Isaac Redman: 4 Valuable Skills Steelers RB Brings to Pittsburgh's Offense

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been struggling with a number of issues so far this season, including poor offensive line play, a bad run defense and a lack of a running game.

While much of those struggles running the ball are more attributable to that injury-plagued offensive line, others are directly related to poor play from starting running back Rashard Mendenhall.

With Mendenhall suffering from a grade one hamstring strain and not practicing on Wednesday, his status for this Sunday's game is up in the air. While he may practice on Thursday and play against the Titans this weekend, it is likely that many of his carries will be instead handed off to fellow back Isaac Redman.

Redman has had more success in his limited carries so far this season, and if that continues, may supplant Mendenhall's spot on the Steelers' roster.

Here, I detail four reasons why Redman is worthy of more snaps this season.

Isaac Redman Is Simply a Change of Pace

Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians has long been criticized for predictable play calling, with a run-run-pass or pass-run-pass pattern for practically every down.

This strategy can work, however, if those predictable combinations are shaken up with different versions of the same plays. Isaac Redman can therefore be a change of pace without a considerable shift in offensive philosophy, to a successful end.

Rashard Mendenhall has been the undisputed No. 1 back in Pittsburgh for long enough for defenses to plan for him accordingly. Putting Redman into a running play that would normally call for Mendenhall means he shakes up the opposing defenses.

If opponents are preparing for a running back with an altogether different style of play than Redman, then his runs have an inherent element of surprise. Catching a defense off guard on a running play is one of the most savvy moves an offense can do, and Redman is the key to that for the Steelers.

Redman's Yards Per Carry Are Higher Than Mendenhall's

Rashard Mendenhall's lack of success is attributable primarily to the poor offensive line blocking for him. However, there is one telling statistic that makes it clear that the line isn't his only problem.

Mendenhall is averaging three yards per carry in his 58 rushes for a total of 173 yards. In contrast, Redman, who has nearly one third of the carries as Mendenhall, at 22, has 107 yards, for an average of 4.9 yards.

Surely, there are reasons for this beyond some type of issue with Mendenhall himself. In the previous slide, I explained how Mendenhall's runs have become predictable to opposing defenses and the change of pace that Redman represents surely contributes to his greater success.

However, yards are yards, and when one back can get half of a first down, on average, in one rush, it makes him a valuable player. Especially when the alternative, the starter, is struggling to get much more than three yards each time he's handed the ball.

Redman's Playing Style Meshes with Struggling Offensive Line

Another factor contributing to Isaac Redman's higher yards per carry average than Rashard Mendenhall's is the way he approaches running the ball.

So far this season, Mendenhall has appeared indecisive in his runs, dancing around behind the line trying to choose the more effective lane. This makes the weak blocking even weaker, as he wastes important time deciding which hole will lead to the biggest lane into the second level of the defense.

In contrast, Redman bursts straight ahead into the first hole he sees, making a decisive move as quickly as possible. He can get through the limited holes provided by his offensive line before they inevitably snap shut and gain more meaningful yards.

Mendenhall appears distrustful of his struggling offensive line, while Redman looks content to drive forward, making something out of seemingly nothing. If the Steelers want to correct their floundering rushing production, giving more carries to the seemingly in-control Redman can improve things immediately.

Redman Is the Most Versatile Back on the Team

While both Rashard Mendenhall and Isaac Redman have roles to play in Pittsburgh's passing game, it's Redman who has the clear advantage.

Through four games, Mendenhall has caught five passes for 21 yards, while Redman has pulled down two for 18; that makes Mendenhall's average yardage on pass plays just over four, while Redman is averaging nine yard a reception.

While this is a very small sample size and doesn't provide us with much to go on, the fact that Redman has greater straight-ahead speed and doesn't have Mendenhall's history of fumbles holding him back means that his contributions in the passing game could surely surpass Mendenhall's.

The speedy Redman is a great passing option for Roethlisberger, especially in situations where he finds himself under pressure (not uncommon) and needs to dump the ball off quickly.

As Redman gets increased playing time (which I believe will happen regardless of Mendenhall's injury status), his role in the Steelers' passing game will increase in turn.