Friday, January 24, 2025, 12:52PM |  18°
MENU
Advertisement
Steelers running back Benny Snell picks up yardage against the Chargers Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif.
1
MORE

Steelers backfield might be crowded again, but that's just fine with them

Peter Diana/Post-Gazette

Steelers backfield might be crowded again, but that's just fine with them

If the off week came at a bad time for any Steeler, it might be rookie Benny Snell. He had momentum, coming off a breakout game with 75 yards rushing in the win against the Chargers, and he had opportunity, with backup running back Jaylen Samuels recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery.

Now, the Steelers backfield is suddenly crowded again behind James Conner. Conner is healthy after ceding carries to Snell in Week 6. Samuels practiced in full all week and is questionable to play Monday night against Miami after missing just one game. Even fullback Roosevelt Nix is set to return for the first time since injuring his knee in the season opener. Are there enough snaps and carries to go around?

“Honestly, that’s not for me to answer, that’s for the coaches to answer,” Snell said Saturday after practice. “I’m very excited that Jaylen’s back. Jaylen makes the offense very versatile with how he can catch the ball and how dynamic he is. But i feel like we’re all dynamic in our own ways.”

Advertisement

Samuels, often considered the best pass-catcher of the bunch, is officially listed as questionable. But he claims to be “real close” to 100 percent. Snell, for his part, isn't satisfied with his performance in his first NFL game with more than three carries.

Anthony Chickillo tries to take down Bengals receiver Alex Erickson in the 2018 season finale at Heinz Field.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers' Anthony Chickillo removed from commissioner's exempt list

“I really look at it as an opportunity to build off of what I showed I could do. There was some opportunities I missed on special teams that I need to take advantage of,” Snell said. “Offensively, I felt like I did a pretty decent job, but I felt like I wanted my first touchdown to be in L.A.”

Not because Snell is pining for the limelight or anything; he just thinks he missed some reads that could’ve led to even more yardage and a score.

In fact, Snell has been intentional lately about letting his actions speak more than his words. Asked if his attitude or mentality has changed from training camp until now, the former Kentucky star took a few seconds to think.

Advertisement

“Hmm. I would say, no, my attitude has not changed. It’s all the same. I look for every week to get better, for the things that I missed. … I still want to take coaching, and just try to be a game-changer. I want to put it all on the field so the coaches know they can trust me, leave me in, and earn respect from the vets.”

But what happened to all that preseason chatter about “Snell Yeah” and “Benny Snell Football”? Well, Snell seems a bit regretful that he might’ve come across as a boisterous rookie full of bravado rather than just a young player enjoying life in the NFL.

“I know exactly what you mean. … The ‘Benny Snell Football,’ I took that as kind of a fun thing,” Snell said, adding that Mike Tomlin is a fan of the phrase. “Coach ‘T’ says it in practice all the time, and he motivates me and stuff, but I kind of was using it wrong with the media.”

So, in other words, do more and talk less?

Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster catches a pass for a touchdown in front of Dolphins cornerback Chris Lammons in the third quarter Monday, Oct. 28, 2019, at Heinz Field.
Joshua Axelrod
Instant analysis: After off week, Steelers earn second consecutive win

“Yeah. Or, it’s, you understand that Benny is the fun kid that likes to just have fun, you know what I’m saying? Loves football in that kind of way,” Snell said.

That was the first time in a while he referred to himself in third person. There was no directive from coaches, no teammates leaning on him to cut it out, according to Snell. They like saying “Benny Snell Football,” too. Brand-wise, he wants to do more in the community, but will let those opportunities happen organically.

Tomlin, though, is holding him to a high standard elsewhere.

“Oh, definitely. Coach Tomlin has challenged me on making defenders miss in 1-on-1s in open field, on making sure I make the right reads, making sure I’m a splash player just like [Nix] on special teams,” Snell said. “That’s why I take pride in things like that. I take pride in my job. I love this job.”

And he’d love to run behind Nix, who took a fellow Columbus native under his wing from the moment Snell was drafted. Those two certainly will share the field on special teams. It’s the backfield that once again has a lot of mouths to feed, but if anything, that’s a good problem to have.

Between the Wildcat formation and a few other looks, Conner and Samuels have both been in on 15 plays this year. If they all keep producing, is the next step a “full house” formation?

“You don't ever see that,” Samuels said with a smile. “Hopefully we can come up with that in our game plan sooner or later. That would definitely be nice.”

No ‘weenies’ allowed

With Anthony Chickillo on the NFL’s exempt list and T.J. Watt managing an abdomen injury, Ola Adeniyi expects to be as busy as he ever has on defense in his two seasons Monday night.

Watt was a full participant for a second consecutive practice Saturday and does not carry an injury designation on the official status report, but Adeniyi is now the top backup at both outside linebacker positions. Does that mean Tomlin is paying twice as much attention to him now?

“Actually, he really has,” Adeniyi said. “There’s something that I usually say during practice to younger guys, just to play around with them, and he’s tried to turn around and use that on me a lot this week.”

Lest you were worried Adeniyi’s go-to motivational phrase would be crude or vulgar, it’s actually a reference from the “SpongeBob SquarePants” TV cartoon.

“At practice, I usually call guys ‘Weenies’ or ‘Weenie Hut Jr.,’ stuff like that,” Adeniyi said with a laugh. “And he’s been calling me that pretty much every day this week.”

Other injuries

Inside linebacker Mark Barron, the only player who was limited at Friday’s practice, was upgraded to full Saturday. Still, he’s officially listed as questionable with a hamstring injury.

The only other Steeler who joins Samuels and Barron with his status in question is rookie linebacker Ulysees Gilbert. Gilbert, who only plays on special teams, was downgraded to a limited participant with a back injury.

Brian Batko: bbatko@post-gazette.com and Twitter @BrianBatko.

First Published: October 26, 2019, 8:54 p.m.

RELATED
Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward is brought down by Miami's Joey Porter after a reception during a November 2007 game in Pittsburgh.
Adam Bittner
Here are five of the most memorable Steelers-Dolphins games
Bud Dupree intercepts a pass and scores against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, Sept. 24, 2018, at Raymond James Stadium.
Ray Fittipaldo
Why the Steelers might have to bring back Blitzburgh
Jim Rooney talks to the media about his book about his father Dan Rooney during afternoon presser Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019, at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, Pittsburgh.
Gene Collier
Gene Therapy: Jim Rooney's book on his father Dan expands a legacy
Steelers quarterback Devlin Hodges warms up with his duck t-shirt on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
Joe Starkey
Joe Starkey: Obviously, Duck Hodges ran into Steelers fans on the prairies of Saskatchewan
Steelers linebacker Devin Bush is joined by the rest of the defense after scoring on a 9-yard fumble return in the first quarter against the Chargers Sunday at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
PODCAST: Steelers enter must-win game vs. Dolphins ... or is it a can't-lose?
Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph drops back to pass against the Bengals in the first quarter Monday, Sept. 30 2019, at Heinz Field.
Brian Batko
'We've never looked back': Steelers offensive line leads NFL in fewest sacks allowed
SHOW COMMENTS (0)  
Join the Conversation
Commenting policy | How to Report Abuse
If you would like your comment to be considered for a published letter to the editor, please send it to letters@post-gazette.com. Letters must be under 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.
Partners
Advertisement
Texas A&M's Shemar Stewart (4) runs off the field during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Auburn, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Auburn, Ala.
1
sports
Ray Fittipaldo's first 7-round Steelers mock draft: Deep DL class too enticing?
Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on the field before a game against the Colts on Sept. 29 in Indianapolis.
2
sports
'I don’t know that they’re that close, to be honest': Ben Roethlisberger is frustrated with the Steelers, too
The house at 3011½ Paulowna St. in Polish Hill was built in 2023.
3
life
Buying Here: They're selling the $709,900 dream house on Polish Hill they never got to live in
PNC Bank Corporate Headquarters in Downtown Pittsburgh.
4
business
PNC president to leave after less than a year on the job
The exterior of the Trader Joe’s in East Liberty. The popular grocer is rumored to be exploring another location, in the Strip.
5
business
Feeding frenzy: Trader Joe's, other grocers hunt for sites in the Strip District
Steelers running back Benny Snell picks up yardage against the Chargers Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif.  (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)
Peter Diana/Post-Gazette
Advertisement
LATEST sports
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story