Pittsburgh Steelers: Are They Trying to Recreate the 2010 Chiefs Backfield?

The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the teams that don't really play games or create smokescreens in the weeks leading up to the draft. If they have a prospect visit their South Side facility, you can be reasonably certain that they are interested in adding him via the draft. So, what do we make of recent visits by two running backs?

Cincinnati RB Isaiah Pead and Oregon RB LaMichael James have both visited in the last 10 days. Both are ranked roughly as third-round prospects and they possess excellent receiving ability in addition to their abilities in the return game. Both are prospects that are more quick and fast than big and strong.

Curiously, general manager Kevin Colbert had said that the team felt "confident" in their young running backs, but then head coach Mike Tomlin said at the owners meetings that he was "sure we are going to get another running back, whether it’s in free agency or in the draft. We will address it."

Add in that new offensive coordinator Todd Haley had the league's top running game in 2010 with the power-speed combination of Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles, and the picture comes into focus.

Scout.com Steelers beat writer Jim Wexell shared the belief on Twitter Thursday that the Steelers may be trying to reproduce that kind of backfield (and gave credit to Adam Hutchinson for originating the idea). 

We won't know the outcome for two more weeks, but the Steelers are giving clear signals that they are considering a two-headed RB approach for 2012 and beyond.