Gary Russell the BUSsell?

by usmcsdi69 on Nov 21, 2008 1:46 PM EST Comment 18 comments

Look folks........, I have always loved our big power RB's from Franco Harris to Bam Morris to Barry Foster to Jerome Bettis and Willie Parker is NOT that guy. I don't know if he got hurt last night but I started to see less and less of FWP by the end of the 2nd qtr into the 2nd half.

Gary Russell's efforts on short yardage plays last week agains SD and the HUGE extra effort for 1 yard on 4th and 1 last night was AWESOME. We really need to fill that role with this offense if it's going to work.

Let me get your thoughts folks..........., is Gary Russell our guy here?

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Russell is a good football player that you can win with. He is not the Bus and not any of the others you named. Don’t think he will ever be a feature back but that doesn’t mean he can’t play and contribute. Loved his efforts last night.

When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen

by 5020 on Nov 21, 2008 1:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

No BUSsell

He played well but is no bus. Carey Davis is closer but still falls short (by about 20+ lbs). Speaking of which…I would like to see them use Davis a little more. Like some passing and short yardage situations.

"The team that scores the most points wins."
John Madden
(Master of the obvious)

by PixburghArn on Nov 21, 2008 2:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah I’d like to see what Davis can do as well. Russell is still young. I’d like to see him gain a little more weight before I call him the Bus. But let’s try not to put a guy into a legends shoes. There is only one Jerome Bettis. Russell is only like 20 or 21 so he has time to learn and get better. Maybe we will see a Mendenhall/Russell combo in a couple of years…?

by Silverback92 on Nov 21, 2008 2:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Really? I think I’ve seen enough of Davis, and I think his run this past thursday was probably the best we’ve seen from him and are likely to see from him. On paper he has potential, but I don’t think he plays the game with attitude. In any event, I’ve seen him play a lot more than Russell, and he has looked a lot worse. Certainly not much more than a guy to fill a spot.

As someone has stated elsewhere, McHugh for FB!

by steelguy99 on Nov 21, 2008 3:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I have to let go of my impression of Davis from a preseaon game when he rambled for about 20 yards or so. He certainly has not replicated that sort of run again. I definitely want to see what Russell has to offer if its more than just a short yardage deal.

by Silverback92 on Nov 22, 2008 8:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Just a sidenote

I certainly was NOT comparing Russell to Bettis…………, just saying that we need that tough running back to get those short yard conversions like Bussy did. Russell has been doing it well!

Every day brings future to past, every breath leaves me one less to my last. DT

by usmcsdi69 on Nov 21, 2008 4:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yes He Has

When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen

by 5020 on Nov 21, 2008 4:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

5 yards on 3 carries..

I’m rooting for Russell, but this isn’t the time to annoint him as the new Bettis. 47 yards on the year. 70 for his 2 year career so far. 3 ypc average. 1 catch for -2 yards.

Those are the hard facts.

by robert ethan on Nov 21, 2008 4:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

He most certainly isnt the next Bettis but when he only needs one yard a three yard average is good.

by archon095 on Nov 21, 2008 4:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

But the last time they used Russell for short yardage..

He had 0 YARDS on 4 CARRIES. He was stapled to the bench by half time, and the team passed the ball 3 or 4 times when they next got close to the goal line. That wasn’t too long ago.

by robert ethan on Nov 21, 2008 4:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

In following games they used Moore half a dozen times for short yardage..

..he got stuffed pretty much every time, and they still wouldn’t give Russell a look.

by robert ethan on Nov 21, 2008 4:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

…I thought for sure he was going to get cut a couple of weeks back. I was surprised they let Davenport go instead.

by robert ethan on Nov 21, 2008 4:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Russell?

He is closer to Verron Haynes than the Bus!

He isnt that powerr back, not our long-term solution, maybe for this year! But he is not the answer! He is 215lbs, not even close to a power back, Bus had 40lbs more and he is lighter than some HBs like LT, Addai, AP, and Rashard Mendenhaal!

by SteelerBrazil on Nov 21, 2008 6:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I think Russell is up around 225..

..but still not of powerback dimensions. He is still young (22), and doesn’t have much mileage on him, that is about the best you can say about him at the moment. I think one of the things that may be holding him back, is probably his pass blocking. All else being equal, coaches probably have more confidence in the experienced runners to not doing anything to hurt the team on the field.

by robert ethan on Nov 21, 2008 6:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Russell HAS done well

Look at this week, and last week. Russell converted the hard yards.

People are saying OMG 5 yards on 3 carries. Well thats the point, he got that one yard we asked him to get.

And last week he got 5 ypc on the two short yard situations.

His kick returning is good. His short game is good. I think we have a good back for those roles.

That having been said I am still convinced FWP will be our guy for the next couple years and this year. I think we should start spreading carries though. FWP has the injury virus this year.

by Mechem on Nov 21, 2008 7:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I am not on this Russell wagon just yet.

I have never seen people more excited about a few 2 yard runs. I like the guy and think he could be a good short yardage back, but i will have to see a little more before i anoint him a 3rd and 1 superstar. Why does Willie get no love anymore. It is amazing to me how quickly people turn on someone with a few injuries slowing down his year. I heard a lot of Polamalu haters last year too.

by SteelerDomination on Nov 23, 2008 3:23 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

naturally, some of us have fantasies that our players are above getting hurt;

so we get upset when they actually do prove mortal. :/

by SteelersVT on Nov 23, 2008 7:58 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

not just any 2 yard runs

Again though we have to consider what those runs meant. He bossed up plain and simple. Farrior singlehandedly halted a 3rd and 1 up the middle run, that RB failed to boss up…

My thing is despite initial contact, hes pushing ahead.

I believe you play the guy with the most fire in the belly and he has a lot right now.

by Mechem on Nov 25, 2008 4:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs