Stefan Logan will be on the roster
by acrollet on Aug 30, 2009 9:51 AM EDT
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PrintI'm not a big fan of arguing from stats, and comparing pre-season games to regular season is not exactly apples to apples, but I think this will make the case.
Gary Russell was our main kick returner last year - here are the 2008 regular season stats.
| Player | Returns | Yds | Yds/Ret | Long | TD |
| Gary Russell | 16 | 371 | 23.2 | 43 | 0 |
Here are Logan's stats for the pre-season:
| Player | Returns | Yds | Yds/Ret | Long | TD |
| Stefan Logan | 4 | 157 | 39.3 | 60 | 0 |
That's right, he has amassed nearly half the yardage GR did in a quarter the number of returns!
Here are the punt return stats from the 2008 regular season for Holmes & Moore:
| Player | Returns | FC | Yds/Ret | Long | TD |
| Santonio Holmes | 34 | 7 | 6.6 | 35 | 0 |
| Mewelde Moore | 6 | 12 | 3.5 | 12 | 0 |
And the pre-season for Logan:
| Player | Returns | FC | Yds/Ret | Long | TD |
| Stefan Logan | 8 | 2 | 13.9 | 27 | 0 |
Mewelde Moore: 6 punts returned x 3.5 yds/ret = 21 yards in total punt returns all season.
Stefan Logan: 8 punts returned x 13.9 yds/ret = 250 yards in two games.
Holmes had 226 PR yards last season. Obviously, returning against the Redskins and BIlls backups is not the same as last season's tough schedule, but I have to think that Tomlin is going to look at the numbers and really like all those easy yards of offense.
What do you all think? Convincing argument, or Lies, d**n Lies, and Statistics?
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Well done.
How could we not keep a guy like this? It will be very interesting to see who we drop from the 53, though I think Logan will even dress on Sundays. Since you have thought this out acrollet, who do you think gets cut instead?
McDonald
Sweed and Wallace have too much upside to cut, and Logan looks to be WR#5. But then, what do I know??
by acrollet on Aug 30, 2009 11:10 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I don't know
I think Logan will be listed as an RB. McDonald has been too productive to cut. I could see a DB going or either Redman or Summers, but we’ll find out I guess.
"That Troy Polamaga guy looks like Predator"-A keen observation during Superbowl 43. Thanks to Walterfootball.
by Tim Mullhaupt (HSS) on Aug 30, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions
McDonald won't be cut
and I’d be disappointed if he was. He’s good enough to be our #3 WR but Sweed will take that. So therefore he is an above average #4 or #5.
I just don’t see us dropping a guy who has perhaps had the best preseason out of anybody.
Agreed
McDonald isn’t going anywhere. He is proven and productive. If Holmes or Ward go down for a couple of games you want a go to guy who can step in and produce.
by SteelerBuddha on Aug 30, 2009 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm outvoted :)
honestly I think it would be great to keep McDonald – glad I don’t have to make the decisions that the coaches do!
I would say keep McDonald
It doesn’t really matter where they list Logan, he’s not a WR. There’s a big difference between being able to catch a pass in the flat or underneath the zones, and running the full routes that a WR has to run. I think they have to keep McDonald even if he isn’t on the game-day roster at the beginning of the season unless they think a PS guy like Nance could be an adequate replacement in case of injury. Right now the drop-off from No. 5 (McDonald) to No. 6 (Nance, etc) is huge. If they cut McDonald and either Holmes or Ward were to get hurt, the Steelers would be out looking for a veteran guy just like McDonald, and probably not be able to find one as good as he is. McDonald is a great fit for this offense.
by steeler.lifer on Aug 30, 2009 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions
If Logan makes the team, it will be as a specialist they may draw up some opportunities to get him the ball, but it won’t be as a regular position guy.
I like McDonald because he will be a major asset if Hines or Santonio go down.
by Phantaskippy on Aug 30, 2009 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Couldn’t it be another position? That’s my preference. I just don’t see how we can cut any of those guys. When have we had so much talent at WR and returner? I like going with 9 offensive linemen. Or we could just go with 4 RB. The two new guys and Carey are overrated, in my opinion. I’d like to see a high number of DBs retained though. And I’d still like to see 7 DLmen. Eh, well..
My alter ego is Pedantic Basterd. We hates it.
Gary Russel was on the team as a short yardage back. He ran the ball on kickoff returns because we had no other options. That’s a really bad comparison. Effectively you are comparing someone who would be on the team only to be a returner to someone who was on the team to only be a short yardage back, who happened to be able to field the ball.
I am not sold on Logan yet. Wallace has only had one chance to return kicks, and from all reports in practice he should do a pretty good job. His one return was very decent, and he clearly has the potential to be a great kick returner.
I would like to see a proven returner such as McDonald take punts. I would like to see another returner that has posted a reasonable average take a stab with our new blocking team.
Last year the steelers forced players that were in the lineup to perform returns for the steelers. Logan would be a departure from this. If McDonald/Wallace can get close to his results and save a roster spot, it is a hard call for them to make.
I don’t think Wallace and McDonald can live up to what Logan has done so far though. If he can average even 10yds/punt and 30yds/kickoff, which is probably a reasonable assumption at this point, that is at least 100 yards a game. That is hard to ignore. I like the way Logan runs. I think the steelers make room for the specialist, but I don’t think it’s a lock.
Willie Colon doesn’t get flagged because he has long arms; he gets flagged because he sucks. - cliff harris is still a punk!
Good points all
However, the comparison with Holmes does stand up, I think…
by acrollet on Aug 30, 2009 12:59 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
what question
stats, they were interesting, but who needed stats ,
i had no doubt whatsoever that logan would be better than woodson or randall el,,,,, our best returner ever ,,,, after i saw him a second time to make sure the first time wasn’t a fluke or optical illusion
it may be the bottom,,,,,but he’s in the sproules, hester, class and it’s a shame to think there was even a chance he’d be cut for lack of other contribution potential,,,,,,,,gees’ all teams keep a long snapper
Hester, not even close. Logan is fast, but he doesn’t hit top speed nearly as fast as Hester. He’s mobile and reads blocking well, but he doesn’t break tackles.
Logan is not an elite returner like Hester or Gale Sayers or D. Sanders, those guys were epic.
I’d put Logan in the category of a Brian Mitchell, that guy was so solid, and always got good return yardage, but if he was going to break one for a score it was the blocking that did it, he was good enough to take advantage of it and not get caught.
That’s where I see Logan. Brian Mitchell was a favorite player of mine, and if we can get a guy of his caliber let’s clear a spot and keep him.
by Phantaskippy on Aug 30, 2009 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions
One more point I hadn't thought of
Tomlin would probably like to save the wear and tear on #10, without having to give up the threat on PRs…
by acrollet on Aug 30, 2009 12:57 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
I'd keep Logan as the fifth RB...
…with Parker, Mendenhall, Moore and whomever they like best out of Carey Davis, Redman and Summers. Since Summers has been hurt and unable to prove himself and Redman can’t play special teams, that might mean keeping Davis (sorry folks… I don’t love him either but with McHugh hurt and David Johnson a work in progress, Davis looks like the best bet at FB). Of course, this would also mean that either Parker or Mendenhall has to step up as the short yardage back. In essence, it probably comes down to this: does Logan merit cutting a short yardage specialist? I say yes. FWP will be hungry for numbers because he’s in a contract year. I’m willing to bet he can cut it in short yardage if Mendenhall doesn’t man up…
by cliff harris is still a punk! on Aug 30, 2009 3:25 PM EDT reply actions
heck, we can use Bruce Arians for short yardage if the line keeps blocking like they have been…
by acrollet on Aug 30, 2009 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I think we’re fine in short yardage and inside the five-yard line with Parker and Mendenhall. We’ve seen them both score on short TD runs in preseason and Mendenhall is I believe 100 per cent on the few third-down short-yardage plays that he’s had. The preseason has been a nice reminder that short-yardage starts up front. Redman has looked pretty good in general but he got stuffed twice against Buffalo with no room to run. He could develop into a solid RB after some time on the practice roster.
by steeler.lifer on Aug 30, 2009 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions
What the hell was going on that touchdown Mendy scored yesterday? What was that thing where the O-line pushed defenders out of the way? What do you call that?
Willie Colon doesn’t get flagged because he has long arms; he gets flagged because he sucks. - cliff harris is still a punk!
lol
Unsportsmanlike conduct? Maybe that was one of the things that league officials explained to our coaches in the off-season, that a flag won’t be thrown if our O-linemen, TEs and FBs intentionally get in the way of opposing players and just in general beat the crap out of them.
by steeler.lifer on Aug 30, 2009 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Dale Lolley says:
Stefan Logan, welcome to the team.
(from http://nflfromthesidelines.blogspot.com/2009/08/steelers-bills-post-game-thoughts.html )
Re: Dale Lolley column
Sweed has size 15 1/2 feet? From now on I’m calling him Krusty the Sweed…
by cliff harris is still a punk! on Aug 30, 2009 4:29 PM EDT reply actions
Does that also mean...
…that he has a superfluous third nipple like Herschel Krustowsky, AKA Rory B. Bellows?
You don't have to support the idea. . .
by Phantaskippy on Aug 30, 2009 10:18 PM EDT up reply actions
I suppose we can
but why? This is a good post. Why ruin it?
The only managing Ben does is he manages to WIN games
by chewiesteeler on Aug 31, 2009 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions
You all know we just want to get to the end so we can try again to not screw up the receding wave.
by Phantaskippy on Aug 31, 2009 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions
“It started up much more organically.” Fact. I was smoking something organic when I started the first wave back to the left.
by steeler.lifer on Aug 31, 2009 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions
I think I had been having some organicisms when I inadvertently started it by responding to Steelguy.
And steelersgrl
is very flexible apparently
The only managing Ben does is he manages to WIN games
by chewiesteeler on Aug 31, 2009 6:59 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm
ambi-post-rous
The only managing Ben does is he manages to WIN games
by chewiesteeler on Aug 31, 2009 7:03 PM EDT up reply actions
me too!
Matilda: So I became bulimic.
Zoolander: You can read minds?!
Ima hitch onto your wave :)
by steelersgrl on Aug 31, 2009 10:19 PM EDT up reply actions
OK, one more serious thought (but I'm still calling him Krusty the Sweed)...
Yeah, that Mendenhall touchdown yesterday was beautiful. The execution was great, and so was the call. 2nd down from the 4 with 35 seconds left and we’re in a 4-wide? I’d think pass there just like Buffalo did.
I guess the bigger point is about Arians. The short game will definitely be about whether the o-line can move anybody and whether we find a back who get yards even if it can’t. But it’ll also be a whole lot about BA. Can that dude dial up the right plays in short-yardage like he dialed one up yesterday? He can’t just expect to slam it in there 80% of the time. We’re not good enough for that. We have to outcoach teams in that area. That’s a big deal. Something tells me a big part of the season (and maybe his job) depends on him being able to do that.
by cliff harris is still a punk! on Aug 30, 2009 7:00 PM EDT reply actions
If I'm not mistaken
It was 3-wide, but still, point noted. And then they ran that sprint draw. Wow, what a novel idea, split some guys out to get some men out of the box. Huh huh, I said box.
The only managing Ben does is he manages to WIN games
by chewiesteeler on Aug 31, 2009 7:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Keep him - Logan That his
Hi Folks,
I live in British Columbia Canada and am a Die Hard Steelers Fan (we’re everywhere!).
I regularly watched Stefan Logan play last year with the BC Lions. The boy is magic with the ball. He makes things happen all the time. He also is an excellent receiver out of the backfield. Sure he’s small but so is Sprolls and he seems to be working out quite fine.
Welcome aboard
Keep in mind, there are different rules for returns in the CFL. Logan will probably be forced into making fair catches most of the time.
But I’m still rooting for him. I want to see him used for reverses, pitches to the flat, and maybe a fake punt of two.
the CFL sucks
what i didn’t mention in my post is that even though i live in Canada i refer to the CFL as the Comedy Football League. My wife asks if I’m desparate if she catches me watching a CFL game.
I really hope Logan gets his shot. I think a lot of people may be pleasantly surprised.
by CanuckSteeler on Aug 31, 2009 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Their Balls are Bigger.
No really, they are. It was their marketing campaign a while back. A great marketing campaign if you ask me.
by Phantaskippy on Aug 31, 2009 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions
hmmm, that just reminds me of how softballs are bigger than baseballs for the girls....
Ima hitch onto your wave :)
you know what would be funny?
if my sn meant “Steelers grill” not “Steelers girl” ahahahahaha!!!
apparently, we do if the CFL has to use bigger balls….
Ima hitch onto your wave :)
ewwww. unnecessary!!!
Ima hitch onto your wave :)
by steelersgrl on Aug 31, 2009 10:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Keep Logan
Tough decision, but how can anyone say Logan did not earn a spot on this team.
by DwightWhite's Missing Tooth on Aug 31, 2009 12:54 PM EDT reply actions
I think the joystick has earned a spot
I can’t remember the last time I was not worried on a punt or kickoff return
When he averages 15 yards per touch in Carolina
Your jersey order will be secure.
"I believe the game is designed to reward the ones who hit the hardest. If you can't take it, you shouldn't play." Jack Lambert
by LongTimeSteelersFan on Aug 31, 2009 4:14 PM EDT reply actions
Any other CFL'ers worth note?
With Stefan Logan looking as good as he has, and noticing the Canadien influence this site has had of late, I thought I’d start watching a litte bit more CFL. Being in upsatate NY we’re pretty much South Canada.
I couldn’t help but notice this block when watching this game the other day and thinking that it looked an awful lot like Hines. The announcer’s then went on about a 3 minute discussion about how this WR was the best downfield blocker in the league and there wasn’t much discussion, it was consensus opinion. I know we are deep at WR this year, but next year I think he might be worth a camp invite. Nik Lewis might be another Canadien gem worth polishing. Any thoughts?
Lewis etc
It’s just such a different game that very few players can make the jump successfully, and in all honesty we don’t know yet if Logan will last. He wasn’t even the top KR man on his team in the CFL and had a history of fumbling, so let’s see how long the honeymoon lasts. There have been very few wide receivers in particular who started their careers in the CFL and went on to have success in the NFL. Almost all the import WRs (Americans) have been to an NFL camp or two and been cut, or didn’t even get an offer to a camp before heading north. I can remember only two CFL receivers who had success in the NFL over the last 25 years, Rocket Ismail and Mervyn Fernandez and both were unusual cases. Ismail would have been a first-round pick his draft year but instead took a lot of money to join Toronto. Fernandez, who had a few good years with the Raiders two decades ago, was a university drop out signed by the B.C. Lions before his draft eligible year. CFL running backs have had limited success in the NFL. Most recently Kenton Keith played a year for the Colts as Addai’s backup but I believe he is back in the CFL. When I was a kid my favorite CFL runner was Bo Scott and he had a couple good years with the Browns. Moses Denson played a couple years with the Redskins I believe. In the 80s CFL running back stars like Leon (X-Ray) McQuay and Gill (The Thrill) Fenerty had a year or two in the NFL before retiring. There was a tiny compact running back named Mack (Mini-Mack) Herron who went from the CFL to the Patriots. The CFL is a great game for undersized running backs and smart receivers who don’t necessarily have to be fast because the field is so wide. NIk Lewis is probably not quick enough to be an NFL receiver but he is a complete receiver with good hands, toughness and decent running ability after the catch. He might be good enough to be a backup WR somewhere in the NFL. Kelly Campbell, who started his career in the NFL before spending four years in the CFL, is trying out with Tampa Bay this year. By far the position with the most success transitioning from the CFL to the NFL is quarterback: Joe Kapp, Joe Theismann, Warren Moon, Doug Flutie, Jeff Garcia all started their careers in the CFL. There have also been some successful punters/kickers. The CFL is a great game that doesn’t translate well to television because of the size of the field. Lots of passing, big plays, higher scores generally than NFL games.
by steeler.lifer on Sep 1, 2009 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions
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