Every year, players come to the scouting combine and turn in blazing 40 times before fading into obscurity when the pads come on and their speed alone isn’t enough to make them productive NFL players.
Steelers running back Dri Archer put up just such a time this year, the fastest at the combine in fact, and faced some of the same questions about his overall abilities when Pittsburgh drafted him in the third round. His first preseason action boosted hope that he’ll be more than just another fast guy.
Archer turned a screen pass from Ben Roethlisberger into a 46-yard gain against the Giants, giving the team a play that could have only been better if it had resulted in a touchdown. It was still an eye-opener, though, and the night’s work, which included another catch and two carries, boosted Archer’s confidence.
“I showed that I can play in the NFL,” Archer said, via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Archer’s speed and ability out of the backfield could come in handy alongside Le’Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount in the Steelers backfield this season. It’s not the kind of piece that the Steelers have had on offense in the recent past and it’s one that could make for a more productive offense come the regular season if the Steelers figure out how to make everyone fit into their scheme.