What can Stevan Ridley bring to the Steelers?
On Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Steelers made two roster moves, moving rookie running back James Conner to the injured reserve list following an MCL injury while simultaneously announcing the signing of veteran back Stevan Ridley.
The addition of Ridley doesn’t figure to be a long-term plan, but in the interim, what can fans expect from the former New England Patriot and Denver Bronco?
I would say “not much”.
Ridley, originally drafted by the Patriots in 2011, was sitting out in free agency land after failing to stick to the Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings rosters earlier this season. Ridley entered camp with Denver and later caught on with Minnesota before being released in October.
That’s some good news at least since Stevan has gone through the rigors of football and has only collected dust for about a month. It also makes the 28-year-old a more salivating option than former Steeler DeAngelo Williams, who is six years his senior. While Williams had a couple of great years in a black and gold uniform, he was not in any team’s camp this offseason and would be coming into this situation even colder than Ridley. Williams also fought off injuries during his time in Pittsburgh, and while he could still be on speed dial, for all intents and purposes there isn’t any player in the Steelers backfield who was going to take snaps away from Pro Bowl running back Le’Veon Bell.
That would also include a healthy James Conner, who played 68 snaps this season. That amounts to a little over 6% of the team’s offensive plays in 2017, with less than half of those going for a carry. Conner finishes his season with 32 carries for 144 yards and only one pass thrown his direction (which wasn’t caught).
I wouldn’t expect Ridley to be in the Steelers plans at all, at least on Monday, where they take on the Houston Texans. New to the team, he will have to go through the paces of learning the playbook and getting accustomed to the offense. For now, expect Fitzgerald Toussaint to be Bell’s immediate backup, with Ridley situated in a position where he would only be called upon when expressly needed.
In fact, if Ridley doesn’t show flashes in a few weeks of practice, there’s even a possibility the Steelers call Terrell Watson back up from the practice squad. Watson has appeared in ten games this season, but as a completely different style of runner (a ground and pound, short yardage back) he was expendable. Ditto that sentiment when the team has struggled in the kick return department, an area where Ridley may also be leaned on to contribute.
Ridley’s best season came with the Patriots in 2012, his second season in the league. He carried the ball 290 times for 1,263 yards and 12 touchdowns despite New England’s “running back by committee” approach with Danny Woodhead, Shane Vereen, and Brandon Bolden. Ridley would be put by the wayside in 2013 when the Patriots acquired LeGarrette Blount, as each roughly had the same amount of carries and yards, while each contributing seven scores each.
Ridley suffered a torn ACL in 2014, ending his season, and his Patriots career, early. He jumped to the New York Jets in 2015 where he appeared in nine games and all but disappeared in 2016 with a single game, three-carry appearance with the Atlanta Falcons, in another crowded backfield situation with Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman.
He has not appeared for any team this season, and that could continue to remain true depending on the Steelers postseason situation over the next two weeks. However, Ridley could be capable if called upon. For his career Ridley has 688 carries for 2,914 yards and 22 touchdowns. He also has 27 receptions for 144 yards.
Yet, I’d pump the brakes on any major expectations. Ridley will likely make his presence known most on special teams, should the coaching staff have faith in playing him over risking Toussaint as Bell’s backup. He’s simply an emergency back, one who was the best available.
At best, he turns his career into a third-down back like Mewelde Moore did when he left the Vikings.
At worst, he gives Pittsburgh a capable veteran if their running back situation took a turn for the worst.
