NFL Rumors: Why Isaac Redman Will Shine as Pittsburgh Steelers Feature Back

The Pittsburgh Steelers head into the 2012 season without Rashard Mendenhall in their immediate plans, but luckily for Mike Tomlin's squad, they have Isaac Redman, a reliable backup ready to take on feature back duties. 

While the team will miss the size, deceptive speed and experience Mendenhall brings to the field each Sunday, they know what they're getting with the 27-year-old out of Bowie State. Redman's made the stat sheet in all but one of the first 32 games he's played in since entering the league in 2010. 

After Mendenhall went down with injury last year, the second-year runner stepped in, and the Steelers didn't miss a beat. 

He carried the ball 19 times for 92 yards with a rushing touchdown against the Cleveland Browns in Week 17. 

In the devastating loss to the Denver Broncos in the playoffs, Redman impressed to the tune of 121 yards on 17 carries. 

When we think of the Steelers, we think of defense and a hard-nose run-heavy team. While their defense is still among the league's elite, they've quietly become one of the pass-happier clubs in football over the last few seasons. 

In 2009, Ben Roethlisberger averaged 33.7 attempts per game. In 2010, Big Ben appeared in only 12 games, but fired the football an average of 32.4 times. Last year, he averaged a career high 34.2 attempts per contest. 

While some Steelers fans would like to see the running game featured more prominently, you can't fault former offensive coordinator Bruce Arians for calling more passing plays with Roethlisberger under center and Hines Ward, Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown out wide. 

Don't expect new offensive coordinator Todd Haley to abandon his pass-heavy and run the daylights out of the football—which plays precisely into Pittsburgh getting the most out of Redman. 

He's never received 20 carries in any individual game, and the Steelers will keep it that way. He'll then be able to stay fresh and contribute in the passing game as well. 

Redman won't be a feature back by the old definition of the phrase, but he'll lead the team in rushes and should have near 20 touches every week. 

With a similar downhill yet shifty style to that of Mendenhall and bulldozer David DeCastro blocking in front of him, expect Redman to be a competent runner in one of the more well-balanced offensive attacks in the AFC. 

Rashard Mendenhall's contract is up at the end of 2012 season. 

Maybe Redman will be the team's featured runner of the future. 

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