ASK THE STEELERS – RUNNING BACK WILLIE PARKER - PART 1

Steelers.com brings you the Ask the Steelers feature. Fans submitted the questions that were asked. Please understand that we receive an incredible number of questions for each player, with many of the questions being similar, and not all of the questions can be answered. We selected as many as possible, and took your questions to the current subject to get your answers.

 

From Patrick Reenan, Cincinnati Ohio: How did your body hold up last season since you moved from splitting time with the other backs to becoming the primary back?

Willie Parker: My body was actually better than the year before that when I was splitting carries with Jerome. I was taking care of my body. That was my main focus last year. I got in the cold tub. I did a lot of things that I normally wouldn't do. It helped me out. I was 100 percent. Even when the season was over with I was ready to start back working out real quick. That was my main focus last year and I made it a focus.

 

 

From Norman Poindexter, Detroit, Michigan: How have you improved as a running back from last season?

Willie Parker: I won't be able to tell for sure until the first game, but I am a firm believer that I have improved.

 

 

From John Elias, Wadsworth, Ohio: Do you expect to be more involved in the passing game, now that Bruce Arians has taken over the offense?

Willie Parker: I already know that I am. That is a major focus, getting me out on passes and getting the ball in my hands.

 

 

From CWO3 Tom Barr, U.S. Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan: Everyone knows that you are extremely fast, but how do you accelerate so fast as well. Is that natural ability or is there something specific you have worked on through the years? 

Willie Parker: It's just an instinct. It's something I was blessed with by the grace of God. If I see something I just react. I react quick. If you are out on the street and something happens you are going to react quick. You don't know you had that instinct until it happens. That's how it is when I am out there.

 

 

From Bryan Parker, Cleveland, Ohio: Since you won a Super Bowl so early in your career, what other personal goals do you have for yourself in achieving in the NFL before your career is over?

Willie Parker: Just to keep working real hard. I want to make the Pro Bowl again this year. That's a big goal and a major emphasis for me. As a team goal I want to get back to the Super Bowl. You can never do enough. There is always more out there. I want to get back to the Super Bowl.

 

 

From Case Zambelli, New Castle, Pennsylvania: What elements of your relationship with Jerome Bettis are you hoping to carry over with the next running back that could be sharing the load?

Willie Parker: Jerome taught me a lot. He taught me when another running back comes in he gave me the torch to teach them the same things he taught me. That's what I have been doing. I have been talking to them, pulling them aside and asking them about their plays and the playbooks and just trying to get them better. If you don't get the man next to you better, then you will never be great and that is what I am trying to do, get the people around me to be great.

 

 

From Robert Thornton, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: How did it feel stepping into the roll as the starting running back last season?

Willie Parker: It felt so good. Finally just getting a lot of stuff off my chest. It doesn't stop there, though. It keeps going. I am going to keep working hard. I am not satisfied. I am never going to be satisfied, but that role was big for me last year.

 

 

From Doug Halagich, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: If you could put your finger on the main reason you guys missed the playoffs last season what would it be?

Willie Parker: It was just a team thing, not individuals. Almost every game if you didn't mess up, somebody else did. We were just never on the same page. This year I can sense it already in mini-camp, OTA's and the weight room we are competing every day. We are competing real hard. That's what we need to do. If you compete hard at your position it will make the team better.