Did Tank do anything while on IR?

by Steeler Nation VA on Mar 1, 2010 7:56 PM EST

I was wondering if naybody knows if Tank Summers did anything during the season to help his case as the FB for next year. Did he spend time watching film, hanging around and learning or did he disappear. I hope that besides rehab work, he spent the time learning and getting bigger.

I think that Tank has potential, but was not NFL ready yet. He needed to improve his blocking and learning the blocking assignments.

We need a FB to help with the running game. Carey Davis is not the answer, there is not much out there in FA, so either Tank steps up or we go back to draft or rookie FA route again.

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There is no fullback in Arians' offense

So I think we can just about close the book on Frank Summers. Too bad too, I like the idea of a lead blocker for Mendenhall. Aside from the two times we saw Doug “The Big” Legursky plowing through the D line for him, The Rash had Kemo to pull and lead.

I think the only shot Summers has to get on the 52, is to become a ST ace.

"OOH! A piece of candy. OOH! A piece of candy."
-James Woods

by Steel Spike on Mar 1, 2010 9:56 PM EST reply actions

Arians was already implemented with his no FB system

when we drafted Summers. If he had no chance of making the offense why did we draft him?

Brian: Face it Peter, you get competitive about everything.
Peter: I am so not competitive. In fact, I am the least non-competitive. So I win.

by SoCalSteelerFan on Mar 2, 2010 12:36 AM EST up reply actions

I didn't draft him...how would I know?

"OOH! A piece of candy. OOH! A piece of candy."
-James Woods

by Steel Spike on Mar 2, 2010 2:11 AM EST up reply actions

You are sure his career is over and his only shot is at ST so I thought you’d have insight on why we drafted him.

Brian: Face it Peter, you get competitive about everything.
Peter: I am so not competitive. In fact, I am the least non-competitive. So I win.

by SoCalSteelerFan on Mar 2, 2010 3:11 AM EST up reply actions

I didn't say his career is over.

I’m sure he will make a fine FB somewhere where the OC actually knows how to use one. He’s probably not going to be the next Lorenzo Neal, or anything, but decent.

Besides, Colbert does the drafting, not Arians.

"OOH! A piece of candy. OOH! A piece of candy."
-James Woods

by Steel Spike on Mar 2, 2010 9:08 AM EST up reply actions

except he's not a fullback

He’s a running back that is fat. UNLV ran a spread offense. He never blocked. He was picked up, likely because of what RB coach Kirby Wilson said,

“…he might be one of the more difficult guys to tackle that they’ve seen on film this year. You don’t see that (good receiving ability) of a big man much.”

So, essentially he was viewed as an inside runner and checkdown receiver, not a lead blocker.

by 36chambers on Mar 2, 2010 12:02 PM EST up reply actions

I didn't watch every preseason game

But when I did, I never saw him as the lone set back. He was always the “fullback”.

"OOH! A piece of candy. OOH! A piece of candy."
-James Woods

by Steel Spike on Mar 2, 2010 12:11 PM EST up reply actions

Not sure if we ever found out what his injury was

by SteelerMessican on Mar 1, 2010 10:52 PM EST reply actions

Ego

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill

by PixburghArn on Mar 2, 2010 9:30 AM EST up reply actions

yeah

I heard it really tanked

"You know how football is - if your mother's on the other team and you're coming out to play football, you're gonna hit momma" --L.C. Greenwood

by acrollet on Mar 2, 2010 10:34 PM EST up reply actions

thank you very much, I'll be here all week

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill

by PixburghArn on Mar 3, 2010 9:00 AM EST up reply actions

Frank Summers pretty much sucked last year. He didn’t show anything in blocking or running in his limited time. Why anyone thinks he is any good is beyond me. I think it’s just because he has a cool nickname.

by Cols714 on Mar 2, 2010 1:06 AM EST reply actions

he started 2 games, and then spent the rest of the season on IR

are you seriously suggesting that we close the book on a guy because he wasnt standing out in the first 2 weeks of his rookie season? when has anyone ever done that for us as a rookie? the fact is that this guy has some potential.

by hasay on Mar 2, 2010 6:45 AM EST up reply actions

I remember a lot of people wanted to close the door on Mendy

With names like Summers and Redman coming into the argument. You just gotta let it go and play out. If he is good enough to play, the coaches will notice. If not we will just have to hear people whine about how he would have been a 1st ballot HoFer if the Steelers had given him a shot.

"When my time on earth is gone, and my activities here are passed, I want them to bury me upside down, so that my critics can kiss my a**!"
-Bobby Knight

by John Stephens on Mar 2, 2010 11:26 AM EST up reply actions

I guess one person’s fine wine, would be someone’s distasteful whine, and vice versa.

To try and fail may be unacceptable, but failing to try, is accepting failure.

by alfresco on Mar 2, 2010 1:12 PM EST up reply actions

I hate wine

It all tastes like feet…

"OOH! A piece of candy. OOH! A piece of candy."
-James Woods

by Steel Spike on Mar 2, 2010 1:39 PM EST up reply actions

Expert on the taste of feet huh? Fetish much?

Without me, youre only you

by GotWoodley? on Mar 3, 2010 4:23 AM EST up reply actions

Giggity

"OOH! A piece of candy. OOH! A piece of candy."
-James Woods

by Steel Spike on Mar 3, 2010 10:56 AM EST up reply actions

did you see the recent family guy?

“whats this internet porn you speak of?” Then 3 days later:

by SteelersVT on Mar 3, 2010 11:40 AM EST up reply actions

I own every released season of Family Guy on DVD

Volume 1 has the first and second season on it, and I have them all, volumes 1-7, with 7 having season 8.

"OOH! A piece of candy. OOH! A piece of candy."
-James Woods

by Steel Spike on Mar 3, 2010 1:08 PM EST up reply actions

Yes. A late round draft pick who looked terrible in limited action, even at blocking which is sort of what the FB is supposed to do.

Nobody would care about this guy if he wasn’t nicknamed Tank.

by Cols714 on Mar 2, 2010 11:45 AM EST up reply actions

I think we picked him up because at that point Mendenhall was an unknown quantity. We all wanted him to be a 1,000+yd rusher (which he was) but we needed some backup plan/goalline project in case he couldn’t get it done.

The way I see it is that you can pick up a good fullback in the 4th round or something, they can run, catch, block and play ST, what’s not to love? Summers doesn’t automatically become a FB/Bettis 2.0 just because he’s fat.

by 36chambers on Mar 2, 2010 8:10 AM EST reply actions

x1000 on your last point.

Bettis was a once in a generation talent. We won’t find a replacement for him.

by JHolmes on Mar 2, 2010 8:41 AM EST up reply actions

Jerome had some sweet footwork for such a big mofo that's fo sho.

by SteelersFnRule on Mar 2, 2010 11:38 AM EST reply actions

Nobody answered the question

Did anybody hear if he did anything all season to improve or did he disappear like Mendenhall did in 2008? We hear about other players recovering from injuries, but nothing on him, unless I missed it.

by Steeler Nation VA on Mar 2, 2010 12:10 PM EST reply actions

They filled him with fish

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill

by PixburghArn on Mar 2, 2010 12:12 PM EST up reply actions

I don't think anything came down the wire about him

It seemed like that when he was placed on IR, every outlet forgot about him (except us, of course).

"OOH! A piece of candy. OOH! A piece of candy."
-James Woods

by Steel Spike on Mar 2, 2010 12:13 PM EST up reply actions

I guess no news means he wasn't around much

Reporters talk about players who make themselves visable on and off the field.

by Steeler Nation VA on Mar 2, 2010 12:46 PM EST up reply actions

I would rather have a humble, low profile player

than a big mouth who can’t/won’t produce (coughTOcough)

"OOH! A piece of candy. OOH! A piece of candy."
-James Woods

by Steel Spike on Mar 2, 2010 1:41 PM EST up reply actions

for minute there

I thought you were saying Ricardo Cocolough

Steelers football is 60 mins.

by tannofsteel84 on Mar 2, 2010 2:36 PM EST up reply actions

LOL

I meant to include ochostinko as well….

"OOH! A piece of candy. OOH! A piece of candy."
-James Woods

by Steel Spike on Mar 2, 2010 2:38 PM EST up reply actions

Hold on guys....

He showed up waaaay early last year, working his butt off, studying everything he could get his hands on. Summers became a favorite of the coaching staff and front office for his blue collar attitude. He worked hard.

He simply wasn’t ready to play at the NFL level. Maybe he had a back injury that halted his progress and limited him. (Maybe not)

I would imagine he still has the same attitude, and will continue to work his butt off. And I agree that special teams is the only ticket he can punch to make the roster.

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

by Homer J. on Mar 2, 2010 2:48 PM EST up reply actions