Impact Second Year Players

by SteveMeredith on May 4, 2009 10:10 PM EDT

There's been a lot of talk among local radio analysts who think that Limas Sweed is going to have to step up and prove that he can be a viable third receiver in order for him to take over for the newly departed Nate Washington. I completely agree, and the competition between Sweed and rookie Mike Wallace should prove to be an interesting storyline to follow come late-July/early-August.

The second year player that I'm most intrigued by is Tackle Tony Hills from the University of Texas. If you are like me, you found yourself raising an eyebrow at the Steelers selection of Defensive Tackle "Ziggy" Hood in the first round of the draft. A pick, might I add, that the coaches believe is "light-years away from being able to play." Although I disagree with the pick, I understand that the Steelers draft philosophy is that you draft the best player on the board at the time. With that said, I seem to remember Big Ben being sacked the second most number of times in the league last season. Furthermore, I seem to remember both Max Unger and William Beatty both being on the draft board during the first round of the draft when it came time for the Steelers to pick...

I must, however, let my personal views on the draft go, and accept the Steelers current thought process. It seems clear, at least, in my estimation, that Tomlin wants to develop the current crop of offensive lineman, and it IS true that we won the Super Bowl with them. With that being said, that is exactly why Tony Hills intrigues me. I really think that he could challenge, and possibly win a starting offensive line spot, possibly over Darnell Stapleton.

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"light years away?"

Not sure about that. Ziggy can squat 720lb. That alone shows that he is physical enough to step in on 3rd downs and get it done. It seems that everyone is freaking about our 0-line. I’m not worried as much. You see that line out there letting Ben get hit all the time? Well they’re pretty young and haven’t been playing together much. They need to Gel and drafting an O lineman wouldn’t immediately help because it once again takes time for a group of men to come together close enough so that they know what the other is thinking without asking. Tony Hills needs to be in there. His size his is there and he should have an understanding of what is asked of him after riding the bench a year. I would like to see him step in and take over for Colon. I like our 1st rd draft pick. I like Tony Hills. Let’s wait and see who’s on the roster…

by SoCalSteelerFan on May 4, 2009 10:26 PM EDT reply actions

Light Years Away

The term “light years away” was a coach’s term…not mine. And you can not ignore the sack statistic from last season; 46 sacks given up by that offensive line.

Add to that the fact that Willie Parker HIMSELF said that he was “coming off of a bad season,” which also speaks to the weak offensive line.

Bottom line, I think we agree, the line needs to develop and gel, and I think Tony Hills needs to get in there as well…

Pain is certain, suffering is optional...

by SteveMeredith on May 4, 2009 10:43 PM EDT reply actions

Yes

but their play did increase in the playoffs. They were starting to get “it.” But you’re right, if we can get Hills in there early enough then we should see a line that can really come together a few weeks in. Willie was never a great inside runner, but the line sure did hamper his abilities to go through the tackles.

This is kinda off subject but did anyone watch the NFL replay of the NY game last season? Holy crap Kiesel was flat out having his way with that offensive line. He nailed Ward so hard on one play that Ward did a full rotation mid-air. I love the Diesel!!!

by SoCalSteelerFan on May 4, 2009 11:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Hills?

You guys sound like complete homers! Tony Hills did absolutely nothing last year to make anyone think that he is going to make the team this year, let alone START! Yes I think with another year under this O-lines belt they can start to gel. The guys that I think will press the starters for playing time are Tre Essex, from what I’ve heard the coaches really like the way he has progressed(hence the new 2 year contract) and he can play multiple positions. Kraig Urbik will come in and press Darnell Stapleton for the starting job at RG he is much bigger than stapleton and can get that push that we’ve been missing in the running game. I hope that I’m wrong about Hills but make your evaluation with what the guy does not what you think that he might be.

by ironkid on May 4, 2009 11:37 PM EDT reply actions

Colon

is the reason Hills is even brought up in the conversation. Colon could be replaced by either Hills or Essex in my opinion.

Nobody has even brought up Mendenhall. I think he could have a good year. He was`t a first round talent for no reason.

by SteelerDomination on May 5, 2009 3:54 AM EDT reply actions

Thank You

It’s not that I think Hills is good, It’s just that I think Colon is bad. He hasn’t shown any consistency or real improvement. Hills just has that size to get it done and I don’t know if Hills being able to start early and gel with the line is a possibility (we’ll see how training camp pans out.) I’d just like to see it happen.

Now Summers, that’s a guy I want to see early!!! maybe I should make a new post dedicated to the Tank and what we should expect. Hmmm… wouldn’t hate ya if you beat me to it.

by SoCalSteelerFan on May 5, 2009 5:00 AM EDT reply actions

Hopefully we see contributions...

from a lot of last years class. To this point it has been very, very quiet from all of them. I get the feeling that we won’t necessarily see huge steps by any of them (barring perhaps Mendenhall) and they will continue to grow into the team.

I don’t see it as a negative that Davis, Hills, Mendenhall, and Sweed are all on the slow burner. This indicates that we have a stable and solid team that can afford to develop players rather than throw them into the maw at the first. Granted, if we saw immediate improval in the QB staying vertical stat, I would be a happy man. I think they will all make measured improvement through the year.

To be honest I’m more anxious about Sepulveda that those guys…only due to injury and the bind we get into when he’s not around. (Please no limping, hoppinh punters in 09!)

by SCSteeler on May 5, 2009 7:02 AM EDT reply actions

I don’t see it as a negative that Davis, Hills, Mendenhall, and Sweed are all on the slow burner. This indicates that we have a stable and solid team that can afford to develop players rather than throw them into the maw at the first. Granted, if we saw immediate improval in the QB staying vertical stat, I would be a happy man. I think they will all make measured improvement through the year.

This statement I agree with in earnest. I like the fact that the Steelers don’t need a player from this year’s draft to come in and fill a large role. Other than special teams, the Steelers are pretty solid on all fronts.

by Piratefan13 on May 5, 2009 8:05 AM EDT reply actions

Remember

The year before draft!?! Timmons was a bust, and Woodley an unknown, everyone hated spaeth – well we still hate him, but D. Spevuleda turned out ok and then you have Gay. Now look at them, 4 are starters and 1 is a backup that is used a lot.

We can look at last year’s draft and see Mendenhall, Sweed, Davis and Hills making that second year leap like the class before them did. Hills was hurt coming into last year. Before getting hurt – Hills would have been one of the top of his class as a tackle. So talent wise Hills is superior to colon, size wise hills is superior to colon, and when the mental part is there he will start. Mendenhall we all expect him to have a break out season, Sweed was a 1round reciever before he got hurt he will have a break out season, and davis could be the back up that comes through. I just really like our situation

by tannofsteel84 on May 5, 2009 9:37 AM EDT reply actions

+1

by Piratefan13 on May 5, 2009 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions

I agree with most of your points, but I still haven’t heard any actual scouts (as opposed to bloggers, fans, and reporters) say Hills would have been a top prospect before his injury. A broken leg is not a big deal, so I promise you he didn’t fall 3 rounds because of his injury. He fell because of his previous injury – in high school – that he never fully recovered from.

We can and have argued about how Hills will progress, but if he was one of the top 8 OT’s last year, he would have been starting with all the injuries and crappiness we had. Instead he wasn’t even on the active roster. Willie Parker broke his leg after Hills did, but it didn’t prevent him from being ready at the beginning of the season.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on May 5, 2009 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions

agree with you for the most part but I think the two situations are a little different

Willie Parker has 208 pounds that have to be carried by his recovering leg, as where Tony Hills has 304 pounds that his healing leg has to support.

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

by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on May 5, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions

hehe

I knew you couldn’t let all this talk about Hills go by badmaafala :)

I think any talk about Hills is idle speculation until camp, but I do agree with the people that say he wouldn’t have to be too great to be better than Colon. That said, the coaches seem to value stability an awful lot, so Hills would have to pretty much be the second coming…

by acrollet on May 5, 2009 11:41 PM EDT up reply actions

I wonder..

if a player that was mentally better (i.e. not so many penalties), but slightly less physically capable than Colon would be better?

I don’t know the answer, but I’m open to their trying it out.

by SCSteeler on May 6, 2009 7:24 AM EDT up reply actions

Good Article

You bring up some great points for discussion. To start, the “light years away” statement is a typical Steelers statement. They never put pressure on their draft picks and it is true that they like to develop them over time. I expect to see Ziggy on the field sooner rather than later. I do think Sweed will contribute. Probably not as much as we’d like out of at 3rd WR, but receivers typically take time to grow into bonafide NFL players.
I, like most others wanted an OL guy at 32, but respect the pick. I know they “like the clay” on this guy Hood and the cheese head might vie for a job this fall. About giving up the most sacks in the league. I think we need to put a large share of that responsibility on Big Ben. He holds on the the ball a long time. He does not think their is a guy that can bring him down. I’ve learned to accept that and know that for every time he makes a great play after shedding a would be tackler, there is a time he will be sacked.
I hope the rook Wallace will bring a much needed game breaking ability to out kick off return game.
And lastly, I agree Mendenhal will be a nice player and was really upset when he got hurt last year. He lost a lot of experience and we actually needed him with FWP out. I suspect he will contribute quite a bit this fall.

by jharmon64 on May 6, 2009 8:24 AM EDT reply actions