Steelers Links

by BadMaafala on Jul 17, 2008 3:04 PM EDT

Here's a couple of interesting links I found around the internet:

USA today is putting together some "organizational reports" of the teams, and I thought the one on the Steelers was pretty well-informed. There's not too much new info, but it's also not the over-generalized 1 paragraph summary of all the stereotypes about the Steelers (e.g. "This storied franchise blah blah Tomlin's Cover-2 scheme blah blah run the ball against 9 man fronts blah blah hole at RG without Faneca blah blah tall wide receiver") . In the "new info" category, there's Tomlin saying, "we've got the makings of a rock-solid offensive line."

The general link to all the teams is here. The quality of the Steelers article makes me think that some of the others might be worth a read as well. Also, they published "team reports" (not sure what the difference is), which are just more articles that tell you what you already know to get you pumped up about training camp.

Lastly, we have a humor column. Or maybe a homer column. Anyway, it's a column that says FWP is the #4 RB in the league, ahead of Stephen Jackson, Frank Gore, Joseph Addai, and MB3 (who's ranked at 15 for some reason). We can argue about some of those names, but we should be able to agree that Parker is not the complete player Jackson is. This one's for kwoog: Jamal Lewis is ranked #21. See, irrefutable evidence that Parker is waaaaay better. Also, LenDale "Fats" White is ranked #24 despite averaging 3.7 yards and having 5 fumbles last year. I mean, 24 is 24, but Chester Taylor? Selvin Young? Justin Fargas? Hell, Ron Dayne had a better year. It's like they got the rushing totals for the year and moved down a few players they didn't like.

Anyway, hope you enjoy.

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Maybe they weren’t comparing backs strictly on their 2008 merits. I would take White any day of the week over Young, Fargas, and Dayne – I do like Taylor. I also think they might be looking at injuries (Jackson), production (Gore – 1 big year), Experience (Addai), and Carries (MB3). In any case I think Willie is a beast of a back – he took a serious beating and still produced till the bum wheel. And I think we’ve touched upon this a bunch – but we might not even have utilized him the right way and we didn’t vary the attack with all of the between the tackles runs on first down. That’s my two cents – oh by the way – Jamal is old and he showed the Ravens he could play last year – I think he won’t be half the same player this year.

by smashmouthsteel on Jul 17, 2008 3:49 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah

I guess a lot of how you rank backs depends on how you emphasize efficiency and overall production. IMO, efficiency is much more important for RB’s because they have almost no power over when they get the ball, whereas WR’s reception numbers are based on how well they get open and catch the ball, etc.

In either case, I don’t see how someone could pick Parker over Gore… I just looked up the numbers, and despite having a down year (OL was as bad as ours and no QB), he still beat Parker in almost every statistical category (yards from scrimage, ypc, td’s, fd’s, and fumbles). If you add in how effective he was in 2005 and 2006, I don’t even think it’s a contest. Jackson missed some time this year, but he was roughly as productive as Parker in the weeks he played, and he hadn’t missed much time before that. Also, you can’t overlook 2006, which was a pretty historic season (2334 yards, 16 tds, 4.4 ypc) that was overshadowed by LT’s TD record.

I really like FWP, and maybe a better OC could use him better, but I have a hard time picking him, either looking at the numbers or watching them play. He’s very good at what he does, but some of those other running backs can do a bit more.

by BadMaafala on Jul 17, 2008 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Gore & S Jackson vs. FWP

I’d certainly take Gore or Stephen Jackson over FWP, regardless of the system. One thing you didn’t mention was how well Gore catches the ball out of backfield. They’re both much more accomplished out of the backfield. Maybe it’s a ‘grass is always greener’ but I really like both of those guys.

Revenge of the Birds

by cgolden on Jul 18, 2008 9:43 AM EDT up reply actions

Agree

I would normally make at least a little case for the big play, and how it affects gameplanning, etc. But FWP ain’t no way better than Gore or Jackson.

by tkired on Jul 18, 2008 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions

oh and also

Just looking from that link and saw:
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=435549
Which talks on TEs. It lists our boy Heath as #7 which I view as fairly accurate. I might even edge him up above Shockey as I think his downsides are big enough to outweigh the good.

by Chicago Steeler on Jul 17, 2008 4:43 PM EDT reply actions

Heath

I’d personally take him over Shockey and Clark. Clark is great in the Colts system but I don’t think he’d be much of a player in Pittsburgh’s system, at the same time though Heath wouldn’t be as good in their system either. They’re so different it’s almost hard to rank them against each other.

Revenge of the Birds

by cgolden on Jul 17, 2008 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions

the usatoday poll

has 55% people saying browns win the division vs 38% for the steelers

madness!

also, thanks for the links, I’m enjoy the friday reading

by vherub on Jul 18, 2008 12:11 PM EDT reply actions

one more link

Lolley says word on the street is that Sweed will be signed this week and Mendy by Sat or Sun. Also, he says a vet may sign pretty soon here, too. Marvel? Farrior?

by BadMaafala on Jul 21, 2008 9:23 AM EDT reply actions