after talking about having a backup QB, then faces question about Steelers having a backup RB

Lewis interrupts,"Wanna trade?"

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) January 5, 2016

You can't really judge intent from a written quote but Lewis has always made snippy comments like that. If I were McCarron I wouldn't feel real confident seeing that.

I was wishing for this last year too, but it would be awesome to see Toussaint come out and have a 100 yard game.

SUPER BOWL!

I'm a Michigan fan and Fitz Toussaint is not bad, but IMO, he is a 1 cut runner that needs to pick the hole and hit it. He cant try to be patient like Bell and Williams to wait and jump cut, because he doesn't have their burst.

Use him in plays behind a FB, or with a pulling guard and he will hit the hole. He's good enough for that to get 60-70 yards and is solid in pass protection. If they try and run inside zone with him like they do the other Steeler backs, its going to look like him plowing into a pile and not gaining much yardage IMO.

El-Gonzo Jackson wrote:

I'm a Michigan fan and Fitz Toussaint is not bad, but IMO, he is a 1 cut runner that needs to pick the hole and hit it.  He cant try to be patient like Bell and Williams to wait and jump cut, because he doesn't have their burst.

That's exactly what I heard on the radio today about Toussaint. He can be explosive, should he find a hole to run through.

El-Gonzo Jackson wrote:

Use him in plays behind a FB, or with a pulling guard and he will hit the hole.  He's good enough for that to get 60-70 yards and is solid in pass protection.  If they try and run inside zone with him like they do the other Steeler backs, its going to look like him plowing into a pile and not gaining much yardage IMO.

And, unfortunately, that is exactly what I saw in last week's game against the Browns. He literally was running up Wallace's or Foster's or DeCastro's back many runs.

Toussant and todman are both garbage

ImperialFan wrote:

Toussant  and todman are both garbage

They're 3rd stringers man, and they've barely gotten any experience. I don't know what else you want.

If you ask me, either it's bad luck or we just suck with RBs, because again our running game is in question for the 2nd year in a row. It's making me sick.

Will running back depth doom Steelers for second straight playoff?

Jeremy Fowler
ESPN Staff Writer

PITTSBURGH -- Mike Tomlin is talking up Fitz Toussaint, calling him a talented, hard-working, blue-collar guy. He said the whole staff was excited to see him get extended run on Sunday at Cleveland, where he was "very, very capable" in the passing game as a blocker.

That all sounds great. But those words won't quell the concerns of Steelers fans who see chaos surrounding the running back position for the second straight playoff run.

DeAngelo Williams' foot injury casts a pall around a Steelers offense that could look one-dimensional Saturday night against the Bengals. Tomlin said team doctors told him Williams is day-to-day, and the Steelers will build the running back gameplan around Toussaint and five-year journeyman Jordan Todman -- at least early in the week.

Williams likely won't practice early in the week, but he's optimistic, telling at least one teammate on Sunday that he has a foot strain that isn't serious.

When Le'Veon Bell went out in Week 17 last season, the Steelers had nothing more to give in a 30-17 loss to the Ravens in the wild card game. The underwhelming trio of Josh Harris, Dri Archer and Ben Tate, who was signed days before the game, combined for 43 yards on 15 carries. None of those three players is in the NFL.

In March, Pittsburgh smartly signed Williams to a two-year, $4-million deal that became one of the offseason's better maneuvers. Williams has been fantastic as a potent red-zone rusher (11 touchdowns leads all Steelers playmakers) and a highly-skilled pass blocker.

The Steelers need him. Ben Roethlisberger, who's big on trust, trusts Williams all day.

Though Roethlisberger doesn't seem deflated by the possibility of losing Williams. He said Tuesday on 93.7 The Fan that this year's stable of backups is more equipped to handle the offense than last year's makeshift crew. Todman is a five-year veteran who had a few bright moments in Jacksonville, though it's curious that he couldn't hold onto the No. 2 job. Toussaint has flashed in practice but hasn't shown it in games. He's got 54 yards on 24 NFL carries. The Steelers also have H-back Will Johnson, who's capable for spot duty.

This time of year, though, the running game must be a strength. Unless Toussaint is the next breakout playoff star no one knows about, only Williams provides that luxury.

http://espn.go.com/blog/pittsburgh-steelers/post/_/id/17244/will-running-back-depth-doom-steelers-for-second-straight-playoff

SteelCity4Life wrote:

ImperialFan wrote:

Toussant  and todman are both garbage

They're 3rd stringers man, and they've barely gotten any experience. I don't know what else you want.

If you ask me, either it's bad luck or we just suck with RBs, because again our running game is in question for the 2nd year in a row. It's making me sick.

I dont expect much, just saying they suck.

his highlight reel sucks

todman looks a little better but not much.

ImperialFan wrote:

I dont expect much, just saying they suck.

They may say the same about you...

DesertSteel wrote:

ImperialFan wrote:

I dont expect much, just saying they suck.

They may say the same about you...

They might say the same about you too bud.

Thing is neither of us are going to be trying to fill in for bell and williams.

ImperialFan wrote:

todman looks a little better but not much.

Neither are ideal and they have little experience, but Todman actually has some played some. He has a 4.1 average over 115 attempts, with zero fumbles, in a 4 year career. From reading Post Gazette chats the idea seems to be the coaching staff thinks Toussaint has shown better skills in practice. If DeAngelo can't play they probably give both some shot at it. I'm really hoping one can emerge and go down in Steeler lore.

Seeing Harrison run the INT out of the end zone last week maybe they should give him some carries and let him smash Burfict a few times

Todman looks hands down way better. No fumbles in 4 seasons? thats great. Toussaint must have really turned it around for getting the start over Todman. It would just feel so much better with williams in there, I'd say we would win this game easy. If we can manage to steal a win in Cinci, then go to Denver with williams back we could stand a chance in that game. I expect the Patriots* in the AFCCG if we make it there, I dont see KC or Houston beating them at home.. Maybe KC. So yeah going through Cinci, Denver, and New England, All on he road would be an amazing feet to accomplish.

I guess all we can go is go beat Cinci, then worry about Denver next week. I honestly don't know what would be worse playing in NE or playing in Arrowhead. Chiefs could be a sleeper team, they could beat the Patriots* because they have a steller defense.

Running backs really aren't the issue with this team right now so much as the lack of good run blocking. The offensive line which has been pretty decent in that regard for the majority of this season, could play much better than they have the past few weeks. Even with Williams out on the field the o-line wasn't giving him any holes to run through, same story when Williams went down and Toussaint took over.

SteelCity4Life wrote:

ImperialFan wrote:

Toussant  and todman are both garbage

They're 3rd stringers man, and they've barely gotten any experience. I don't know what else you want.

If you ask me, either it's bad luck or we just suck with RBs, because again our running game is in question for the 2nd year in a row. It's making me sick.

This has been my number one complaint with this team -- that we tend to have this rather old-school, singular approach to running backs in the sense that we have "THE" running back instead of "A" running back.

Many teams develop and play several running backs and use them all throughout the season and - as in the case of New England, for example - they're rotated in and out of the lineup on a regular basis but are also treated as "specialists" designed to be used in unique ways against specific opponents.

But here in Pittsburgh, we tend to cling to using one RB for all games which works OK if they remain healthy but becomes somewhat of a crisis if they're not.
I've always believed that we should have at least three RB's on the starting roster and that they should be all be played on a regular basis so that when one gets hurt it doesn't require that we have to rely on unknown or unproven talent or have to redesign game plans in critical situations.

We tend to do this with TE's too.

Bell and Williams were a talented set of RB's. Bell gets injured and Williams had a great season in relief.......and now fans want a #3 RB with starters type skill???? In a league that has become predominantly a passing league??

Salary cap fellas. Invest your money in a QB, Trio of pass catchers and some O linemen that can pass protect. It doesn't leave money to have an all pro #3 RB.

SteelerEmpire wrote:

I'm much more concerned with the O-line not opening lanes and/or play calling. Here lately the RB's have been directed into a pile of defenders on most running plays.

I completely agree.  But some of it has been the strong D linemen we have faced in Denver, Baltimore.  

When the Steelers just run single RB from a pistol formation, its been up to the RB to pick the hole, but the last few games defenses have handled the O line.  When the Steelers run a zone block, I think its been more effective for a guy like Williams to find a lane.  With zone, there is almost always a cutback lane supposed to be blocked and I think that A.V. hasn't done a great job on the backside when they run zone right.

I hope we see Miller and DeCastro pulling left more.  I also hope they run more zone left and leave the cutback blocks to Gilbert and Decastro, as Fitz can make that 1 cut and hit it...he cant make multiple jump cuts and accelerate like Bell or Williams.

My call is that if Toussaint or Todman combine for 70+ yards, the Steelers offense will be fine. They both pickup blitz well enough to help in the pass game and a bit of rushing yardage will give the balance needed.

El-Gonzo Jackson wrote:

Bell and Williams were a talented set of RB's.  Bell gets injured and Williams had a great season in relief.......and now fans want a #3 RB with starters type skill????  In a league that has become predominantly a passing league??

Salary cap fellas.  Invest your money in a QB, Trio of pass catchers and some O linemen that can pass protect.  It doesn't leave money to have an all pro #3 RB.  

I didn't take @FanSince72's comments to mean that they need 3 RBs with starter skills. I took his statements to say the Steelers should rotate their backs to provide experience as well as keep the starter fresh (like an 80%, 15%, 5% ratio from 1st stringer to 3rd stinger). In that regard, it's not necessarily a salary cap issue, but an issue of the available space on the 53 man roster ... kinda the same reason they don't suite up the #3 QB in most games.

El-Gonzo Jackson wrote:

My call is that if Toussaint or Todman combine for 70+ yards, the Steelers offense will be fine.  They both pickup blitz well enough to help in the pass game and a bit of rushing yardage will give the balance needed.

Agreed. If one of those guys can just bust off a longer run in the first quarter, that could really open things up. It's strange, but the Steelers have run the ball halfway decent against Cincy (or at least better than what they've done the last 3 games).

kirklandrules wrote:

El-Gonzo Jackson wrote:

Bell and Williams were a talented set of RB's.  Bell gets injured and Williams had a great season in relief.......and now fans want a #3 RB with starters type skill????  In a league that has become predominantly a passing league??

Salary cap fellas.  Invest your money in a QB, Trio of pass catchers and some O linemen that can pass protect.  It doesn't leave money to have an all pro #3 RB.  

I didn't take @FanSince72's comments to mean that they need 3 RBs with starter skills. I took his statements to say the Steelers should rotate their backs to provide experience as well as keep the starter fresh (like an 80%, 15%, 5% ratio from 1st stringer to 3rd stinger). In that regard, it's not necessarily a salary cap issue, but an issue of the available space on the 53 man roster ... kinda the same reason they don't suite up the #3 QB in most games.

Yeah, but they aren't going to dress 3RB's, just like they don't dress 9 linemen or like you say 3 QB's. Especially when they normally dress Nix and Johnson at FB. They were going with Bell and Williams, but I agree they should have been putting Toussaint in more when he was backing up Williams to spell him. Williams platooned in Carolina, so isn't burned out like most backs his age. They were riding the hot hand at RB.

Toussaint: 'I want to prepare to hunt'

Teresa Varley
Steelers.com



RB Fitzgerald Toussaint is preparing in case his number is called.

DeAngelo Williams didn’t practice on Wednesday, still recovering from a foot injury suffered against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

But Fitzgerald Toussaint took advantage of every snap he had to prepare in case his number is called to carry the load for the ground game on Saturday night against the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Wild Card game.

“These past couple of weeks Wednesdays have been big days for me, getting a lot of reps because DeAngelo had played the entire game,” said Toussaint. “I think it helps me a lot. It allows me to apply my off the field stuff on the field so I can be ready.

“I just want to prepare to hunt. I think that is going to be the key to this game.”

Toussaint stepped in for Williams when he went down last week, and while he had only 18 carries for 42 yards in the regular season, his teammates have confidence that he can get the job done if Williams isn’t able to go.

“He is a good runner. He gets downhill,” said center Cody Wallace. “We are comfortable with him in protection as well. He knows his assignments. If you watch him on the practice field all season the guy finishes all of his reps and he is getting downfield. He gives it his all out there. His overall attitude on the field is great.”

Toussaint moved up the depth chart this season, going from practice squad when the season began, to the active roster on Nov. 27, to No. 2 running back because of his work ethic.

“I take pride in my work ethic,” said Toussaint. “I go out there every day and put it all on the line. I will be ready if my number is called. I hope DeAngelo is good, but I have to be ready to take on that task.”

http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/Toussaint-I-want-to-prepare-to-hunt/cd412f5e-572f-4cea-8684-0cc8c1502887

I liked back in 06 when parker would start the drive and the bus would finish it.

ImperialFan wrote:

I liked back in 06 when parker would start the drive and the bus would finish it.

I liked it even more in the 90's when Dirt Dawson, John Jackson, Leon Searcy, Justin Strelczyk would start and finish the drive......Barry Foster and Merril Hoge just got to deliver the ball in the end zone.