As a big-play running back in college, Anthony McFarland sought to make a big splash during his first NFL season in 2020.
Eleven games, 39 carries, 167 yards from scrimmage and no touchdowns later, humility isn’t the only lesson McFarland took from his first year with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“Patience,” McFarland said. “Last year, the only thing I learned is every play is not going to be a big play. I feel like every time I got the ball last year, I always thought to myself, ‘(Opportunities) are going to be very limited,’ so when I got the ball, I tried to do too much with it.
“But I know now, at this level every play is not going to be the big play. You have to get the dirty, tough yards. Four yards is a good run, and that’s something that I understand coming into this year.”
A 2020 fourth-round pick out of Maryland, McFarland enters his second season in search of a niche in an offense that added a workhorse running back in first-round pick Najee Harris. The Steelers drafted McFarland because of his “splash-play” abilities in college, but that didn’t materialize as a rookie.
The most memorable play involving McFarland last season was when the Steelers threw downfield to him on a fourth-and-1 late in the fourth quarter of what ended up their first loss of the season, to Washington in December.
The pass fell incomplete, but McFarland said he didn’t dwell on it.
“I forget about plays like that. Next-play mentality,” he said after Wednesday’s practice at Heinz Field. “But at the end of the day, (receiving) is something I will always work on like I should. I am just trying to find ways to help the team.”
During the first padded practice of camp Wednesday, McFarland was noticeable and took plenty of reps with the first-team offense. He also was returning punts.
McFarland said he added 5 pounds over the offseason but made sure he kept his 4.3 speed. That he figures to enter the season as the Steelers’ No. 3 running back isn’t fazing him.
“I just worked,” McFarland said of the offseason. “Had my head down. Just stayed off the media and just really worked on myself. I know what I’ve got to do. Just block out all the outside noise. Just trying to help the team the best I can.”
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