Forget about college: Parker is a star now

By Darrell Laurant  |   Friday, November 24, 2006  |  Comments( 2 )

Pittsburgh Steelers
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans!
Perhaps it's time to start taking Pittsburgh Steelers running back Willie Parker seriously.

He's fourth in the league in rushing with over 800 yards. He's scored nine touchdowns. He's only fumbled twice in 200 carries. And he's one of two backs this season with a 200-yard game (213 yards in a victory two weeks ago over New Orleans; the 49ers' Frank Gore eclipsed the 200-yard mark last week).

Moreover, Parker is starting to assert himself in the locker room as well as on the field. In the midst of the Steelers' early-to-midseason funk, Parker suggested that perhaps some of his teammates weren't as hungry as they'd been on the way to a Super Bowl title in 2005. Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher called Parker on the carpet (or maybe his office has astroturf) for his remarks, but the Steelers are 2-0 since Parker's declaration.

Until this year, "Fast Willie" performed beneath the broad shadow of fellow back Jerome Bettis. Bettis had a large personality to match his girth, and he was the guy who got the ball when the game was on the line.

But then Bettis retired, and Duce Staley was supposed to take his place as "thunder" to Parker's lightning. But Staley couldn't seem to get past his injury problems, and the Steelers became basically a one-back team, picking up free agent Najeh Davenport to provide Parker with relief.

Parker's running style may keep him from getting the respect he deserves, as well. Cowher described that style recently, noting: "Willie Parker is one of those guys, like a lot of the great backs in my mind, you can hold and hold him, then you get that one play where he makes one guy miss. Other running backs would be looking at a 20- or 30-yard gain, but Willie will take it for 60 or 70."

Or 75, the run he reeled off against Seattle that broke the Seahawks' back in the Super Bowl. Or 72 and 76, two of his carries against the Saints.

Incredibly, Parker went undrafted out of the University of North Carolina, primarily because he didn't start as a senior and averaged just 3.8 yards a carry behind draftee Ronnie McGill.

The knock on Fast Willie in college was that while he had speed to burn (he reeled off a 4.3 at the NFL combine) he "lacked vision." Maybe the UNC coaches lacked vision, as well.

Parker doesn't move piles of defenders. He doesn't dance, although he's becoming more elusive as his career progresses. He is, rather, a ticking time bomb.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger got most of the attention after a 24-20 victory over the Cleveland Browns last week, and deservedly so -- after all, it was Big Ben who threw for 224 yards in the fourth quarter to fuel a Steeler comeback. But Parker barged in from the 1-yard line (where the Bus used to be parked), then caught a short shovel pass from Roethlisberger with 32 seconds left for the victory.

So much for Parker being a liability in the red zone.

"He's silenced all his critics who said he couldn't be an every day back," said Steeler WR Hines Ward, who said he likes playing with Parker "because you don't have to hold your blocks too long."
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans! (2)

About Darrell Laurant

Sorry, Darrell Laurant's bio is currently not available. Please check back soon!
read more
Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report