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Analysis: Is Steelers rookie RB Benny Snell faster than we all think?

Benny Snell rookie minicap
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Pittsburgh Steelers RB Benny Snell (24) – MATT SUNDAY / DKPS

Benny Snell is excited to be a part of the Pittsburgh Steelers — and Steelers fans, coaches and players alike reciprocate the love.

• Snell's top gear: Steelers fans seem pretty excited over fourth-round running back Benny Snell, who racked up a school-record 3,873 rushing yards at Kentucky with a punishing style. But there are concerns over the bruiser's top-end speed, which only intensified when he turned in a 4.66 40-yard dash time at the NFL combine. For fans who think Snell is more like James Conner (who himself ran a 4.65 40 at the Combine) than, say, Frank Summers, here's an encouraging stat: Snell broke off 39 rushing plays of at least 10 yards during the 2018 college season. That ranked 12th in the nation among major college programs. He ranked in the top 30 in the country the year before, too, with 35 runs of 10+ yards. Snell doesn't have breath-taking straight-line speed, but he can make some splash plays.

• Picking up the pace: While the Steelers endured a disappointing 2018 season overall, the offense did boost its scoring average from 25.4 points per game in 2017 (eighth in the NFL) to 26.8 (tied for sixth). And they did it while giving defenders less time to rest. According to Football Outsiders, the Steelers averaged 27.6 seconds between offensive snaps last year (15th in the league), compared to 28.3 seconds the previous year (20th). There was a bigger difference in their offensive pace in the first half between 2017 (28 seconds, 15th) and 2018 (27 seconds, seventh). The Steelers increased their points per game during the first half from 13.5 in 2017 to 14.8 in 2018. During the second half, their points per game total declined from 12.8 in '17 to 12.0 in '18.

Pick up the pace, part 2: One possible reason for the team's more up-tempo offensive play in 2018? Their love of the no-huddle. According to NFL Savant, the Steelers took an NFL-high 12.4 percent of their snaps out of no-huddle formations in 2018. They gained an NFL-high 1,168 yards in no-huddle formations, and ranked fourth in the game among teams in yards gained per no-huddle snap (6.95) behind the Saints (13), 49ers (7.4) and Rams (7.1). With a younger, less-experienced set of receivers, will the Steelers still be able to rely as much on the no-huddle in 2019? 

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