No RB Controversy Here

by upabob on Nov 10, 2009 11:03 AM EST Comment 13 comments

Back on February 12, I made my first post here at BTSC, with the title: Super Bowl Just Another Bad Game for FWP.

http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2009/2/12/757414/super-bowl-just-another-ba

Parker's yards per carry have declined every year since he took over as the feature back and I've argued in several posts he should have been replaced last year. So I'm not dumping on him now that it's trendy: His day had passed and I'm thrilled Mendenhall has proven to be a capable NFL back, with Moore a solid replacement.

http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2009/9/25/1054546/the-steelers-win-when-parker-runs

Mendenhall has had at least 10 carries in the past five games, and he's averaged better than 4.0 ypc in four of them. He's averaging 5.7 ypc for the season.

In 2008 and the first three games of this year, Parker broke the 4.0 ypc mark only four times in fourteen games. He's got 3.1 ypc this year behind the same line Mendenhall is playing with.

Parker had two excellent seasons and one good one (and a Super Bowl clinching run), but the numbers show he was on the decline. It's great that Mendenhall has rejuvenated the running attack, making the Steelers a better team.

0 recs | Comment 13 comments | Add comment

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

In fairness, the line has blocked better for Mendenhall this year than it has for Parker since 2004 or 2005. That said, Mendenhall is obviously the better back and I think it’s a good thing that the FWP era has come to an end.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Nov 10, 2009 11:13 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I disagree.

I would like to see FWP get a chance to run behind this improved line. It was just two years ago that he was going to win the rushing tittle when he broke his leg.

I was not at all pleased to see Mendy run out of bounds instead of hitting the defensive back last night. The word that popped into my mind started with a capital P!

Both have their pluses and minuses. It doesn’t have to be either-or. The Steelers can retain both and have both be productive and contribute to a powerful offense. No one can seriously tell me they think having Mendy and no FWP is better than having both.

by WyoFan on Nov 10, 2009 11:51 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

In all honesty...

How many times have we seen FWP lower his shoulder into somebody? Not very many. Although, I can say that Willie would have stayed in bounds on that play, and feel confident saying it. That was a scenario mistake, and I’m sure Rashard heard about it within seconds of getting back to the huddle.

'I’ve learned to become a flat-liner. There’s a lot out there that’ll make your heart jump if you allow it."
-Coach Tomlin

by NYSteelersFan4 on Nov 10, 2009 1:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Holmes was talking to him

…. on the way back to the huddle.

Got to remember, he is still a kid in this league. What, youngest guy, or close to it, on the team. I’m going to enjoy watching him become a great player because he certainly has the potential.

"More than 70 percent of putts left short do not go in."

by euwolfie on Nov 10, 2009 2:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yep

you could see Mendy mouth the words "i know’ to Holmes and Holmes speaking emphatically. Where do you think he learned to hold his teammates accountable like that? Hmm, 86 maybe?

by steelerark on Nov 10, 2009 2:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i didn’t like the running-out-of-bounds thing either … but then again, given the short career of RBs, one could argue that it’s a wise thing for him to do in the interest of preserving his playability. shrug

by shrimppesto on Nov 10, 2009 1:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I can seriously tell you that

Mewelde Moore brings more to the field than Parker. Which makes Parker a former starter, who should be the #3 guy, and not running well. What’s the upside of that?

Parker was the feature back the first three games this year and didn’t deliver. 52 carries, 159 yards, 3.1 ypc. It’s the same line Mendenhall is dominating with now. If Parker had been good in those first three games, he would be the starting back right now, not Mendenhall.

And even before he broke his leg, he was at 4.1 ypc, Respectable, but decreasing for the second straight year. No reason to think he wasn’t on the decline.

I agree, Mendenhall shouldn’t have run out of bounds, but some guy named Franco had a pretty good career doing that.

by upabob on Nov 10, 2009 12:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Franco did that much more later in his career

Watch him in his early years

by worldtrip on Nov 10, 2009 12:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You sure?

Franco could lower his shoulder and plow into people, but it seems to me he ran out of bounds near the end of his runs pretty much all his career. He wasn’t built like Earl Campbell, and he fought for a yard when he really needed it, so it never bothered me.

Plus, Campbell got used up too soon with that rugged running style.

by upabob on Nov 10, 2009 2:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

not true

Why take a hit if you dont need to? He was out all last year with an injury..

by nycsteelerfan on Nov 10, 2009 1:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Franco DID run out of bounds a lot...during his entire career.....

….and he once remarked that the unncessary hits took a lot out of you, and mentioned that you can’t fumble when you’re out of bounds. He explained that when you’re running close to full speed, you’re at some risk of being stripped of the ball by a linebacker or DB laying the hammer on your arm and the ball.

Mendenhall is still working on his fumbling problem. We’d all rather he step out of bounds rather than risk coughing it up in an awkward situation. I’m still a little queasy from that non-fumble call in the last two minutes last night.

I would kill everyone in this room for a drop of sweet beer.
- Homer J. Simpson

by Homer J. on Nov 10, 2009 1:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Nothing wrong with Parker

The Steelers just don’t want to use him anymore…period. It’s obvious he’s gone next year.

by Billy52 on Nov 10, 2009 3:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I made the Franco comparison in another post as many have done here. Can’t say I didn’t yell at the TV when he did run out of bounds. OTOH he also lowered his head on several runs up the middle and ran hard to get the tough yards so at the end of the day, I find it difficult to harp on a guy who averaged over 7ypc. for not getting 2 more on 1 run. I agree that FWP days here are done but I also don’t think it fair to say the OL in the first couple games is the same as it is now. Same players but the level of play is much different. They have gone from being a huge problem area to being a strength of the team, all in 8 games. I wouldn’t mind them picking up a guy like LJ and letting Willie go. It would give us another banger and I think FWP deserves the chance to play for someone who will use him. I wish him the best of luck, he has been a stand up guy through all of this.

by DarinS on Nov 10, 2009 6:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs