Home Player Spotlight Toussaint, Todman Signings Deserve Praise

Toussaint, Todman Signings Deserve Praise

by Steeldad

No one has been more critical of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ front office than me. There were times in recent years where I was ready to pack up General Manager Kevin Colbert’s office myself if that’s what it took but I can also admit when the guy does some good things. Signing DeAngelo Williams is an obvious no-brainer but that’s not who I’m talking about.

The additions of Fitzgerald Toussaint and Jordan Todman seemed like nothing more than just an attempt by Colbert to fill a few spots but that couldn’t have been further from the truth. With starter Le’Veon Bell out for the season and Williams out for at least this opening playoff game, confidence was not high that Toussiant and Todman could get the job done.

My how things look now huh? The two combined for 123 yards on 28 carries which was more than enough to keep the Bengals’ defense at bay. In what I can only describe as the latest version of “Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside,” Toussaint did much of the heavy lifting between the tackles while Todman used his speed to get on the edges. The change of pace worked brilliantly at times.

If you’re wondering how Colbert discovered these two then you join a lot of other people. In Todman’s case, Colbert and the Steelers got an up close look at him in the preseason when he ripped the Steelers for 72 yards on five carries while a member of the Carolina Panthers. One of his runs was a 49-yarder for a score.

Toussaint was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Baltimore Ravens in 2014 and despite over 100 yards rushing in their preseason finale that year, he was cut and spent the season on the practice squad. When he was finally cut free in September of this year the Steelers scooped him up.

Whether these guys continue to provide the Steelers with exactly what they need (as Williams’ status is still in doubt) is anyone’s guess but Kevin Colbert and his staff deserve credit for signing both of them. After a season of seeing no action they both rose to the occasion when the Steelers needed them most.

Photo courtesy yahoo.com

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