More Important to the 2010 Steelers: Mendy or Wallace?

Mendy because while BB is out, teams will probably stack the box so it will be important for him to establish himself to open up the play actions. Then when BB gets back, he needs to be consistent so the threat of the run is still there and can take advantage if teams stop stacking the box. Wallace because if he can complement hines, then he will take some pressure of Hines. Also, if he proves to be more than just a deep threat, DCs will have something else to scheme for and worry about. So I think that with what they both can bring to the game, they both are not only important to the team’s success, but may also indirectly help each other out as well.

that Ward won’t be starting every game. Can see what yer saying but do not like it

1. Mendy has the most weight to carry now (might split time w/ Dwyer)
2. Wallace is the # 2 reciever now and will carry his amount on the O just as much as Mendy.

The bottom line both will be vital for us to flourish this season, and if they falter in anyway we might have to piggyback on the D in more ways than one!

If BA sticks with his stupid pass heavy offense, then it is Wallace. But if he is smart enough to realize that without our premiere signal caller we are much better off running, it will be Mendy.

I voted for Mendy, because I hope that happens.

In this league, it’s not that difficult to find a 1000 yard back, and you know that Mendenhall is a 1000 yard back at the very least. He may or may not blossom into a real star this year, but at the very least he’s no bust. So you should be good on that one.

Wallace is the bigger unknown for you. You’ve seen flashes of a great player, but not as a #1 receiver and not without Santonio keeping defenses honest. Personally, Wallace scares me. But what none of us know is if he’s ready to carry a passing attack week in and week out. With this being his first full season in that role, I’m guessing he has his amazing games and he has his duds.

Side Note: You may consider Wallace to be a #2, but he’ll get #1 defensive assignments against a lot of defenses who aren’t as worried about Hines Ward as they used to be.

Mark it dude.

I voted for Issac Redman.

If the OL does not make great strides this year, the 1st four games are going to be lots of 8 in the box, so I guess it will be Wallace.
If the OL does then they’ll run the first four games out, like the Cowher years, and play a possesion passing game and it will be Mendy.
I’m voting for the latter, could you imagin Ben with and OL and a running game?
Heck while I’m at it toss in a top 5 D, better start fitting the guys for SB rings during the bye.

First, I’ll admit that normally a starting tailback is much more important to a team’s success than a team’s 2nd wide reciever, especially if we’re talking about the Steelers, but hear me out.

I did, but it couldn’t change my mind. Now, if you were simply arguing whether the running game or passing game was more important, there’d be a closer argument. But I see this year (hopefully, anyway) as the year we return to the run.

I would say their fate is intertwined because Wallace’s ability to get open will effect how often opposing defenses can stack the box against Mendenhall.

Even before the BB issue, the Front Office went on record as saying that we had to get back to basics and the running game. I think that right there points to Mendy. Then adding in the 4 – 6 games that BB will be out; I think it’s fair to say the running game will get an even bigger chunk of the pie early on. If we have to rely on the balance of the roster (in the scenario cgolden mentions above), then I think we lose a lot of effectiveness because we’ll become predictable: one of Mendy’s strengths is catching out of the backfield – that speaks to MM (who is not as strong actually running)….Dwyer and Redman can run, but can they catch the swing pass?

That’s not to say that Wallace isn’t important. He’ll have his own hurdles this year, and needs to step up his game accordingly. I would think the ball gets distributed more with Tone gone, and Heath to get a lot more balls. Hopefully we add the play action pass to our playbook – that’s something Wallace would excel at, but I see a lot more dump offs and swing passes this year. Less reliance on the deep pass.

but saw this article and thought the Nation might be interested in it. I know it is by La Canfora(sp), but maybe his prediction is right

http://blogs.nfl.com/2010/05/27/roethlisberger-could-return-to-practice-begin-repairing-image/

I think Mendenhall is probably the more essential of the two, he’s got a lot of speed

But the Steelers need to run the ball. That’s what we’re known for.
Depending on the situation, it should be: run first, then pass.

In my opinion, I think Wallace is going to be more important for you guys. As much as many of you may deny it, Holmes leaving really, really hurts your offense. He was by far your most dangerous player over the last two years. Even I know that Mendenhall is going to have a very solid year if he can stay healthy. The yards are going to come with him, he is too talented to have a Brandon Jacobs like season.

With Wallace however, the Holmes departure forces him into the #2 spot. With Ward starting to ease his way out of the #1 spot and into retirement, Wallace has to step it up…..big time. If he does not click during the first half or so of the season, then that leaves you with what? Ward who is still solid, but not dangerous enough to be THAT big of a factor in a win. Randle El, god knows what he can anymore. The rookie Sanders, I highly you guys will even see half the production Wallace gave you last year out of Sanders. I was a huge Mike Wallace fan while he was at Ole Miss. I knew this guy was going to be a beast. When you guys drafted him, I knew it meant premature aging and gray hair for me over the next 8 years.

Wallace has to step up, or I think your offense is screwed. As great as a productive running game is, having a below average passing attack in today’s league is going to get you no where. And considering who is going to be your QB for the first quarter of the season, you better hope Wallace is getting wide open every time.

I chose Mendy but, with Ben out and Holmes gone, I think we will need them both at their best for the next 6 games (I expect Ben back in 4 but I think it will take a couple of games to shake the cobwebs out).

they deleted my main MAN!

Open the wardrobe is not yet found love after
another the right clothes?

You guys might like this. It is a list of overrated and underrated players in the NFL. Here is what this idiot had to say about your Steelers.

Overrated: S Troy Polamalu. Yes, he has been hurt. But that helps bring down his rating. Even when he has been on the field, he hasn’t been as good as his reputation.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/13447444/overratedunderrated-extending-a-branch-to-a-raider-and-jacobs-no-giant?tag=headlines;nfl

The more important of the 2 for the 2010 season is Mendy.

- Mendy will need to carry the burden of the O during the 1st 4 games and perhaps…even more. Once BB is back, he will require transition time and Mendy will bridge that gap as well.

- Mendy will need to continue to provide great pass protection during passing downs, max protection sets. His blocking should give Leftwich that extra 1/2 sec for that wind up of h is

- Mendy will need to catch enough flare passes to account for the drop off in receiving talent minus Santonio.

Mendy will be asked to do these 3 things and these things very well…..run, pass protect, and catch. Wallace will not be asked to do that much…..hence making him not as important………..YET

Wallace is extremely important, but not as much as Mendy for this 2010 season.

I voted Mendenhall because the Steelers will have to be able to run the ball to win…especially the first month. As a wise man once said “When you run the ball, good things happen…”

People at BB don’t talk. I’m coming over here for a while. BTW I pick Mendenhall. The reason Wallace was good last year was because he was in the slot. This year being a #2 WR he will actually have good CBs on him, and alot of times he will be double covered. Mendenhall on the other hand will be the Starting HB on a team that won’t have a good QB for the first 6 games. I think they will become more of a running team without Ben. And that’s where Mendy comes in.

If both stay healthy then I would say Mendy but if either falters due to injury then I vote for Wallace as gut feeling is Dwyer & Co could come closer to filling Mendy’s role & production than those next in line in the receiving corp.