Rookie RB McFarland makes most of opportunity in Steelers debut

Anthony McFarland used his 4.44 speed to split the seams and make big plays while playing at Maryland.

McFarland averaged 6.7 yards per carry — the third-best mark in program history — during his two years with the Terrapins.

His coaches, though, would tell him not to get down if he didn’t break a long run on every carry.

“Four yards is a good run,” McFarland said. “That’s my mentality running the ball.”

McFarland apparently was in a good frame of mind in his NFL debut for the Pittsburgh Steelers. McFarland not only exceeded those modest expectations Sunday in a 28-21 victory against the Houston Texans, he surpassed his college average. McFarland averaged 7.0 yards by rushing for 42 yards on six attempts to help the Steelers record a season-high 169 rushing yards.

McFarland opened with a 7-yard run on the Steelers’ opening drive. He broke off a 20-gain run in the second quarter and opened the second half with an 11-yard burst as the Steelers incorporated McFarland into the running back rotation with backup Benny Snell.

“He’s a great young back,” All-Pro guard David DeCastro said. “I like the way he moves in space, his cutting ability. He’s very fluid, and he’s young, too, which is great at that position.”

Without the benefit of on-field offseason workouts or a four-game preseason, the Steelers coaches were leery about working the 21-year-old McFarland into the gameplan. McFarland was inactive for Week 1 at the New York Giants and didn’t get snap in the second game against the Denver Broncos despite being on the game day roster.

“Sometimes game circumstances don’t allow certain roles to develop,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “We like the overall trajectory of his game. He’s been working hard and practicing hard and having professional detail in his work. So we had trust in his abilities. It was good to get him in the mix.”

At 5-foot-8, 193 pounds, McFarland is the shortest and lightest running back on the 53-man roster or practice squad. He also has the best breakaway speed as evidenced by the 75-yard and 81-yard touchdowns he reeled off against Ohio State as a redshirt freshman or the 80-yard touchdown he scored against Rutgers as a redshirt sophomore.

McFarland declared for the draft after that season, and the Steelers took him in the fourth round.

McFarland was prepared to bide his time until the Steelers found a role for him the backfield.

“I went through the same thing with my career in football, and I’ve learned how to have patience and wait until your number is called,” McFarland said. “I went through it in high school and college. I’m numb to it. All I know is just to keep my head down and keep going, and good thing will happen.”

The Steelers didn’t hesitate to use McFarland to fill in for starter James Conner against the Texans. McFarland was on the field for 10 snaps, and he got the ball eight times: six runs and two pass targets (he had one reception for 7 yards).

“I didn’t know how many I would get,” McFarland said. “In my head I thought if I got two or one, I would be happy with the opportunity. I was trying to seize the opportunity I got. I was excited to be a part of something.”

By turning his first two opportunities into a combined 27 rushing yards, McFarland showed he was worthy of more snaps in the second half. He was involved in the first three plays of the third quarter and touched the ball four times on a 12-play drive that ended with Chris Boswell’s 26-yard field goal.

The way McFarland ran reminded DeCastro of former Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams, who rushed for 8,069 yards in an 11-year career.

“One cut, boom, downhill,” DeCastro said. “Very, very smooth. I’m excited to see him get some more touches.”

So is McFarland, although he realizes where he stands in the running back pecking order. Conner is the starter, Snell is the backup and he is the change-of-pace runner.

“I know a lot of guys came up to me and said I had a good debut, that I ran good,” McFarland said. “That felt good, but in the back of my head, I have to keep my head down and realize it was one game, and I still have to be productive.”