Past haunts, motivates Toussaint
By Dale Lolley
August 21, 2016
Running back Fitzgerald Toussaint is looking to be the Steelers No. 3 running back. - Associated Press
PITTSBURGH – As Fitzgerald Toussaint sat at his locker 30 minutes after the Steelers’ 23-16 playoff loss to the Denver Broncos in January, he felt the crush of the NFL world on his shoulders.
The second-year running back never fumbled in a college or NFL game until that day.
And Toussaint’s first one was a game-changer, coming in the fourth quarter with the Steelers driving in Denver territory. He blamed himself for the team’s loss.
Player after player approached the seldom-used running back, offering a kind word or a pat on the shoulder. It would be all right. Things would get better.
“That was a tremendous help for me,” said Toussaint. “I was down in the dumps. You had guys like Ben (Roethlisberger) coming up to me, DeAngelo (Williams) talking to me. Just seeing that side of it allowed me to get back up and keep going to work on stuff in the offseason.”
His teammates were so supportive because they knew that without the efforts of Toussaint the previous week in a narrow win over Cincinnati, the Steelers’ season might have ended then.
Toussaint had 58 yards rushing and four receptions for 60 yards in the 18-16 win over Cincinnati while subbing for Le’Veon Bell and Williams, both out with injuries.
“Still, it’s a dire situation,” Toussaint said. “You definitely can’t do that in that situation. Whether I did good or bad (the previous week), I can’t do that in that situation.”
Toussaint thinks about the fumble every time he sets foot on a field for practice or a game.
But for a running back the Steelers could very well be counting on again with Bell suspended for the first three games of the regular season, that might not be a bad thing.
The player who didn’t fumble in 510 career carries at Michigan wants to make sure he doesn’t put the ball on the ground again, critical situation or not.
“It’s definitely something I put behind me but it’s something that is in the back of my mind every time I touch the field,” Toussaint said. “I had never put myself in that situation, never put the team in that situation. I’m just working hard on taking care of the football.”
Toussaint is currently locked in a battle with Daryl Richardson for the No. 3 running back job. With Bell’s suspension, both could wind up making the 53-man roster to start the regular season. Once Bell is eligible to return following the Sept. 25 game at Philadelphia, the Steelers might not feel the need to carry four running backs.
With head coach Mike Tomlin holding Bell and Williams out of the first two preseason games, Toussaint and Richardson have gotten ample opportunities to impress. Richardson has gained 59 yards on 21 carries (2.8-yard average) and Toussaint has 34 on 10 tries (3.40). Neither has scored a touchdown.
“It’s going to be interesting to see how they work to minimize known weaknesses and show consistency in areas of strength,” Tomlin said. “Fitzgerald Toussaint has been steady Eddie from a detail assignment standpoint. He’s added value to his cause by being a participant in special teams.
“Daryl Richardson has done some nice things with the ball in his hands. We want to see more detail in his work. We want to see more participation from him in special teams. We want to see more splash from Fitz.”
Toussaint is fine with that assessment.
He worked hard in the offseason to improve his speed and strength.
And ball security is always in the back of his mind.
“That was a first,” Toussaint said of that playoff fumble. “I’m looking forward to it being the last one.”
