With the free agent signing of LeGarrette Blount, the Pittsburgh Steelers appear set to feature a potentially formidable two headed monster this season. To add a change of pace they added the fastest player available in the draft in Dri Archer. But those three might not the name to watch at the running back position during camp which goes to Tauren Poole.
After a junior year where he finished sixth in the SEC in rushing, Poole looked like he could have been a sought after running back in the draft. Due to him being the only senior on an inexperienced Tennessee Volunteer offense, his numbers severely took a hit and he failed to be selected in the draft.
Poole would sign with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent, but was injured during the preseason and place on injured reserve. He put up decent numbers in two exhibition games, totaling 56-yards on 11-carriers with a touchdown as well as adding in another 4 receptions.
As it was with the Panthers, who had Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams, the Steelers are set at Poole’s position, and will need to really impress the coaching staff to earn him a roster spot. Pittsburgh has a history of keeping a fourth running back, and using him on occasions, but that was before the position was as settled as it is now.
In the past five years, the Steelers fourth leading running back rusher has received anywhere from 26-carriers to as low as two (fullback Carey Davis). The average over that span is 11-carries for 57-yards over a full season.
Le’Veon Bell is a potential three down running back, but when he does need a breather Blount can handle the short-yardage and power runs whereas Archer will look to have a Darren Sproles type of impact on the offense. With all aspects covered, it seems hard to imagine a scenario in which they feel they have to carry an extra running back.
But there always seems a player to come out of nowhere, undrafted, and make a splash in preseason and force a team to keep them. Poole could very well be that guy. He might not make the Steelers, but he is certainly a player to keep an eye on this training camp. With a good preseason he won’t make it to the practice squad as the league is always in need of running backs.
He doesn’t have the breakaway speed to be an elite back, but his cutback ability and vision are good enough to allow him to have success in the right situation. His hands were questioned because they were ‘small’ but he has shown the ability to catch the ball out of the back field regardless.
It will be a long road to climb, and it will likely take him convincing he deserves a roster spot instead a combination of Darrius Heyward-Bey, Derek Moye, and Justin Brown, but it can be done. Year after year it is shown that there are plenty of running backs that can run the ball in the NFL, there is just a shortage of roster spots for them to do so.
With Poole’s work ethic, it can certainly be done, and his journey in potentially being the team’s fourth running back will be one of the more interesting camp battles to watch.
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