Will the Steelers Keep Just 5 Defensive Linemen This Week?

by Blitzburgh on Oct 1, 2008 8:01 AM EDT

Against the Ravens, we elected to dress just five defensive linemen. It worked. For a week at least. We all should applaud the gritty effort turned in by those five men. We held the Ravens running game in check for the most part, though I wouldn't call it one of our most dominant performances in a long time. Nevertheless, with Casey Hampton and Brett Keisel both sidelined, that was an impressive display of toughness and guts by Travis Kirschke, Chris Hoke, Aaron Smith, Nick Eason and Orpheus Roye. The Ravens had their moments in the running game, but their top two backs ultimately only finished with 105 yards on 29 carries. Good, but not at all great.

That's irrelevant though. The question is do we dare risk keeping just 5 DL moving forward? Do we take that same chance against the Jaguars? Last week we prioritized special teams, and it paid off. Patrick Bailey was money on coverage. But what if one of the myriad injuries we suffered Monday were along the line, rather than concentrated at RB? It's easier to improvise with a position like RB mid-game. We could either just keep a TE in the backfield and only pass, or Hines Ward could get a carry. Whatever. But only having four guys to rotate along the line against a Jags team that can run all over you is a more risky proposition.

Scott Paxson's name has been thrown around as a possible candidate to sub-in while Hampton heals up. If we were to decide to carry 6 DL, that's the likeliest of moves I'd imagine. But perhaps we won't even go that route, and instead hope we can survive another week with the 5 guys that played so valiantly against the Ravens on Monday Night.

Thoughts?

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Patrick Bailey

I wonder if he could play DE in a pinch

by schnifin on Oct 1, 2008 9:16 AM EDT 0 recs

I suspect a more likely pinch hitter would be bruce davis who spent a lot of time as a 4-3 DE coming out of college, that and he has an extra 20 pounds on bailey.

Everyone not currently on the D-line is way too small though to get much accomplished as a DE, I don’t think we have any substitutes. Maybe this is tomlin’s way of sneaking over to a 4-3 tampa 2. Just kidding. :)

by steelguy99 on Oct 1, 2008 9:52 AM EDT up 0 recs

Bailey was a D-End in college too

by schnifin on Oct 1, 2008 11:55 AM EDT up 0 recs

Ah, you’re right. For some reason I was thinking we was someone else. I still don’t know that 235 lbs. will cut it though.

by steelguy99 on Oct 1, 2008 12:01 PM EDT up 0 recs

Woodley

would be more likely to play DE. He’s got the best size of any of our linebackers, and was All-American at DE in college.

by TheMostViolentTeam on Oct 1, 2008 1:40 PM EDT up 0 recs

Bailey

He was in for some defense against the Ravens. I also saw him playing that Rush End position. He is a beast on special teams

by steelcitykid on Oct 1, 2008 7:53 PM EDT up 0 recs

Really? That’s great if we’re confident enough to have him in the game when it’s on the line. Really bodes well for our future LB corps, the guy is pretty damn smart and I like smart defenders. but honestly I didn’t notice him besides doing his best impression of bigfoot on special teams.

by steelguy99 on Oct 2, 2008 10:09 AM EDT up 0 recs

Depends on Frazier

I think if Andre sits out this game then we may need to save a roster spot for a LB on spec. teams and go with five. If Frazier does come back then I can see us signing another D-lineman and going with six. Personally, I agree with you Blitz. Against the Jags, we need six to keep that running game at bay.

by woody71 on Oct 1, 2008 9:52 AM EDT 0 recs

Right now we have Woods, Bailey, Frazier, Fox, and Davis in our LB corps, who are all more special teamers than backups. We have 10 LB’s for 4 positions, and we haven’t even had any minor injuries in the 5 guys that get playing time. I’m all for keeping the ST’s rolling, but seriously, that’s ridiculous. Put Frazier on the PS if he’s hurt. Put Woods or Bailey on the PS and get some help to our DL and OL. By the way, on the Steelers’ web site, it shows both Davenport and Russell (I hadn’t heard for sure that Russell was signed) on the roster, and it also changed Essex’s position from LT to RG. I don’t know that means, but I thought it was interesting.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Oct 1, 2008 10:06 AM EDT 0 recs

Russell

Yes, he was signed off the practice squad. I heard the news this morning.

by woody71 on Oct 1, 2008 10:42 AM EDT up 0 recs

I definitely agree with you here. We don’t need Frazier, Bailey, and a questionably injured Woods when we are hurting on DL.

This is an open question: How exactly does the practice squad work?

We put russell on to the practice squad. No other teams wanted him, so we sit him there. We need him, then we sign him on the team to a 1-year deal. Lets say all of our RBs get healthy (which they won’t, just an example), so we don’t need him anymore.

1) What happens to the money from the 1-year deal?
2) If we take him off practice squad again is that a whole new deal?
2) Do other teams get another crack at signing him if we put him back on the squad?

by steelguy99 on Oct 1, 2008 11:29 AM EDT up 0 recs

PS

Paychecks are handed out at games and aren’t guaranteed, so he was paid for however many games he was on the 53 man roster, then the contract was cancelled. The signing bonus is the only thing that is guaranteed, and those are minimal with UDFA’s like Russell. Maybe $40k. He signed another deal with us, and he’ll only see the SB and checks for games he’s on the roster for. With Mendy out, he’ll be active on gamedays and the only way he’d get cut is if Davenport outplays him by a large margin. Based on that, I wouldn’t be surprised if they gave him a multi-year deal at the minimum, just in case he plays well. I don’t know what RFA/ERFA rights we have with undrafted players we have cut at various times.

And yes, if we put him back on the PS, other teams can pick him up.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Oct 1, 2008 11:52 AM EDT up 0 recs

Thanks for the info.

I wasn’t thinking we’d send Russel back down, but I assume we will do so with either Bailey/Woods.

by steelguy99 on Oct 1, 2008 11:57 AM EDT up 0 recs

Also, those who are signed

off another team’s PS would have to go on that team’s active roster. That is why many team’s don’t sign guys from other team’s unless they are desperate.

by JagsCub on Oct 1, 2008 5:22 PM EDT up 0 recs

Completely

disagree with you steelguy. We absolutley need special teamers. Look at last year. During the super bowl XL we had a stud special teams core: Morey, Iwouma, Frazier, Harrison, Kriewaldt. All were just special teamers and we won the super bowl. Very important part of a team. Put Baker on PS or cut Carter. Not the LB’s.

Also Berger was awful, we might need a new punter if he performs bad again.

by steelcitykid on Oct 1, 2008 8:00 PM EDT up 0 recs

I’d rather play down one less ST ace than with 2 guys on the defensive line, but you can disagree if you want.

by steelguy99 on Oct 2, 2008 10:10 AM EDT up 0 recs

How long has Frazier been on the team

or in the NFL? I ask because this would determine if he has any PS eligibility.

by JagsCub on Oct 1, 2008 5:37 PM EDT up 0 recs

Frazier

He is not eligible for the PS. He played for 4 years and played more then 9 games. Any player that plays more then 9 games is not eligible.

by steelcitykid on Oct 1, 2008 8:01 PM EDT up 0 recs

I think we need an extra DL for this game. Our guys were tired in that 4th quarter vs the Ravens and I hate to think what would happen with MJD running downhill vs a tired DL.

by Cols714 on Oct 1, 2008 11:42 AM EDT 0 recs

All the more reason for th O

to get the Running game going.

Need long methodical drives Sun, get a lead and kill that clock.

BArains needs to not over think this week, run it down their throats – just need to find someone to run it…… hmmmm might be a slight flaw in my plan. But you can run clock with the pass too. Big Money needs the pigskin more – like TO type touches over 15, would love to see that.

by 703Steeler on Oct 1, 2008 1:32 PM EDT up 0 recs

When You Run The Ball

Within the mix we need Russell, Dookie and Moore plus 6 D linemen. Jax will pound the ball. Steelers need to try to do the same. Mix in the No huddle as well. Come the 4th quarter 5 Steeler DL will be sucking wind unless the Steelers find a way to run the ball and possess the clock.

Woodley was a DL in college. Hate to lose him at LB but if they go with 5 DL he could play there in a pinch too.

When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen

by 5020 on Oct 1, 2008 1:35 PM EDT 0 recs

I like

the idea of having 6 D-lineman, but I don’t think we will make that move until after the bye week. I think we will rough it this week with five and see how Casey is doing. If he doesn’t look like he will be ready for Cincy, I think we will make a move.

Some guessing: Essex to start RG, Stapleton and Starks to back up the O-line, Davis will not dress this week healing his ankle, and McHugh will cover the FB duties against Jax.

I did see somewhere we added Doug Legursky C and Jordan Reffett DT to the PS.

by SteelBuckeye on Oct 1, 2008 5:58 PM EDT 0 recs

McHugh

played well at FB in the game. Should have kept John Kuhn few years back. Now on Packers

by steelcitykid on Oct 1, 2008 8:03 PM EDT 0 recs

My opinion

I agree with Steel City Kid, Berger is going to cause some problems probably down the line. He completely sucked. Did not help the cause at all.

With the game against Jacksonville, I personally thing our offensive must be in attack mode not allowing the Jags a ficker of hope. and I mean scoring early on.This will allow the Jags to play catch up which there offense is not geared toward. This will also help our D-line in terms of fatigue.

Any thoughts?

by C-Mac on Oct 2, 2008 10:16 AM EDT 0 recs

We aren’t going to find a replacement punter this year – we tried in the pre-season and this is the best we can do. We have a good-punter in the making already, he just happens to be injured, so we aren’t looking at any long term solutions. Berger is serviceable and is not an ernster.

by steelguy99 on Oct 2, 2008 10:43 AM EDT up 0 recs