The Steelers have added some depth to their offensive backfield. The team announced on Tuesday that they have signed Jeremy McNichols. 
The former fifth-rounder bounced around quite a bit early in his career. By far the largest workload he has received to date has come during his two years with the Titans, though. Between 2020 and 2021, he logged 88 carries for 360 yards and one touchdown. McNichols stood out in the passing game as well, adding 295 yards on 40 catches in Tennessee.
The 26-year-old had the opportunity to become the team’s lead back after Derrick Henry‘s injury, but D’Onta Foreman wound up being the primary beneficiary of the increased snaps. After the Titans made some changes to their RBs room, McNichols was on the move once again in free agency, initially signing with the Falcons. By the middle of last month, though, he found himself on waivers and in need of a new home.
The Steelers, meanwhile, have been in the market for depth at the position. While Najee Harris is in line to remain the focal point of Pittsburgh’s offense and shoulder one of the heaviest workloads in the NFL, increased competition for backup spots will be in order. McNichols will look to carve out a role for himself on a depth chart also featuring Benny Snell and Anthony McFarland Jr. The way the team’s backfield shakes out in camp will be an intriguing storyline within their new-look offense.
this is what they needed .. a lot of this season will be focused on keeping Najee healthy , and a pass-catching back on 3rd and 20 is a worthwhile supplement given McFarlands development, or lack there of.
if najee goes down, the seasons over
I’d expect more WR sweeps this year as well to help the running game
Stillers got a lot of weapons to work with on offense
just need these QBs to be game managers
Again, I used to say the same things about the Browns for years. No quarterback. Not winning. Simple as that today
but if u consider baker a qb how can you say Mitch is not?
They’re basically the same passer statistically and Mitch is bigger/faster version of Baker
Baker is a game manager. The best the Browns could do with Baker is make the playoffs. But the Browns have a lot more talent on the OL than Pittsburgh and they had a top 5 defense in yards allowed last year, which is the true measure of a defense because of the 16 interceptions and 2 pick 6. That’s why the Browns got Watson. He led the league in passing his last year.
pittsburgh lead the NFL in sacks by a hefty margin last season
while the pass rushers return, the interior front that allowed easy runs up the middle has all been replaced
Pittsburgh finished 24th in total defense last year. If you think Larry Ogunjobi is gonna make that much of a defense, you haven’t seen him play much. The 4 years he was on the Browns, their run defense was terrible. He’s not Aaron Donald. I get that you’re hoping all is great, but until they prove it, all you have is hope. I guarantee you that if the Browns signed Trubisky and Ogunjobi, you wouldn’t be singing the Browns great moves. Those are not difference makers.
no, but getting Alualu back is huge
can’t run a 3-4 without a true nose
in 2020 steelers were 8th against the run,with a defense that also lost Tuitt early on , but featured Alualu and Heyward still
Teams don’t go from 24th to top 10 because of 2 average additions. You’re gonna have bottom 10 offense and at best 15th defense. Have you seen the talent in the AFC? Pittsburgh doesn’t match up. I think you know that too. You can’t win with Trubisky or Pickett. Maybe if you had a top 3 offensive line you could be like a Cleveland team with Mayfield
they were literally 8th in 2020 is what I’m saying
Right….with Tuitt and a younger Alualu. I don’t think the Steelers will be lousy but 7 or 8 wins is the most you can expect. I don’t expect the Browns to do any better than that if Watson is suspended for more than half the season and the Browns have the best running game in the league. Every back averaged over 5 yards per carry last year with a banged up OL. Browns also had a top 5 defense last year and returned all the starters but the DT. You don’t win with backup quarterbacks unless you’re Nick Foles.
The season is over before it even starts. You not winning with a below average quarterback. Same for the Browns, if Brissett is the quarterback for half the season, it’s wait until next year. This is a quarterback league
Cry for your own team, but don’t drag us down with you when you drown.
Madman…..even you have to admit that the Steelers have the least talent in the division. Watt, Heyward and Fitzpatrick are the only guys on defense and Harris is the only guy on offense. No quarterback. No offensive line. Receivers are average but young. Get used to 4th place for awhile until you get a quarterback. I know that from experience of being a Browns fan. No quarterback. Not winning
They made the playoffs with the least amount of talent in the division last year…. How did the paper champs do in Cleveland?
We had the 27th rated quarterback. You just made my point. Pittsburgh did make the playoffs but got embarrassed. Their lack of talent showed up. I’m not bragging on the Browns. I have nothing to talk about. I’m speaking from experience. No quarterback and you’re not winning. Trubisky and Pickett isn’t getting you to the playoffs. Judging from the talent in the division, get used to 4th place for awhile. You had a good run
steelers have arguably the best defense in the NFL and potentially the #1 fantasy football player in Najee.
they definitely will make a run at a wildcard spot
Made the playoffs last year with a weaker QB room and worse o-line
Excited to see them get back to “Steeler” football. Defense first with a hard nosed, grind em out running game.
You have be kidding me. They were the WORST run defense last year. They do have one of the top head coaches in Tomlin but that’s it. As for last year, Roethlisberger is better than Trubisky if for nothing else but his brains and experience. Ben couldn’t move or throw but he knew what he was doing.
I think they could compete for a wild card spot, but they’re not going anywhere in the postseason.
The run defense and offensive line are still questionable. Trubisky will likely prove more effective than Ben, if only due to an increase in athleticism and arm strength. Most statistics pointed to Pittsburgh being extremely fortunate to have made the postseason last year. Sure, veteran leadership and effective coaching likely helped them overachieve, but regression to the mean is more likely.
Despite being a Steelers fan, I must admit they currently own the worst roster in the division (albeit in a very talented one).
Wagner……have you seen the talent in the AFC? Trubisky isn’t better than Roethlisberger. Quarterback takes brains. Roethlisberger had that because of experience. Lots of quarterbacks have better arms but you gotta know where you are going with it
I’ll agree with you about the run defense. Never saw it as bad as last year and truthfully, it doesn’t look like they addressed it that well
But the “below average” quarterback dig is off base. Let’s be honest, Roethlisberger was a “below average” quarterback last year. I’m betting Trubisky and/or Pickett will be an improvement. And beefing up the o-line will only be a plus, not only for the QB but Najee, as well
It’s early. I have hopes. But looking at that schedule, it’s hard to see them winning more than 6 or 7 games unless these upgrades and better coaching really bear fruit
Roethlisberger would have beaten the Lions. You can’t rely on a rookie who won’t even be getting the most reps with the 1st team. Trubisky is a backup quarterback. He’s like Marrioti
“Roethlisberger would have beaten the Lions.”
Rudolph and Trubisky are not the same player. Also, there is no evidence suggesting that. The conditions were awful and quarterback play was far from the only thing keeping them from winning that game (drops, turnovers, poor run defense, etc.)
Nobody considers Trubisky a starting quarterback anymore. You combine him and/or a rookie with a bad offensive line and you don’t get good results. Roethlisberger held the ball the least last year. I don’t see Trubisky or Pickett being that decisive.
You don’t think Trubisky played with an equally porous offensive line? Even in his worst season, he still posted a better QBR than Ben did last year. I’m not saying he’s going to be any better than what one can expect from a stop gap, but let’s not pretend Roethlisberger was particularly efficient last year either.
As for the “lack of knowledge,” Trubisky essentially just took a gap year and learned from one of the best QBs in Josh Allen. That, combined with accumulated experience, will likely result in at least some maturity since his Chicago tenure.
Take it from a Browns fan, I used all the same rationale as you just did. Tyrod Taylor, RG3, Jeff Garcia and more. I don’t know how much Trubisky learned from Allen since Allen is still learning himself.
What’s your point? I’m not saying Trubisky is going to be our “savior.” I just think you’re overglorifying Ben. He wasn’t the same QB as prime Roethlisberger
My point is that Roethlisberger was ok despite the horrible OL because he knew the offense better than the offensive coordinator probably. I just don’t see Trubisky being able to make quick decisions. He’ll try to escape and nothing good happens doing that unless you’re Lamar Jackson. Don’t underestimate experience and knowledge of the offense. You can hide a bad line with that. Hopefully for Steeler fans, Pickett pans out but otherwise you can be looking for a quarterback every couple of years like the Browns and others have done. You don’t know how good you had it to have a quarterback that you knew that he’d be good every year for 15 years
you don’t think they addressed the run D by replacing 2 guys up front and adding Jack?
a front with Alualu, Oganjobi and Jack
is a huge upgrade over Wormley, Loudermilk and Schobert
steelers run D is usually amongst the best in the NFL , and 2021 was an exception due to early season ending injuries to Alualu and Tuitt
Again, you’re hoping. They were very bad last year. Those 2 guys aren’t gonna turn them into a stout run defense overnight. You Steeler fans are blind. This isn’t 1975 anymore.
they were bad with 2 backups on a front 3 ..
of course they were bad ..
yes getting actual starting calibour players in those positions is a drastic upgrade
But then, you acquired a backup quarterback. Makes no sense. You don’t win without a good starting quarterback. Even though Roethlisberger didn’t move and lost arm strength, you can’t diminish his knowledge of the offense and the fact that he’s a sure HOF.
Ben was a square peg in a round hole.
his knowledge of Matt Canada’s west coast offense was minimal.
he was throwing 150 yards per game in many cases.
I used to say the same things every year about the Browns. Tyrod Taylor will be better….RG3 will take us to the playoffs……Trent Dilfer won a Super Bowl so he has the experience. You guys have one of the worst quarterback rooms in the NFL. You don’t win that way. Sorry. You had a good run
We also had one of the worst QB rooms last year
I think you underestimated Roethlisberger’s experience. He got rid of the ball very quickly because he knew where everyone was supposed to be. Your OL will probably not be very good again this year either. Having a smart quarterback means everything. Look at Brady, he’s lost arm strength and mobility too but he always throws to the right guy.
You also need to consider the offensive scheme. Canada’s offense is designed to have the ball be released quickly; I’m willing to bet Roethlisberger’s release stats were inflated by the abundance of screens we ran last year. That’s why his QBR and Y/A we’re both low.
Yes, having a QB with less experience will hurt. However, what Trubisky/Pickett lack in that department they make up in mobility: a key asset for Canada’s offense.
I don’t deny our offense will probably struggle; but I can’t see it being any worse than last season
I remember Roethlisberger making some huge comebacks last year. They would have been better letting him throw it from the beginning. That’s why good quarterbacks are playing well longer. What they lose physically, they make up for it with experience. Brees, Brady, Rivers, Ryan and others. I don’t think your line is gonna allow for Harris to take over games.
you live in a false reality where Ben was familiar with Matt Canada’s offense.
he wasn’t. it was a blatant issue last season
You certainly don’t respect the guy that kept Pittsburgh relevant for 15 years. Keep dreaming that Trubisky is gonna lead Pittsburgh anywhere. Nobody considered him a starter. He’s basically Mariotti. Whether you think Roethlisberger knew the offense or not doesn’t take away his experience. Brady didn’t know Tampa’s offense but he won a Super Bowl because he knows defenses and what they’re doing and what he needs to do. They’ve seen it all. You don’t win with a backup quarterback. You should know that
you can scroll all the way up and find me saying pittsburgh just needs the QBs to be game managers.
To do what? There’s very few “game managers” that make the playoffs, yet alone win a game. Tannehill is a game manager and they sacked Burrow 9 times and still lost. And Tannehill is considerably better than Trubisky and Harris isn’t Henry. Cousins, Mayfield, Minshew, Tua, Bridgewater, Goff…..those guys are game managers. They don’t win. You think Pittsburgh is this great running team with a shutdown defense. They’re not. Like I said, Pittsburgh is probably 11th or 12th in talent in the AFC alone. What flavor kool-aid are you drinking?
I disagree regarding the Browns. If Brissett only starts 8 games, they are far from ruined. All they really need him to do is tread water by maintaining a record around .500. If Watson truly is an elite QB, the Browns will be able to pick things up upon his return and clinch a playoff spot (which is easier given the addition of the 7th seed to the picture).
So long as they make the postseason, the regular season is relatively meaningless to them
Wagner 13…depending on their defense. Brissett is good enough to win the first 4 games as long as the defense shows up early. I see Brissett going 3-5 and Watson 6-3. Not sure 9-8 does it.
Given the talent in the AFC, you might be write. However, I would not consider the season over if Jacoby has to start half their games. I would estimate they have a 50% shot at cracking the postseason in this scenario and once the playoffs begin, all bets are off
They have the best running game in the league and last year, a top 5 defense
you might be write
Most likely he will be on the bubble to even make the team as normal. He might be placed on ST.
agreed, but gives them the flexibility to cut McFarland
I was wondering who was finally going to give him a job. Solid pickup for the Steelers.
It’s funny, he has a better record as a starter than Watson.
And Baker Mayfield has a better record than Joe Burrow but who would 100% of the people rather have? Burrow or Mayfield? You need to come to the conversation with more than that. People are gonna think you’re stupid if you really believe Trubisky is better than Watson