Injury Update @ CIN

by steelguy99 on Oct 15, 2008 10:48 AM EDT

A smorgasbord of interesting news here: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08289/919910-66.stm

1) Marvel Smith sat out due to back spasms, that cannot be good. Tomlin says that Max friggin Starks will start in his place if he can't play. Who the hell is max starks?

2) Baker is out so sweed is in. We haven't seen baker much, so don't expect to see Sweed either, but it is an opportunity.

3) Davis will still be out, McHugh will be the FB. Sweet, one more week to show his stuff and make Davis seem superfluous.

4) Big snack may or may not be playing. Take your time big boy, Hoke has your back.

5) I hope Jeff Reed can still bring the money this week, but I expect our team to just convert TDs instead. Berger will probably be taking kickoffs and even if that means Jeff Reed can kick extra points / field goals, he's obviously not 100% and it'd be good not to strain him on 40+ yarders.

Update: 6) Willie Parker will likely sit out.

Thanks to mental.apparition for pointing this out -

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08289/920132-66.stm?cmpid=steelers.xml

Thoughts?

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Max Straks

Never in the history of football, has a fan base rooted so hard for a back-up, that they did not particularly like to get in the game.

Max Starks is like a really expensive pair of shoes that doesn’t fit right. You can’t throw them out, you HAVE to wear them and pray that they break in.

by SteelerBuddha on Oct 15, 2008 11:22 AM EDT reply actions

It’s either that or the Trai pair that has holes in it.

by steelguy99 on Oct 15, 2008 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions

Ha!

Word is that the Trai pair, while too small, is faster than the big ol Starks pair.

Just too Streeeetch the analogy…..

by SteelerBuddha on Oct 15, 2008 6:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Marvel

Okay, maybe we can wait on the urge to sign him now. On the plus side, he might be cheaper now. I could deal with a cheap and decent Marvel as the starter, while we groom a replacement that could play occasionally when Marvel’s injured.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Oct 15, 2008 11:46 AM EDT reply actions

Yeah, this is his 3rd year with back spasms, right? I remember the year of the merry-go-line, I think it was 04 (?), it was his back that started the process.

Dear Lord, please let us get a crack at some decent OTs in the next draft. And re-sign Kemo. And let Stapleton put on like 20 lbs. Oh, and if you’ve got anything left for us, I want some new Nikes.

Guns don't kill people. Lamar Woodley kills people.

by BostonWahoo on Oct 15, 2008 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Bouchette & back spasms

said back spasms are a common side effect of the back surgery he had in the off-season, and they are usually temporary in nature, and last only about within a year of the surgery. I’ve had back spasm trouble before (never had surgery) and yes they are painful, but you can play without limiting your ability. I used to play basketball, football, and swim all in the same day during some of my worst spasms a few summers ago. They usually hit you the hardest when you aren’t being active, as while you’re active the muscles loosen up and are less likely to clench. The key is when Marvel is sitting on the sidelines to keep his back loose, thru a variety of stretches, riding a bike, etc. Back spasms are many times a recurring problem so we’ll see. One of the most annoying/nagging injuries in sports. Just ask Mario Lemieux or Tracy McGrady. The injury sucks, I can attest to that for sure, but he can play.

by TheMostViolentTeam on Oct 15, 2008 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions

He’s had them in past years too. I think we were hoping he was over all his back troubles. These may not keep him off the field for long but this doesn’t encourage me.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Oct 15, 2008 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed with your general premise that we were all just hoping the surgery would be magic and marvel would never suffer from back issues again. We know he played not-so-hot last year down the stretch and for most of the season. Generally it’s assumed he was playing through a lot of pain and that greatly affected his play. We don’t know if it is more than just spasms, it may be?

Marvel needs to be 100% healthy to play well, and I’m not sure how close he is to that. The fact that he went out with cramps last game is not promising, maybe it was more than just cramps then too?

by steelguy99 on Oct 15, 2008 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Lemieux's spasms

were pretty serious. He struggled with them for several seasons.

by steelerark on Oct 16, 2008 1:40 AM EDT up reply actions

What's wrong with Trai Essexx

He’s not listed on the injury report but he’s got to be hurt if Max “I kicked the Rooney’s dog” Starks is going to start over him.

Revenge of the Birds

by cgolden on Oct 15, 2008 1:46 PM EDT reply actions

Didn't you hear?

Essex is dead. He was broken in half by “a mysterious 6’8, 340lb man wearing a ninja cloak.” Tomlin said Hills would get the start, but he had his knee crushed by a similar, but probably unrelated figure.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Oct 15, 2008 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Friggin good one!

But how will that ninja play?

by SCSteeler on Oct 15, 2008 6:16 PM EDT up reply actions

I actually heard

They were going to play Sweed at LT. Something about him being able to play better against faster pass rushing players.

by SteelerBuddha on Oct 15, 2008 6:56 PM EDT up reply actions

lol

I heard Jason Capizzi and Chucky Okobi were in town too, so Starks will probably be 3rd or 4th on depth chart.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Oct 16, 2008 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions

FINALLY

Limas Sweed is getting an opportunity. I know he probably won’t get a lot of action, but actually putting on the pads is a step in the right direction.

To the tune of the classic children's song "This Old Man" (the part with nick nack patty whack)

Big Snack, Silverback, take the Dawg Pound's Bone, the Black and Gold sent the Brownies crying home.

by Tim Mullhaupt (HSS) on Oct 15, 2008 3:24 PM EDT reply actions

i don't see

WP playing. I would think, since he re-aggravated his sprain, that they would prolly keep him out this week, considering that Moore should be able to step in nicely against a week rush defense.

by steelerark on Oct 16, 2008 1:42 AM EDT reply actions

Willie

I think we should sit him regardless. We should be able to beat the Bengals without him. Willie needs to be 100% for the home stretch.

by SteelerDomination on Oct 16, 2008 2:57 AM EDT reply actions

Agreed with yours and steelerark’s sentiments. The same goes for hampton and marvel smith. This is the game to sit them if ever there was one.

by steelguy99 on Oct 16, 2008 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions

In my opinion, that is the very definition of a trap game. An 0-6 team is bad, yes, but even the Bengals get hungry. They’re not going to go 0-16, and there is never an ok time to sit crucial parts of your team because you think the opponent doesn’t rate.

That’s how you get beat.

Guns don't kill people. Lamar Woodley kills people.

by BostonWahoo on Oct 16, 2008 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Eh, oh well man. It’s either we play necessary starters who aren’t close to 100% against a sad team or we don’t. If we play guys who are on the cusp and they reinjure themselves which is very likely, than they are out for several more games if not most of the remaining season. If we do not play them we give them a much better shot at being healthy down the stretch and honestly, what better team could there be to do this against?

I don’t give a crap about this being a trap game. The bengals suck, and if our winning percentage against them goes from 98% to 90% without the starters than I am okay with that. I assure you that whatever we lose from Smith, FWP, and Big Snack being out for one game against the bengals is way better than if one of them were out for the entire season.

by steelguy99 on Oct 16, 2008 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions