Tim Benz: How James Conner is employing tactics to stay ‘combative’ but remain healthy
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As Steelers fans read this post about running back James Conner, rest easy.
I’m writing it while sitting at a large wooden table. And, yes, I am knocking on it periodically so as to deflect any jinxes about the recent good stretch of Conner’s health.
Conner’s career has been one that has always garnered praise for his effort and productivity — when healthy.
But it has always come with that pesky addendum — when healthy.
So far in 2020, Conner has been both: productive and, for the most part, available.
The fourth-year back was sidelined during the opener against the New York Giants with an ankle injury. Since then, he has 120 touches, mostly incident-free.
As a result, he is fifth in the AFC and 10th in the NFL with 498 rushing yards. And he’s managed to do it while continuing to employ his straight-ahead, take-on-contact approach.
Yet Conner has also appeared to slip away from, ward off and minimize some of the bullseye, hard hits — the ones that have led to Conner’s injuries — normally associated with that style of play.
Never one to shy away from contact, Conner often has absorbed a lot of direct blows to the shoulders, quads and core of his body, thus leading to the injuries that have nagged at him during his career.
Like his shoulder injury against the Miami Dolphins last year. Or his leg injury against the Chargers in 2018.
In 2020, though, Conner appears to have polished some skills that have allowed him to maintain a volume of snaps and continue his straightforward running agenda.
He uses a stiff arm much more effectively. Conner is employing a spin move as a way to roll off and avoid direct contact. And he is even developing a sidestep move in the hole more often instead of trying to barrel over every second-level defender he sees.
Many of those weapons were on display en route to his 111 yards from scrimmage in a 27-24 win against the Tennessee Titans two weeks ago.
“I don’t really go into a game saying, ‘I’m going to try a spin move in this game,’ or anything,” Conner said in a recent Zoom interview. “When I do it, it just kind of happens naturally. I don’t really think about it. I’ve just been trying to use all my tools — spin move, stiff arm — anything I can to just try to keep this run game going.”
Steelers coaches don’t see a departure in Conner’s bowling-ball mentality this season. Rather, there’s layered nuance to it.
“Physical confrontation is a part of his play,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “I don’t think he is avoiding that. I appreciate that element of his play. He’s finding his rhythm. He’s utilizing all of the tools and developing skills that are going to make him a complete back down the stretch for us. I like the overall trajectory of his play. He’s a competitor. He’s a combative guy. I don’t think he’s running away from confrontations or fears the consequences of those.”
To hear offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner describe Conner’s approach, some of Conner’s increased ability to fend off direct impact at the point of attack has allowed him to be even more physical when those head-on collisions are unavoidable.
“It’s effective, for sure,” Fichtner said of Conner’s expanding toolbox prior to the Steelers’ 28-24 win in Baltimore. “I think some of the skills he’s starting to develop, from a stiff arm to potentially a sidestep and maybe possibly that spin, might put him in a position of him being more aggressive.”
Yet Fichtner sees no erosion in the battering-ram qualities that got Conner to the Pro Bowl in his first season as a starter in 2017. Instead, his diversified approach to running has actually led to more opportunities to show off those traits as close games have grinded into the second half.
Like the 28-21 win over the Houston Texans in Week 3 when Conner racked up 149 yards from scrimmage and scored a fourth-quarter touchdown to provide cushion for the victory.
“He’s not one of those guys that holds anything back,” Fichtner continued. “I think he’s used some better technique and fundamentals.
“I really love where James is at right now because he’s made himself available. … He’s obviously being more durable, and he’s on the field more.”
Conner isn’t overburdening himself with analysis about when and how to pull out a certain move in a certain situation. It’s more a matter of letting instincts take over.
“Just trying to play physical. Play fast. Play free,” Conner said. “That’s when I’m at my best, when I just know the game plan well, execute and play football.”
My knuckles are a different story, though. Knocking on this wooden table, they’ve gotten pretty sore while writing this column. I don’t blame you if yours have as well while reading it.