Steelers guard B.J. Finney cowboys up on Le’Veon Bell’s record day
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. 鈥� In his 10-gallon hat, cowboy boots and duster, B.J. Finney moseyed triumphantly out into the snowy Buffalo night.
If it seems odd that a 25-year-old Kansan would be wearing the Roy Rogers attire in Western New York in December, it is. But it鈥檚 no less odd that Finney would be part of a Steelers offensive line that was the catalyst behind Le鈥橵eon Bell鈥檚 record-breaking day.
On 39 carries, more than a few of them of the highlight-reel variety, Bell rushed for an astounding 236 yards and three touchdowns in Sunday鈥檚 27-20 win over the Buffalo Bills at snowy New Era Field.
Consider this: Bell had more rushing yards in a game than Franco Harris, Jerome Bettis, John Henry Johnson or any other running back to ever wear a Steelers uniform.
And for that, Bell can thank 鈥� among many others 鈥� Finney.
Yes, the same Finney who was undrafted out of Kansas and spent all of last season on the practice squad. That guy. Finney made just the second start of his fledgling career on Sunday after left guard Ramon Foster was inactive with a chest injury. That left Finney with the best seat in the house to watch Bell鈥檚 masterful performance, sort of.
鈥淭he only time I watch is when he鈥檚 10 yards downfield,鈥� Finney said with a big smile. 鈥淭he rest of the time, I鈥檓 doing my job.鈥�
Well, Finney and his colleagues did their jobs very well against a Buffalo pass rush that had 33 sacks entering the game. On Sunday, they got none. It was the third time in four games that Ben Roethlisberger had a clean pocket. Finney went up against Marcel Dareus and got the better of Buffalo鈥檚 two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle.
But it was in run blocking where the Steelers have really excelled during their four-game winning streak. Not coincidentally, it was the fourth straight game that Bell reached the century mark in rushing yards, tying a team record set by Willie Parker in 2006-07.
鈥淭hose guys worked their tails off today,鈥� Bell said of his linemen.
鈥淓verything is just clicking,鈥� Finney said. 鈥淕etting guys in the right areas, getting the right blocks and staying on blocks. All the little things are starting to click and fall in place, and as a result we were able to move the ball.鈥�
On Sunday, in a game in which the Steelers figured to run the ball, they finally got around to it in the second half after throwing the ball 鈥� with little success 鈥� 26 times through the snow in the first half. In the second half, Bell carried the ball 25 times and Buffalo was powerless to stop him.
鈥淚t鈥檚 awesome,鈥� Finney said. 鈥淭he guy runs hard and hits the holes and obviously today was proof of that. Today was just an awesome feeling when you get a running back over 200.鈥�
It鈥檚 the kind of game Finney has been dreaming of since he was a kid back in Kansas. He may have grown up in Wichita, but his heart 鈥� at least in terms of football 鈥� has always been in Pittsburgh. Finney is a second-generation Steelers fan and a video of him getting emotional after signing with the team became an internet sensation last spring. Finney doesn鈥檛 hide from that clip or the cowboy attire he sports to games, a joke owing to his country roots.
鈥淏eing a little kid and wishing you could play for this team is a dream come true,鈥� Finney said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 cheesy, it鈥檚 corny, yeah, I know.
鈥淏ut I鈥檓 here to contribute and I want to play and set (those feelings) aside. I鈥檒l reflect on that at the end of the season and hopefully I鈥檒l be back.鈥�
Before Sunday, Finney had played 152 snaps on offense, 59 of them coming in the Steelers鈥� Week 4 home win over Kansas City. Finney played exceedingly well in place of Foster in that game, too.
鈥淲asn鈥檛 surprised,鈥� right guard David DeCastro of Finney. 鈥淗e did a helluva job last game he started. We definitely had great expectations.鈥�
Obviously, Foster is the Steelers starting left guard when healthy, but depth players like Finney and Chris Hubbard, who has carved a niche as a third tackle on run downs, have been instrumental in Pittsburgh鈥檚 resurgence in the second half of the season.
鈥淚t means lot,鈥� Finney said. 鈥淭o win in December, however we can get it done we鈥檙e going to get it done.鈥�
Even if that means wearing the cowboy garb for another seven weeks or so.