Steelers Question of the Week: Parker vs. Mendenhall
by SteveMeredith on Aug 14, 2008 4:35 PM EDT
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ESPN radio has been reporting for a few days now that Rashard Mendenhall seems poised and ready to usurp Willie Parker as the starting running back for the upcoming season. Personally I think the assessment is a bit premature. Assuming that the Steelers will use the two-back system in 2008; who do you think is going to get the nod to be listed first on the depth chart this season, Willie Parker (who's coming off of a broken leg in 2007), or Rashard Mendenhall, the much anticipated rookie?
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HAHAHA
No fing way. We’ll know more next year, so it would be possible that it happens then, but Mendy would have to blow people away at camp, and he certainly hasn’t done that. He’s been tentative hitting holes, and we all saw that hit he took in the first game because he was running upright. In other words he’s a rookie. If Chester Taylor fended off AP for half a season last year, I’m sure Parker has some time as the default starter.
ESPN = toolshed
by BadMaafala on Aug 14, 2008 5:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Toolshed Cheers!!!!
I appreciate the comment – I hate ESPN – they put out this kind of crap to get people upset – so in turn they’ll call in and bitch and talk about it with their friends. No such thing as bad PR right??? No way in hell Mendenhall starts over the Fast One. I can see him getting some substantial carries but Willie is still Numero Uno like a young Arnold.
by smashmouthsteel on Aug 15, 2008 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow
I thought I might be premature saying that Mendenhall may supplant Parker as the starter within a couple of years! I don’t care how good he is in preseason, I wouldn’t start a rookie over one of the top 5 most productive RBs in the last 3 years. If our incumbent was someone who had less than 800 yards last year, I could see starting a big name rookie. But, no, Parker will be the starter at the beginning of the season. Mendenhall may even play himself into the starter role this year, but I don’t really think so. I think he will become the feature back within a year or possibly as many as three, and if Willie decides to take the Bus route, he’ll get a decent (not great) contract to finish his career as a Steeler. We’ll see down the road, but for now, it’s FWP.
by WolfpackSteelersFan on Aug 14, 2008 5:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Agree 100%
I think it’ll take 2 and a 1/2 to 3 years to see #34 starting in the backfield, and that’s assuming that he doesn’t turn out to be a bust-doesn’t look like that’s is the case. The plus side to this is that we can take our time with Mendy, as he only turned 21 mid-June. If we waited three more years to place Rush-Hard (not my invention) over FWP Mendy would only be 24, the age Limas Sweed is turning at the end of this year. So that gives Willie another 3 seasons at least with the majority of the carries, and possibly 3 more pro bowls.
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 HighSchoolSteeler on Aug 18, 2008 11:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mendenhall said what?!?
not in a million years will he overtake FWP, Pitt’s gonna stick with the 2 running back system, but no way will Rashard be before Willie
by PsycoSalameh on Aug 14, 2008 5:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think Mendenhall said anything. Steve was just saying that the word on ESPN radio is that Mendenhall will be the starter.
by WolfpackSteelersFan on Aug 14, 2008 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i could see
that by midseason, Mendenhall has earned a 50/50 split of carries, and then MAYBE next year he becomes starter, but only if he is blowing people away as a rookie. and Parker woul d have to take a step back in terms of his ability as well. good problem to have if it comes to it.
by TheMostViolentTeam on Aug 14, 2008 6:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Mendenhall v Parker?
Parker is the main back, he’s the vet, he’s got the longest run in SB history, and I love nothing better than seeing him scoot away from pursuit…
I had thought that Mendenhall was brought in as a complement to Parker’s running style – to be the Bettis type smash it down your throat back.
The clips (and admittedly its way early and limited exposure) of Mendenhall I see seem to show he’s more of an outside the tackles back too. So…maybe there is room to think he could become more prevalent in the offense over the year – but running with a similar style. There’s no way (barring injury) he’s going to be the starter over Parker for some time….I’d love to see a machine gun rotation of these guys to wear the heck out of an opposing offense. Just need to get the blocks.
by SCSteeler on Aug 15, 2008 3:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Mendenhall
It’s early…but I have to say I’m not that impressed…I expect more from a RB picked #23.
As a comparrison, saw some highlights from Ray Rice of Ravens, a 2nd round pick…wow…he looks good
Again I know its early…as far as starting…no way.
by SteelerMike on Aug 17, 2008 9:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
eh
I can understand where you’re coming from, but there taking it real slow with him and the rest of the starters. On Rice, yea he looked really good but he wasn’t running against 1st-team players. I’d think that Mendenhall and the rest of the starters will get a lot of action next game against Minnesota.
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 HighSchoolSteeler on Aug 18, 2008 11:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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