Rashard Mendenhall suspended (1 Viewer)

[Shutout]

Listening to Stan Savran now who is interviewing Steeler beat reporter Gerry Dulac.

Dulac says he was told last week that the coaching staff have been trying to get Mendenhall's head back into the game for several weeks because they feel he is most talented back but he hasn't responded in practice. The fumbles really ticked off the Steelers coaching staff because they felt they were "lazy fumbles" and this after they were stressing all week the need to protect the ball because they were down to their 3rd string QB.

His deactivation was both a function of injuries in other areas and also to send him a message. When he blew off the game last week apparently it was the last straw so they suspended him for one game (although they could have suspended him for 4 games).

Dulac says the team really wanted him to return as the feature back but it is unlikely he'll be active again this season unless Redman or Dwyer are injured.

Funny that they let Wallace play through his lack of effort/bad attitude.

Pretty much what I said in post #35. Even with the drops Wallace has been productive and that's what it all comes down to. I can understand Mendenhall's frustration but blowing off Sunday's game was really stupid though.

What exactly happened? Altercation with coaches? Didn't do something to prepare? I keep seeing this statment but haven't seen anything saying "he did this so we suspended him."

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

What exactly happened? Altercation with coaches? Didn't do something to prepare? I keep seeing this statment but haven't seen anything saying "he did this so we suspended him."

He didn't come to the stadium once he knew he was inactive.Really really dumb.

 

[Cookiemonster]

Why the Steelers insisted that he play like Cedric Benson instead of mixing in some stuff where he would be most effective -- draws, screens and wide runs -- is a mystery.

Bruce freaking Arians. WR bubble screen 50% of the time. Dive middle or stretch play 35%. Long pass play 10%. Other 5%. There was no RB screen in his playbook.

 

[Blick]

I'm in the very small minority of Steeler fans who hates to see this. Mendenhall has by far the most talent on the roster at the RB position. I'd love for him to get another chance with the team. If not, which is looking highly likely, they must find his replacement somewhere, and I'm afraid that will cost more $. With no RB in the draft worth (arguably) a first rounder, they will have to go FA. Plus, they need to use the draft to upgrade other positions. Their current stable of RB do not look like every down starter types to me. Dwyer perhaps, if he gets in better shape, which he hasn't done thus far (even after given the starters job).Sure Mendy had a bad fumble in a big game. Many RB's do. Had it not been for "the tackle" by Ben, the Steelers never would have been in that years SB and Bettis would have been looked upon differently among Steeler fans as well. Fumbles happen. He plays in a couple games this year, is rusty, and fumbles (twice) during the Browns game. Well, so did the rest of the RB's on the roster. Before that SB fumble, he was not known to be a fumbler whatsoever. At least, not how many are making it seem.

Very good post. Too many people just look at the stats. I would love him back healthy with his head on staight.

 

[The Riv]

Lots going on in PIT, my hometown. With the Steelers a pass 1st offense now the role of the RBs is different than it was with Bettis. At this point, Dwyer, Redman, and Mendy have all had their games w/#1 RB production. It's true that the organization hasn't been unified behind Mendenhall, but when you can get the same game from any of these three guys, why prop Mendy up at this point? Dwyer has been hanging around this team for a good reason -- he's been developing into a Mendenhall-like RB for PIT. Meanwhile, Mendenhall, hasn't developed too far beyond where he was when he arrived. Sure, the broken shoulder -- okay. But a guy needs to distinguish himself to have the game plan geared in his direction, and Mendy hasn't done that. Like Plax & Holmes, the Steelers are preparing to cut their losses. I don't think Wallace is in the same situation, but he is now in a quasi-timeshare with Sanders (who's underrated), and we'll have to see if the team can come to terms with him after the SB. Count me among those who do not find PIT to be a team with dysfunction in the RB and WR units, though. It's the opposite, really -- function amidst difficult decisions. I'd argue that it's hard to find a team with more top-to-bottom organizational stability than the Steelers. As a lifelong fan, however, my glasses are rosy, and my vision is partially blocked by all of those Lombardi trophies.

 

[treat88]

He's the only RB on the roster that can threaten anything other than the A gap.

The current stable of RB's limit the playcalling badly simply due to an obvious lack of speed. No one can get to the edge, so defenses simply clog the middle.

I'm not a huge fan of Mendenhall's, but a healthy version of himself would do wonders for the Steelers offense generally.

 

[Copeman]

He's the only RB on the roster that can threaten anything other than the A gap.The current stable of RB's severely limit the playcalling badly simply due to an obvious lack of speed. No one can get to the edge, so defenses simply clog the middle.I'm not a huge fan of Mendenhall's, but a healthy version of himself would do wonders for the Steelers offense generally.

Not to mention the fact that he hasn't really had a good amount of (game)time in this new offense. He has proven that he can be quite capable catching the ball out of the backfield in years past when called to do so. I'd love to see what he can do under this offense for a whole year. He has speed, decent enough vision, can catch the ball, and he has, despite what many say, shown that he can in fact run with power.

 

[Godsbrother]

He's the only RB on the roster that can threaten anything other than the A gap.The current stable of RB's severely limit the playcalling badly simply due to an obvious lack of speed. No one can get to the edge, so defenses simply clog the middle.I'm not a huge fan of Mendenhall's, but a healthy version of himself would do wonders for the Steelers offense generally.

Not to mention the fact that he hasn't really had a good amount of (game)time in this new offense. He has proven that he can be quite capable catching the ball out of the backfield in years past when called to do so. I'd love to see what he can do under this offense for a whole year. He has speed, decent enough vision, can catch the ball, and he has, despite what many say, shown that he can in fact run with power.

I agree 100%. According to Dulac the Steelers really wanted him to seize the feature back when he returned from his injury but were not impressed with his effort which is why he was deactivated the past two weeks. When he failed to show Sunday they decided to suspend him a game.

 

[Patroclus]

Starting to think Detroit.Best's career is possibly over. Kevin Smith was washed up four years ago and Leshoure isn't panning out.

Oh yeah!

 

[stugnut]

I'm in the very small minority of Steeler fans who hates to see this. Mendenhall has by far the most talent on the roster at the RB position. I'd love for him to get another chance with the team. If not, which is looking highly likely, they must find his replacement somewhere, and I'm afraid that will cost more $. With no RB in the draft worth (arguably) a first rounder, they will have to go FA. Plus, they need to use the draft to upgrade other positions. Their current stable of RB do not look like every down starter types to me. Dwyer perhaps, if he gets in better shape, which he hasn't done thus far (even after given the starters job).Sure Mendy had a bad fumble in a big game. Many RB's do. Had it not been for "the tackle" by Ben, the Steelers never would have been in that years SB and Bettis would have been looked upon differently among Steeler fans as well. Fumbles happen. He plays in a couple games this year, is rusty, and fumbles (twice) during the Browns game. Well, so did the rest of the RB's on the roster. Before that SB fumble, he was not known to be a fumbler whatsoever. At least, not how many are making it seem.

Very good post. Too many people just look at the stats. I would love him back healthy with his head on staight.

Mendy carries the ball like he's afraid it's going to burn his uniform if it touches it. As a Steelers fan it's painful to watch that dude carry the ball, swinging it all over the damn place as he runs.

 

[Cookiemonster]

I think SJax, Blount, Lattimore (in 2014) could easily make Pitt fans forget about Mandy. Knile Davis. Montee Ball. Any number of 2nd-3rd round backs in this year's draft could carry his load. Dwyer (if he loses 10 lbs of spare tire) could be a very good RB in this offense. Mandy is easily replaced. I think Detroit's Kevin Smith is an equal to what Mendenhall brings, minus the ridiculous spin move at the LOS.

 

[Islanders rule]

He'll be a Falcon this time next year.

Could be a great change of pace with Quiz.

Quiz isn't starter material.

What about the bowling ball?

 

[DoubleG]

I'm in the very small minority of Steeler fans who hates to see this. Mendenhall has by far the most talent on the roster at the RB position. I'd love for him to get another chance with the team. If not, which is looking highly likely, they must find his replacement somewhere, and I'm afraid that will cost more $. With no RB in the draft worth (arguably) a first rounder, they will have to go FA. Plus, they need to use the draft to upgrade other positions. Their current stable of RB do not look like every down starter types to me. Dwyer perhaps, if he gets in better shape, which he hasn't done thus far (even after given the starters job).Sure Mendy had a bad fumble in a big game. Many RB's do. Had it not been for "the tackle" by Ben, the Steelers never would have been in that years SB and Bettis would have been looked upon differently among Steeler fans as well. Fumbles happen. He plays in a couple games this year, is rusty, and fumbles (twice) during the Browns game. Well, so did the rest of the RB's on the roster. Before that SB fumble, he was not known to be a fumbler whatsoever. At least, not how many are making it seem.

Very good post. Too many people just look at the stats. I would love him back healthy with his head on staight.

Mendy carries the ball like he's afraid it's going to burn his uniform if it touches it. As a Steelers fan it's painful to watch that dude carry the ball, swinging it all over the @#!*% place as he runs.

Yep, it must have been that - which lead to all those 1 fumbles in 2011. Or the 2 in 2010 on 300+ carries.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Interesting...

Mendenhall was informed by his friends, not his coaches, that he had lost his starting job two weeks ago to Jonathan Dwyer, sources said.Then he found out he was being deactivated against Baltimore when he arrived at the stadium and found his locker empty.

Also...

Despite being suspended for Sunday's game against the Cowboys, Rashard Mendenhall and the Pittsburgh Steelers are communicating and committing to meaningful contractual conversation with the running back's deal expiring this offseason, according to sources.

Would think he'll test UFA before signing anything.