3rd Down Back

by 13thieves on Feb 5, 2009 9:28 PM EST Comment 36 comments

One thing the Steelers desperately need is a big third down back. If Mendenhall is the one, great, but if he can't be that guy I want to get some beef. None of this kicking on 4th and 2 Blades of Grass from the Goal Line. I would've signed Bettis on the spot if he would've offered his services.

Options at other positions:

Anyone think we can get JP Losman as the backup QB?

Maybe Devery Henderson will come cheaper than Nate.

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The Zohan??

We definitely do not want JP Losman…errr THE ZOHAN! That guy is a joke. Plus he looks exactly like Zohan with that jacked up beard and greasy flowing hair. Also, I think what you meant to say is short yardage back, we already have a 3rd down back in Moore. I would agree that our short yardage packages were lacking all year and almost cost us a Super Bowl.

by Heckler's Sports on Feb 5, 2009 9:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Short Yardage Back

Yup, yer right, that’s what I meant.

by 13thieves on Feb 6, 2009 10:52 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Moore’s one of the better 3rd down backs in the league and I think Russell can be our short yardage back but we need to do better on the OL more than anything. Sure Russell is no Bettis but then who is?

by KiwiSteelerFan on Feb 5, 2009 10:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I've said this before but...

I think we should give Shonn Greene a shot if he falls to the late third round. If not, P.J. Hill and/or Jovorskie Lane could be options as well. Any word on Charles Scott declaring cause he’d be ideal for the role. His youth is another added plus as well. I like Russell but I don’t know if he’s the answer. Moore is good at everything but I saw him get stood up one too many times during the regular season. I know the O-Line is to blame but that’s what those big guys are for; breaking tackles.

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 Feb 5, 2009 10:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I think even Bettis at his best would’ve struggled behind our OL this season. Fix that, everything else will be fine.

by KiwiSteelerFan on Feb 5, 2009 10:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Which big guy?

Neither Russell nor Moore are big. Mendenhall will be a nice improvement here. He’s the biggest back.

by worldtrip on Feb 5, 2009 10:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You don’t have to be big to be a great goal line back. Priest Holmes was pretty damn good at it. Course he had a great OL… which is kind of my point. Bettis also had a great OL and don’t forget it was only later in his career that Bettis starting scoring those short range TDs with any regularity. In the 8 seasons Bettis started the majority of the games he played for Pittsburgh he averaged 290 carries and 7TDs per season. In the 2 seasons he played second fiddle to Parker he averaged 180 carries but 11TDs. Of course those were also probably the 2 seasons in which he played behind the best offensive lines… No coincidence.

by KiwiSteelerFan on Feb 6, 2009 1:24 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Scott...

Is staying for his senior year. He announced the same day as Ciron Black (who, if he had declared, we would be drafting at #32, I think).

by NYSteelersFan4 on Feb 6, 2009 2:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

They didn't get a big guy

But the just (or are about to) picked up another little guy from the CFL named Stefan Logan.

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

by PixburghArn on Feb 6, 2009 7:23 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

He’s real little though – my guess is we are tired of not having the likes of Sproles. Our defense complained about him at the end of the game in the locker room on kick returns, and Tomlin overheard them.

Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.

by steelguy99 on Feb 6, 2009 8:57 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Probably right

We’ll see how it pans out.

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

by PixburghArn on Feb 6, 2009 9:17 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

According to Dale Lolley, we just signed a CFL guy who could be a KR/PR/3DB. BC Lions

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Feb 6, 2009 8:39 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah Stefan Logan

see the post just above yours. :)

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

by PixburghArn on Feb 6, 2009 8:49 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

whoops. I just skimmed

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Feb 6, 2009 9:44 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Just messing with you

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

by PixburghArn on Feb 6, 2009 9:55 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Guess you guys beat me to it. Oh well.

All of these signings are minor, but the steelers sure seem to be going at this pretty gung-ho.

Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.

by steelguy99 on Feb 6, 2009 8:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Remember the monir signings last year

Fox and Moore? Don’t sleep on the minor details. :)

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

by PixburghArn on Feb 6, 2009 9:18 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Bring ’em all in and let god (MT) sort them out.

Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.

by steelguy99 on Feb 6, 2009 10:02 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ya know

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

by PixburghArn on Feb 6, 2009 10:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

is TJ Duckett still in the league?

Think we can get him for cheap? Waive the last two rings in his face and dazzle him to take league minimum? Yeah, I know.

What about Troy Smith for a back up? Doubt that his stock went up after last year, he is a great locker room guy, has ability to get out of the pocket, and might like apprenticing under Batch.

by StinkBomb on Feb 6, 2009 10:37 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

haha,

Pittsburgh fans have always wanted TJ duckett to wear black and gold. It has been a few months since I heard it, but I have never really understood why the fanbase is so eager to go after the guy who couldn’t crack the line-up in any city he has played in. TJ Duckett is like a mythical beast that all steelers fans believe when he puts on his Steelers Jersey he will turn morph into Jerome Bettis.

I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!

by drinkyourmilkshake on Feb 6, 2009 10:44 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Duckett

I saw him playing with the Falcons and he was never a great short-yardage back. He just ran too high. Maybe he’s learned since then, but I don’t think he’s the answer.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Feb 6, 2009 4:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

By the way

I wonder if Davenport still loves the Colts. I wonder if he was going for the Cardinals in the Super Bowl.

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

by PixburghArn on Feb 6, 2009 10:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Troy Smith

Who needs him when we already got Dennis Dixon, hes the aprrentice under Batch.

by tannofsteel84 on Feb 6, 2009 11:00 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes he is...

But it looks like Seattle still wants him as their goal line guy. At least according to ESPN Insider from Feb. 4.

by NYSteelersFan4 on Feb 6, 2009 2:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

(TJ Duckett)

by NYSteelersFan4 on Feb 6, 2009 2:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

100% with Kiwi…we do not need a big back for short yardage/goal line…we need the OL to block better.

At one point late in the season Brandon Jacobs was only 4/9 on 3rd and 1!!! Not even 50% and the Gaints have a good OL!!!…imo, way too much is made of the “big back”…you need a good line with a RB who can find the small creases and is tough to bring down. Btw, Dominic Rhodes was 5/5 on 3rd and 1 at the same point in the season as Jacobs (I knows it’s a small sample size but interesting none the less).

by SteelerMike on Feb 6, 2009 2:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I agree...

It’s about leg drive and want on the goal line. Not size. Plus O-Line.

by NYSteelersFan4 on Feb 6, 2009 2:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

But If We Are Looking Big..

There is a guy in the draft named Glenn Cody from Nebraska. I’m not that familiar with him but he’s 6’0" and 240 lbs. Not to mention Javorskie Lane who is probably close to 300 by now (which is TOO big to be effective, I think).

Like I said, that’s size alone. I never saw Cody play.

Did see Javorskie quite a bit. But his move to FB this year was in most part due to his inability to stay in shape. We don’t really like that, ask Casey Hampton about being PUP’ed last year.

by NYSteelersFan4 on Feb 6, 2009 2:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Duckett

forgot to add…Duckett and Dvenport, to me, are classic examples of “big backs” who go down way too easily. Their size is actually a hinderance…they can’t get out of their way and they offer defenders a lot of body space to hit. I know once they get going they are harder to tackle but in short yardage/goal line it is bout making yourself smaller, and giving defenders less to hit, while twisting and turning for those extra yards

by SteelerMike on Feb 6, 2009 2:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

+1

I live in Portland and I get more than my fair share of Seahawks football.
( BTW….I’d rather watch Pop Warner than watch the SeaWhiner’s play 60 minutes of football; I also take every opportunity to rub SBXL in their faces, yessir!)

I’ve watched TJ Duckett run the rock. He is WEAK and the second coming of Najeh Davenport! We dont need this dude!

by Steeler Ric on Feb 6, 2009 2:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Let's use Big Snack

Can he get enough RPMs (torque) to move that big body?

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

by PixburghArn on Feb 6, 2009 3:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

haha

I think about that every once in a while. I know they tried him at FB as a joke in camp a year or two ago. Someone got under his pads and dropped him pretty fast. Too bad though; he’d be an intimidating presence on third and 1.

Total long shot, but if we do draft another nose tackle prospect this year, maybe he’ll get a shot at FB.

by phxsteeler on Feb 6, 2009 3:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs