He’s been given high praise on a national stage by a legend at his position. A college teammate who’s joined him in the pros can’t say enough good things about him. A prominent new teammate has taken a liking to him, and he has quite the “in” with a notable member of his new offensive coaching staff.
Two weeks into his tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers, it seems Anthony McFarland can do no wrong. Even if he hasn’t yet been on so much as a practice field and even if he somewhat-unwittingly added an extra layer of pressure via his choice of uniform number.
McFarland, a running back, will wear No. 26 for the Steelers. The same number that Le’Veon Bell wore for the team while accumulating almost 8,000 yards from scrimmage and two first-team All Pro honors over five seasons for the team.
“I watch his game, I study his film as somebody who’s been a great back in the league for a long time,” McFarland said during a video conference call with media Saturday. “It’s definitely me looking up at him and not a sign of disrespect.”
Bell probably takes no offense. He has no reason to believe McFarland isn’t sincere. But what could have been taken as a sign of disrespect by Bell came from two-time All-American college running back Reggie Bush. Bush, a former No. 2 overall NFL Draft pick, on “Fox Football Now” this week compared the 5-foot-8, 208-pound McFarland favorably to Bell.
Last night on #FoxFootballNow, @ReggieBush stated he believes that new @steelers running back, @AnttMacc_, could be as good if not better than Le’Veon Bell!! Reggie knows running backs and I trust his football mind, what do you all think? #FootballTalk pic.twitter.com/If1YdNBIDw
— Curt Menefee (@curtmenefee) May 5, 2020
“He is a game-breaking type of player,” Bush said. “And I think he has the ability to be just as good as Le’Veon Bell, or if not better.”
McFarland was aware of the comments. In an apparent recognition of his current status as a rookie and as no better than No. 3 or 4 on the Steelers’ running backs depth chart, he did his best to downplay it.
“It definitely means a lot coming from him,” McFarland said, “but at the end of the day I haven’t played a down in the NFL yet, so I know that really (doesn’t mean) too much to me because I have to go out there and have to get it done.”
McFarland’s 4.4 speed and big-play ability in college provide intrigue that he can contribute to an offense that already has James Conner, Benny Snell and Jaylen Samuels at running back.
That triumvirate led the way for a 2019 rushing offense that averaged a paltry 90.4 yards, fourth-worst in the NFL. Though plenty of factors outside the running backs’ control played a part (mostly, Ben Roethlisberger’s injury), it was a glaring signal the Steelers had yet to adequately replace Bell, who signed with the New York Jets last spring after sitting out the 2018 season in a contract dispute.
McFarland was in high school and sitting through a redshirt year at Maryland while Bell was starring for the Steelers. He said he “idolizes” Bell.
“I’ve always been a big fan of Le’Veon Bell,” McFarland said. “He’s always been the best running back in the league to me.”
McFarland wasn’t even the best running back in the Big Ten’s East division while playing for the Terrapins the past two seasons, though injury played a part in that. But he averaged 6.8 yards with his 239 career carries and had 13 touchdowns. He also had a 298-yard game against Big Ten champion Ohio State in 2018.
Perhaps that is what earned the respect of Devin Bush, who then plated for Ohio State’s bitter rival (Michigan) and last year was the Steelers’ first-round pick. McFarland said although Bush did plenty of trash-talking when their college teams met two years ago, Bush since has become a friend.
“He came up to me after that game and told me how much he respected my game and told me to keep working hard,” McFarland said Saturday after a Steelers rookie minicamp session. “That meant a lot to me coming from a guy like that.”
Anthony McFarland and others on the #Steelers roster, including Benny Snell and Jaylen Samuels, will be used in supporting roles that will be defined in training camp — whenever that takes place. https://t.co/Jghuljmj9W
— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) May 3, 2020
McFarland also got a glowing recommendation from his head coach that 2018 season, Matt Canada, who in January was hired as the Steelers’ quarterbacks coach.
Another 2018 Terrapin has accompanied McFarland to Pittsburgh, too. Taken in the sixth round by the Steelers, safety Antoine Brooks affectionately said of McFarland, “That’s my running back.”
“He has speed, and he’s going to use that attitude and aggression he has and get that first down and get whatever you want to get,” Brooks said. “You never know what Anthony McFarland going to give you. He’s a jack of all trades. Can’t wait until he shows everyone what he’s got.”
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