Steelers’ Williams in hunt for 1,000-yard season
Running back DeAngelo Williams has averaged 95.3 rushing yards per game in seven starts with the Steelers.
Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams has 773 yards rushing heading into Sunday’s game against the Broncos at Heinz Field.
PITTSBURGH – For most people, reaching the age of 30 typically means you’re in the prime of life, young enough to still do anything you want and with enough wisdom to know exactly what that might be.
For NFL running backs, 30 is typically the end of the road.
Studies show 27 is the age at which running backs reach their peak. After that, the trend downhill can be steep and quick.
That’s what makes what Steelers’ running back DeAngelo Williams has done this season so rare. At 32, the 10-year-veteran has not only revitalized his career with a change of scenery, leaving Carolina for Pittsburgh, but also is having one of his better seasons.
In fact, if he reaches 1,000 rushing yards this season, it would mark just the fourth time since 1990 that a 32-year-old running back has done so. The last to accomplish the feat at that age was Ricky Williams in 2009.
The Steelers (8-5) knew they were acquiring a great complementary backup to All-Pro Le’Veon Bell when they signed Williams following his offseason release by Carolina. What they didn’t know was how much they would need him.
Heading into Sunday’s key game against the Denver Broncos (10-3), Williams not only leads the Steelers in rushing yards with 773, he also matched Antonio Brown with a team-best eight touchdowns. Williams ranks second in total yards with 1,044.
Williams plays with a chip on his shoulder after being released by the Panthers. He was their first-round pick in the 2006 draft and is the franchise’s all-time rushing leader. The release and a desire to win motivate him.
He couldn’t care less about his yardage totals.
“If it doesn’t equal wins, it doesn’t matter to me,” said Williams. “I came here for (these reasons): To win games and get to the Super Bowl.”
That attitude is what the Steelers were missing in backup LeGarrette Blount last season. Blount felt he was option 1-A to Bell. And when he didn’t get the carries he felt he deserved, he pouted his way off the team.
The Steelers knew Williams had a different attitude. He had shared carries in Carolina for much of his career with Jonathan Stewart. They also had some inside information. Steelers quarterback coach Randy Fichtner was offensive coordinator at Memphis when Williams played for the Tigers.
“I didn’t know a lot about his personality, but Randy Fichtner was with him at Memphis,” said Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley. “He knew a lot about him. He kind of filled us in. Nothing has been disappointing about him. That early description from Coach Fichtner was all positive. ‘You will love him. He has a dynamic personality.’ Really, he has just been a great addition to the locker room in general. He is a confident, high-energy guy. He’s an energy-bringer. He has also displayed it on the field. I think it’s not a shock, but I think it’s been pretty impressive for him to come into a new environment after being in one place for a long time, and assimilating in and getting up to speed quickly on all areas of the offense.”
The Steelers signed Williams as a stop-gap for the first three games of the season while Bell served a suspension. The suspension was later reduced to two games. After carrying the ball 41 times in the first two games, Williams got just 22 attempts in the next six.
When Bell was lost for the remainder of the season to a knee injury Nov. 1, Williams was again asked to carry the load and has a shot at a 1,000-yard season, despite being relatively inactive for a large portion of the season.
Williams has averaged 95.3 rushing yards per game in his seven starts, putting the 1,000-yard season within reach. Williams has had two 1,000-yard seasons, including a Carolina-record 1,515 in 2008.
What he doesn’t have is a championship.
“It’s probably common for 32-year-old running backs with no Super Bowl rings and that’s what he is,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin of Williams’ attitude. “He’s been very clear about what he was searching for when he came here. Boy, that’s one of the things that really attracts us to him. He means what he says in that he wants to win and he wants to be a part of it. Statistics are less important to him, winning is most important to him. I really appreciate that.”
Tomlin said safety Mike Mitchell (shoulder) was the only significant injury coming out of the game against the Bengals. Mitchell’s status will be monitored this week but Tomlin expects him to play. … On his weekly radio show on KDKA-FM 93.7, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said he felt Cincinnati linebacker Vontaze Burfict was trying to hurt him when he dove at his knees in the first half of their game last Sunday. The league is reportedly looking closely at the play, though Tomlin would not comment on it. … Tomlin said he expects Denver to face quarterback Brock Osweiler this week. Veteran Peyton Manning is expected to practice in some fashion this week after missing the past month with a foot injury. … The Steelers’ Dec. 27 game at Baltimore has been moved from an 8:35 start to 1 p.m.