Who Is Shaun McDonald?
by Michael Bean on May 8, 2009 9:11 AM EDT
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PrintLast week, the Pittsburgh Steelers acquired veteran WR Shaun McDonald. The transaction undeniably does one or two things - it certainly adds competition at the WR position come training camp, particularly for Limas Sweed at the #3 WR hole. And assuming McDonald makes the team, which I'd guess is more likely than say guys like Dallas Baker and Martin Nance making the roster, McDonald adds legitimately proven and capable depth to an already very promising WR corps of Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes, Limas Sweed, and potentially even Mike Wallace.
So, who exactly is Shaun McDonald? Where'd he come from? What has he accomplished in the NFL? Why'd he get released by the Detroit Lions? Is it realistic to think he may still have some production left in him? Let's take a look and see what we can determine.
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2008 Statistics:
12 Games; 35 receptions; 332 receiving yards; 9.5 yards per reception; 1 TD
2007 Statistics (Career Best(s)):
16 Games; 79 receptions; 943 receiving yards; 11.9 yards per reception; 6 TDs
5-Year Averages (2004-2008):
15.2 Games; 42 receptions; 485.6 receiving yards; 11.6 yards per reception; 2.2 TDs
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2008 Review - McDonald was placed on Injured Reserve in the middle of December last year. He missed the Detroit Lions' final four games with an ankle injury. Prior to being shelved for the year, McDonald had yet to really get it going in 2008. He had several solid games, including a 6 reception, 68 yard effort with 1 TD against Chicago, and several other 4-5 reception games. But he didn't turn in any memorable games like he did in 2007, when he led all Lions WRs in receptions (79) and receiving yards (943). Mind you, Calvin Johnson and Roy Williams were ahead of McDonald on the depth chart that year. Not too shabby.
Is McDonald Healthy Now? - Past performance means next to nothing if a player is long past his prime physical years or riddled by injuries. In McDonald's case, he certainly hasn't passed his prime. He'll turn 28 in roughly one month, putting him squarely in the 2-4 year window in athletes' mid-to-late 20s when they are not quite on the decline physically. As for injuries? All I know is that he participated fully in recent mini-camp sessions and looked fairly solid in the process. McDonald may be a bit more fragile than an organization might hope for in one of their top two WRs, but if he can catch a break injury wise, he appears to be just fine in terms of his recovery from ankle issues in 2008.
Can He Play Special Teams?
Yes, yes he can, most importantly as an occasional punt returner. If McDonald were in fact to make the team, do not be at all surprised if you see him field a few punts this coming season in big situations when the Steelers haven't quite yet put 100% faith in either Mike Wallace or Joe Burnett to return punts.
Why Did Detroit Cut McDonald?
Well, I haven't exactly been following the Shaun McDonald career trajectory like a hawk, but I feel comfortable saying that it was a financial decision. McDonald had a cap value of nearly $1.7 million last year, and though I can't confirm it, I suspect the Lions were on the books for even more than that in 2009. The financials of McDonald's deal with the Steelers has not been disclosed I don't believe, but I assure you that it's for far less than what the Lions were scheduled to have to pay McDonald had he not been released. Ironically enough, Detroit finds itself very thing heading into the Matthew Stafford era, despite spending all those high draft picks on WRs during the Matt Millen era earlier this decade.
Could this be another example of one man's trash being another man's treasure?
Perhaps, though I was more confident saying that about Mewelde Moore at about this time last year. The problem for McDonald is that unless injury strikes the team, he may just be the odd man out in Pittsburgh through no fault of his own. By that I mean Hines and Santonio ain't going anywhere, obviously. Then there's Limas Sweed, who the team has a fair amount invested in due to his Day 1 draft status from a year ago. Sweed isn't getting cut unless he's just miserable, which won't happen. Moving on down the depth chart, we then get to Mike Wallace most likely, who's versatility as a returner on special teams gives him a leg up, not to mention his 3rd round draft status as well. There's no placing guys like Mike Wallace on the practice squad. He'd get gobbled up in a hurry by another team. So, that leaves McDonald most likely in the #5 hole. If the Steelers opt to retain McDonald and stash him away on the 53-man roster but not dress him, then I'd feel confident wagering that he makes several crucial appearances with the Steelers in 2009. However, knowing how the organization does business, if it looks like McDonald just won't get on the field much, I wouldn't be too shocked either if he was let go so that he could find himself a better fit in a different market.
We'll see, but once again my friends, the signing of WR Shaun McDonald falls directly in line with the philosophy of this organization during the salary cap era - it's yet another signing of a player that's in his prime but been ignored for whatever reason by his previous team. Keyaron Fox and Mewelde Moore personified this philosophy perfectly last year. Will Shaun McDonald do the same in 2009?
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My vote was a no, but
its more like a maybe. I DO think Sweed improves over last year and handles the #3 spot fairly well this year. It depends on how many receivers are kept on the roster. Wallace probably gets a spot and guys like Baker will determine whether McDonald stays or goes.
Great write up blitz
We are beginning to see and M.O. from the F.O. in the Tomlin era.
When we have a hole in a position, no matter the depth on the squad we pick up a vet – with some real experience to come in and compete with the up and comers on the team. We saw this with Fox and Moore both coming in to positions where we had a fair amount of depth on the roster and bunch of young promising draft picks waiting in the pipeline.
This accomplishes two things. It creates serious competition at those spots and it gives us depth. Both of those are good things. Were some of us rooting for young Mike Humpal to come in and compete last year? No doubt, but when push came to shove, the better players were on the field and we “lucked” out with Kerayon Fox.
Of course it hardly seems like luck when it happens over and over again. Many of us were a bit surprised by the pick up of Mewelde Moore, but with injuries ravaging our starters Moore carried the team for a stretch. Not to mention that he remains a great weapon.
Which brings us to McDonald. I definitely see McDonald making the squad barring some lingering effect from his injury. I think the real question is if he is going to be the number 3 receiver or the number 4 receiver. While on some levels I would love to see the Steelers just let Sweed and Wallace develop, this doesn’t seem to be the way that they operate.
What is more likely is that we will see one of these guys step up if we suffer some injuries. Remember how thin we were during the AFC championship game and Superbowl. With a gimpy Ward, Ben was really only throwing to Santonio.
The other thing that is likely is that they will continue to cultivate these guys for when Santonio begins wanting all-pro money in a couple of years.
Not Sold
on Sweed yet. His two crucial playoff drops really soured me last year. That said, he makes a couple nice catches early and I’m on the Sweed bandwagon with the rest of you all. Voted yes that McDonald makes the roster.
Agree with the Buddah above. I think it’s a question if McDonald is #3 or #4. That’s up to Sweed and his progress and hands. Also McDonald will be in the mix to return punts and kicks. If he does a decent job and Wallace doesn’t that could punch his ticket to Pittsburgh. I really don’t see Burnett challenging. I see him on the practice squad in 09. Reasoning? Taylor, Gay, Townsend, Lewis, Madison and Ratliff ahead of him on the depth chart. If Lewis turns out to be a safety and he beats out Mundy then perhaps Burnett gets a look.
When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen
Sweed reminds me of Nate, he loses focus. I think that will change with some maturity. I believe that within 2 – 3 seasons Sweed will be a dang good WR. He’s 6-4 with speed, if he had focus coming into the draft (or if he was in this years draft) he would have been a top 10 pick.
Sure he can score goals, but can he cook?
I like McDonald on the team because we know he could at the very least be a decent #3. Wallace and Sweed will obviously make the team and have considerably more upside, but we don’t know if we can count on either this year. I’d compare this to the Cedric Wilson signing, only I suspect it’s for a lot less money.
As far as making the team, I see a pretty distinct top 5 (Ward, Holmes, Sweed, McDonald, Wallace) with Baker as a good PS candidate and one of the 6 “fodder” types having an outside chance of impressing enough to make the team. In any case, we have a great mix of proven talent and young upside, so I think our receiver corps is in good hands fo for the forseeable future.
charity standing orders
Competition
Brings out the best – either in Sweed or McD. Either way I think the team benefits from having McD in camp and hopefully in the season.
Odds are yes ...
Very similar to Cedrick Wilson, who the Steelers overpaid to be their #3. If Sweed delivers, McD should be a solid #4 … who plays the slot and makes the 3rd and 6 catch for 8 yds, but will (hopefully) be pushed by Mike Wallace in 4-wide sets as the year progresses.
If the 2 youngsters aren’t ready yet then McD could put up 45/550/2 type numbers as 3rd/4th option on passing downs.
I wouldn’t be surprised.
Sweed and Wallace would kill for spreading the field, even if they can’t catch much. a random TD bomb would scare teams into respecting them, then Holmes being awesome, and Hines making play after play would leave a 5th (a reliable vet who can’t make his own space) some serious operating room.
Sure he can score goals, but can he cook?
Shaun will not return many punts
This guy returned 16 last year and fumbled 4 times, according to NFL.com stats. I’d rather see Santonio back there than see more fumbling.
Camp will show us who gets the job, but I have hopes for Burnett to take Madison’s CB spot and maybe PR and some KR.
Lions fan here
McDonald is a very good receiver. He will add solid depth to the Steelers receiving corp. The Lions are trying to go with a youth movement at WR and let Shawn, a Martz holdover, become a FA for a more immediate chance to get to the big one. You guys will like him.
Hope so!
Say, JazzyBBP, how would you classify McDonald? Does he make a lot of tough catches in traffic? Feel free to expound on his abilities or provide us with a link!
Always great to hear new info from a good source. Hope Foote works out for you guys, he’s been a healthy, reliable run-stuffer for us.
He's a solid #3/slot receiver
He made several tough catches for the Lions, I was a lil bummed when they let him go. Very good in the slot, although he will do the curly-Q move alot. Sometimes he turns it into a gain, sometimes he’ll lose YAC with the move. Reliable and tough, not very fast, he won’t hit the home run for ya, but will def. help convert the tough 3rd down. Very good red zone target, not a good returner. Solid pick-up for the Steelers. I wish him good luck and success except when you guys play the Lions this year. :-)
My grandparents and alot of my family were from Meyersdale, PA. They were a big reason why I’m a Steelers fan, too, although my hometown team of Detroit is my #1.. Thanks for the Foote kudos, I hope he turns out to be a great pick-up for us. We def. needed a guy like him
McDonald vs. Sweed, the winner plays while the loser sits
Sweed has to step up, or McDonald will take that 3rd WR slot on game days. M. Wallace will most likely be the team’s no. 1 kickoff returner and might return punts as well. That means with 3 WR spots taken on game day, there will be only 1 more available (a given that Hines and Holmes are your starters at WR).
The big thing that McDonald has going for him is that he has done it in the NFL where Sweed hasn’t. McDonald has reached the end zone multiple times and the only thing Sweed has done is throw one big block and drop a lot of passes. I’m pulling for the kid, but you have to prove that you can do it first. Another good signing for the Steelers, which at the very least, bring more competition to the roster. At the most, it gives the team another WR who has started in this league and could end up being a starter for us if Hines or Santonio gets hurt.
I expect them to pick up a veteran LB heading into camp just to cover themselves at ILB.
Not room for both?
Truth I think the emphasis on having a better return game will result in them dressing either an extra WR or an extra CB, depending on how the battle for return jobs shakes out. They have a lot of roster flexibility thanks to having potential return guys on both offense and defense. McDonald and Sweed are different cats as Arians might say so best case scenario is dressing both of them regardless of what Wallace does. Wallace as the No. 5 WR on game days would be just like the situation we had with Rossum in 07. What would make the return game even better is if Burnett can just flat out win a spot on the active roster as either Willie Gay’s replacement on special teams or beating out Anthony Madison.
McDonald is a nice insurance policy and good depth. If healthy, I don’t think there is any way he is not on the active roster this year.
Interesting to see Napolean Harris show up in town. Good chance he signs. He was the starting MLB in Minny when Tomlin was the DC. Has size (6-3, 255), speed and experience calling the signals, can play either ILB position and maybe even OLB in a pinch. He was a DE his senior season at Northwestern and probably on the Steelers radar at that time as an OLB. Labelled a bust as a first-round pick by Oakland but he is far from that, just a good solid pro who was taken very high in a bad draft year.
Talked me out of it
My first thought was that, of course he would, but then Blitz talked me into thinking he won’t, so I voted no. But, I would say it was more of a maybe, like Piratefan13 said. If Wallace doesn’t show a lot in the preseason, then he may make the PS due to lack of production in preseason. But, I now think that datruth has the most likely scenario, with Wallace being the primary KR/PR as well as #5 WR. That would mean that McDonald probably does make the team.
by WolfpackSteelersFan on May 12, 2009 4:36 PM EDT reply actions
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