The Ideal Match: Mike Washington Jr. and Pittsburgh’s West Coast Scheme
- Kelly Anozie
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
After watching the duo of Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell last season, many Steelers fans overlooked the idea of Gainwell leaving for another team.
If this were to occur, it would leave the team with a big void in their backfield — one that second‑year running back Kaleb Johnson could try to fill. However, considering how his style of running is more conducive to zone‑blocking schemes, this may not be the case. That said, Johnson is the type of running back who appears flexible enough to adjust his running style to be effective in gap‑running schemes — a staple of the West Coast offense.
Since the Panini Senior Bowl in January, Arkansas running back Michael Washington Jr.'s draft stock has risen since the Senior Bowl, and rightfully so. In addition to the blazing speed he showcased at the Combine, his tape demonstrates the type of running back who would be ideal in any scheme, especially a West Coast offense.
At 6'1", 223 lbs, Washington Jr. is a bruiser who likes to run inside, unafraid of physicality — a traditional downhill runner with excellent vision, speed, and acceleration. Does he have the agility and vision needed to be successful in zone‑based schemes? His lateral agility has always been a question mark — an area where Johnson is clearly superior. But if we consider that much of the run game in a West Coast offense is gap‑based, Washington Jr. would have a leg up on both him and Warren to a certain extent.
Another element that strengthens his case is how naturally his skill set complements the pieces already in Pittsburgh’s offense. With Warren providing the spark and Johnson offering a change‑of‑pace option, Washington Jr. brings the kind of physical consistency that keeps drives alive. He’s the runner you lean on when the weather turns ugly, when the offense needs to control tempo, or when the game script demands a steady hammer between the tackles. That reliability is something the Steelers have quietly lacked, and it’s exactly what a West Coast system thrives on - as well as having receiver-like hands.
In all, Washington Jr. checks the boxes the Steelers should value if Gainwell moves on: power, discipline, vision, and a style tailor‑made for gap concepts. He wouldn’t just fill a vacancy — he’d give Pittsburgh a back who fits the identity they’re trying to build and the scheme they’re committed to running. If the Steelers want a runner who can stabilize the backfield and elevate the offense’s physical edge, Washington Jr. is the kind of prospect who makes too much sense to ignore.
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