Five reasons why the Steelers should sign Fred Jackson

Freddie Jackson-You Are My Lady
(Photo: Timothy T. Ludwig, USA TODAY Sports)

Fred Jackson"s first carry of the preseason was a 41-yard jaunt through the teeth of the Steelers defense.

Now, after being released by the Bills on Saturday, Jackson could be soon doing the same damage wearing the Black and Gold.

With a stable of young running backs headlined by Pro Bowler LeSean McCoy, the Bills cut Jackson, a Buffalo fan favorite after eight productive seasons with the Bills. Jackson, a former 1,000-yard back, became a free agent on Monday, and it would be a good idea for Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert to consider signing him to backup Le"Veon Bell and DeAngelo Williams. Here"s why:

1) The Steelers currently don"t have a reliable third running back: Josh Harris has not had a great preseason, rushing for 20 yards on 10 carries and dropping a pass in Saturday"s loss to Buffalo. And while he"s had a solid preseason, Dri Archer has yet to prove that he can consistently run effectively between the tackles. With Bell out for the Steelers" first two games, Pittsburgh has no reliable coverage at running back if Williams succumbs to an injury, something the team needs to address before its first game. If Jackson is willing to accept a backup position, he would be a reliable and proven backup for the Steelers backfield.

2) A proven back: Jackson was a model of consistency in Buffalo. He averaged a healthy 4.4 yards per carry with the Bills, and averaged 5.5 yards per carry in 2011. He"s a hard-nosed, no nonsense, straightened runner that seldom gets caught behind the line of scrimmage. His style of running would be ideal for third and short situations.

3) Jackson provides Bell-like versatility: Along with his rushing prowess, the Bills utilized Jackson"s ability as a receiver during his time in Buffalo. He caught 66 passes last season, and averaged 41 receptions a season with the Bills. Jackson would be an ideal replacement for Bell in terms of his catching ability during Pittsburgh"s first two games of the season.

4) He has some gas left in the tank: While his chronological age is 34, Jackson does not have an overwhelming amount of career carries for a back his age. Like Williams in Carolina, Jackson averaged less than 160 carries a season during his time in Buffalo. While he did suffer though various injuries in Buffalo, Jackson appears to be healthy now, and as a third string running back, he won"t be asked to carry the load, and should be fresh when his number is called to carry the rock.

5) Jackson is a veteran that wants to win: After being on eight non-playoff teams, Buffalo is buzzing in anticipation in hopes of a playoff run this season. Jackson was in the middle of the excitement until Monday, when Jackson faced the harsh reality that he won"t be there to possibly taste the fruit of his labors after nearly a decade of trying to will Buffalo in to the post season. If the Steelers sign Jackson to join their stable of running backs, they"d get a reliable, professional backup running back that will surely be driven to be apart of a team that can do some damage in the NFL playoffs.

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Source: http://pit.247sports.com/Bolt/Five-reasons-why-the-Steelers-should-sign-Fred-Jackson-39071349