Running Back Situation

by tenthmtnman on Oct 13, 2009 12:21 PM EDT Comment 23 comments

Stumbled across the article below on Fanhouse which addresses a potential running back situation at Heinz. We are actually at a good place to do further on the field research in this regard. I don't see a need to rush Fast Willie back into action against the Browns. We could actually let him recover one more week and get another good look at RM's performance ... is it such that will continue to stand the test of time. Forced to choose, I'm saying continue to go with RM and MM.

http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/13/rashard-mendenhall-deserves-the-starting-job/?ncid=txtlnkusspor00000002

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I would have to agree.

Start Delicious. The NFL is a “what have you done for me lately” league. Mendy is hot right now. I don’t think MT will risk messing with the running back rotation. Get Parker a few touches now and then. Unless Mendenhall has a huge fall-off, I believe he will be the feature back from now on.

by OHSteelerfan on Oct 13, 2009 12:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Give mendanhall the ball, sit parker down,

by Pinnacle77 on Oct 13, 2009 1:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I wonder

How valuable would Parker be in a trade? It has crossed my mind a few times this week.

by OHSteelerfan on Oct 13, 2009 1:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

My opinion is not very...

He’s close to thirty and coming off of a few injuries in the last couple of seasons. There aren’t many teams willing to give too much up for something like that, no matter how well he has performed in the past. Late rounders maybe, if even that.

by NYSteelersFan4 on Oct 13, 2009 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Plus

FWP is a very popular dude with his teammates. The consequences of trading him midseason could be palpable.

The only managing Ben does is he manages to WIN games

by chewiesteeler on Oct 13, 2009 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

True

Didn’t think about that aspect of it. Probably why we don’t trade much, if at all.

by OHSteelerfan on Oct 13, 2009 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No need to trade anyone

They may need every running back they have this season. In my opinion none of them are slouches.

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill

by PixburghArn on Oct 13, 2009 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Trade Steely McBeam

The only managing Ben does is he manages to WIN games

by chewiesteeler on Oct 13, 2009 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

For what, That chicken in San Diego?

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill

by PixburghArn on Oct 13, 2009 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Air

The only managing Ben does is he manages to WIN games

by chewiesteeler on Oct 13, 2009 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How bout we trade him for some warn weather in January?

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill

by PixburghArn on Oct 13, 2009 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It'll be warm in Miami

in January/February, no?

The only managing Ben does is he manages to WIN games

by chewiesteeler on Oct 13, 2009 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

that's what I meant...February

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill

by PixburghArn on Oct 13, 2009 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not much

Unless they need a back right now. Everyone knows he will be a FA so unless someone is devastated by injuries I would doubt we would get anything over a 5th rounder to maybe a late 4th.

by DarinS on Oct 13, 2009 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Complete and utter bullpucky

Mendy ran against a team that cannot stop the run. Parker put up similar numbers against the same team last year. You cannot compare FWP’s performance against a team like the Titans to Mendehall’s running against the Bolts or even the Lions. We handed the rock to Mendenhall against the Titans and he fared as poorly as FWP.

by Varmint on Oct 13, 2009 2:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

So do you think we should start FWP as soon as he is ready? I have been a Parker fan since his performance in the Buffalo game, but IMO Mendy hits holes harder, breaks more tackles, and has better vision.

by OHSteelerfan on Oct 13, 2009 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not my call

I think we should continue to use FWP as the feature back and give Mendehall 5-10 carries each game.

The run blocking by the O-line has either improved or had much better match-ups in recent weeks. I’d want to see what FWP can do with that O-line. When we give FWP a good hole, he turns an 8-yard play into one that takes him well past the linebackers.

I agree that Mendehall breaks more tackles, but it remains to be seen whether he has better vision or hit holes harder. Frankly, I’m not even sure he will continue to break tackles now that the entire league knows about his one move. It’s true that FWP doesn’t hit non-existent holes very well. But we can say the same about Mendy, too.

by Varmint on Oct 13, 2009 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

MENDY should be the main back!

Heres why…first, he can block! FWP cant do that..mendy can catch the ball! FWP is not a good receiver..plus, mendy hits the hole faster..

by nycsteelerfan on Oct 13, 2009 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

2 Backs are better than 1

Willie Parker if healthy is still a good RB. But he isn’t able to withstand a heavy load anymore. Mendenhall should start but I think Parker should still get about 10-15 carries a game. Parker still has big-play ability on him. If they both can’t get significant amounts of carries then that would be the fault of Bruce Arians. Mendenhall and Parker could do for the Steelers what Jacobs and Bradshaw do for the Giants.

by BubbyBrister6 on Oct 13, 2009 2:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

+1

by OHSteelerfan on Oct 13, 2009 2:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

forgone conclusion

I don’t think there is any doubt that, barring a poor performance, Rashard will be the starter and main load carrier from here on out. FWP will still get his touches but it will be much like when the Bus was still running good. He will come in as a change of pace and to give Rashard a breather. I like FWP and he has served the Steelers well with many good games and years. He certainly still has value when he is healthy but I doubt he will be here next year.

by DarinS on Oct 13, 2009 3:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

give them both 21 carries

per game. Let Ben throw it 32 times…again, I’m not good at stats, but I’m guessing we’d have to end up scoring a couple times in that scenerio. May need to add a fifth quarter though

"Now that I'm here, I don't want to just be here, I want to be here for a long time." Hines Ward, 1998 4th round draft pick.

by kick him in the head on Oct 13, 2009 7:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs