Steelers RB Stephens-Howling feels right at home

Associated Press

LATROBE, Pa.

At 5-foot-7, LaRod Stephens-Howling doesn’t feel out of place during some of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ more size-oriented training camp drills.

The running back has held his own during short-yardage and goal-line exercises and has looked right at home in “backs-on-backers” protection drills.

It has helped that playing for the Steelers has made Stephens-Howling feel like he’s home — even if he didn’t join the team until just this past offseason.

A western Pennsylvania native who played at Pitt, Stephens-Howling is awash in familiarity during his first season with Pittsburgh.

His hometown of Johnstown is about 45 minutes from the training camp site at St. Vincent College, and Stephens-Howling shared a practice facility with the Steelers while in college at Pitt.

Even his new home stadium, Heinz Field, also is his old home stadium. Pitt and the Steelers share the venue.

“It’s a great feeling — a homecoming feeling,” Stephens-Howling said between workouts Saturday. “But after all that excitement gets out of the way, we’re still at training camp and we’re working hard to get a job on the 53. It doesn’t matter where you’re at, that’s it.”

Stephens-Howling’s roster spot would appear to be safe, even in a crowded backfield. A fifth-year pro, he was brought in to compete for third-down back and kick returning roles.

Both are tasks he showed a proficiency for over four season (57 career games) with the Arizona Cardinals. A seventh-round pick in 2009, Stephens-Howling has amassed 4,067 yards and three touchdowns in the kick return game over his career in addition to seven touchdowns off plays from scrimmage.

“He’s definitely given us some versatility,” said Isaac Redman, who broke last season’s camp as the starting running back. “He can catch, and he’s pretty quick. When you get him out in space he’s hard to tackle. You’re not going to catch him from behind.”

Speed always has been the hallmark for Stephens-Howling, who led Pitt in rushing his freshman and sophomore seasons but backed up future NFL All-Pro LeSean McCoy late in his college career.

Pure speed is what has made him such an attractive option as a returner.

On offense, while lack of size has shied NFL teams away from considering Stephens-Howling as an every-down runner, an ability to catch balls out of the backfield helps make him an ideal third-down back.

Lacking prototypical options at both kick returner and third-down back after last year’s 8-8 season, the Steelers signed Stephens-Howling as a free agent in April.

“When I visited the Steelers, they talked about the opportunities they had at third-down back stuff and in return,” Stephens-Howling said. “It looked good for me to come here and have the opportunity to compete for those jobs. At the same time it’s closer to home; I’ve been across the country for four years so it’s nice to be closer to home.”