maxwelledison
Footballguy
FWIW I think the McFadden-Faulk and Stewart-LT2 comparisons are laughable. Maybe that bodes well for RM because NFL.com clearly has no freakin' clue.
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Rashard Mendenhall (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter theredoz
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brewer
Footballguy
My thoughts on the Steelers RB situation.
2008 - Willie Parker is the starting RB with Mendenhall getting 30% or so of the work load. Mewelde Moore handles 3rd downs and Davenport is released.
2009 - Willie Parker is the starting RB in name only with the work load split almost down the middle with Mendenhall.
2010 - Mendenhall is the starter. Parker is signed to be the backup/change of pace or another option is brought in.
I could see the time table moving up a bit, but Mendenhall was drafted to be the starting RB in the near future.
2008 - Willie Parker is the starting RB with Mendenhall getting 30% or so of the work load. Mewelde Moore handles 3rd downs and Davenport is released.
2009 - Willie Parker is the starting RB in name only with the work load split almost down the middle with Mendenhall.
2010 - Mendenhall is the starter. Parker is signed to be the backup/change of pace or another option is brought in.
I could see the time table moving up a bit, but Mendenhall was drafted to be the starting RB in the near future.
Jedimaster21
Footballguy
Willie Parker has always been overrated, and isn't a true feature back. He has difficulty getting the tough yards and isn't suited to pound the ball...he is also merely an average receiver. Mendenhall will be getting the large piece of the pie by the 12th game. Willie Parker is best suited for a COP anyway, so this will be the natural progression due to both of their skill sets. Mendenhall will be the centerpiece of the Pittsburgh running attack for the next 5 years at least, in one of the best passing offenses in their history. I really do wish I had a shot at getting this future stud.
Franknbeans
Footballguy
I agree. The knock on Parker initially was that he never really played that much in college and look what he's done. It must be the supporting cast but as one who watched every Steeler game last year, the line certainly didn't pave the way for him leading the league in rushing. I think the rookie's gonna have his work cut out for him. Now when Willie's contract is up, all bets are off but for now, FWP's the man.
Todem
Footballguy
FWP has been nothing short of very good. Granted last season he did not see the endzone like the year before but he was leading the league in rushing for crying out loud before he broke his ankle.
FWP will not give up his job and lay down. The fact of the matter is the Steelers probably recognized some tremendous value with Mendy falling to them and also realized their season went down in flames without FWP and if they had a high quality back up they maybe would have gone deeper in the post season. Mendy will be the guy in line to be the starter but those thinking it will come by next year are truly under estimating how good and explosive FWP has been. What are you people watching? Hot young rookie and everyone jumping on his jock. This reminds me of the Holmes/LJ situation. They will run FWP plenty and get Mendy invloved just enough to keep FWP fresh. This team and coaching staff love FWP who was one of the big reasons they won a Super Bowl. I can see Mendy being a goal line vulture short term and long term (2010) taking over the reigns. He is a great long term dynasty prospect but for 08 and 09 I think you should temper your expectations. FWP is far from a slouch. Just because Mendy was taken in the first round does not automatically = he was drafted to replace FWP now. When you have a chance to grab the best player on the board and need depth now to ensure post season success...you make the pick. It was a great move by the Steelers front office.
People drafting him thinking they will get instant gratification this season and have a full time cow bell in 2009 are going to probably be upset. Just my .02
FWP will not give up his job and lay down. The fact of the matter is the Steelers probably recognized some tremendous value with Mendy falling to them and also realized their season went down in flames without FWP and if they had a high quality back up they maybe would have gone deeper in the post season. Mendy will be the guy in line to be the starter but those thinking it will come by next year are truly under estimating how good and explosive FWP has been. What are you people watching? Hot young rookie and everyone jumping on his jock. This reminds me of the Holmes/LJ situation. They will run FWP plenty and get Mendy invloved just enough to keep FWP fresh. This team and coaching staff love FWP who was one of the big reasons they won a Super Bowl. I can see Mendy being a goal line vulture short term and long term (2010) taking over the reigns. He is a great long term dynasty prospect but for 08 and 09 I think you should temper your expectations. FWP is far from a slouch. Just because Mendy was taken in the first round does not automatically = he was drafted to replace FWP now. When you have a chance to grab the best player on the board and need depth now to ensure post season success...you make the pick. It was a great move by the Steelers front office.
People drafting him thinking they will get instant gratification this season and have a full time cow bell in 2009 are going to probably be upset. Just my .02
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Godsbrother
Footballguy
Well said, especially the bolded parts.
5-ish Finkle
Footballguy
I don't know how many more members of the Steelers coaching staff/front office need to say "We plan to use both backs a lot" before people start buying it.
They brought in Mendenhall because of two primary reasons, in my opinion:
1. Fantastic value that could not be ignored, paired with the fact that the value at their area of primary need(OL) was non-existant by that point.
2. Both of Parker's head coaches have expressed their desire to pair him with a 2nd, bigger, runner in order to prolong his value to the team as a gamebreaker. Even when naming him starter, both Cowher and Tomlin pointed out their desire to utilize a 2nd back as part of a rotation. Cowher had the luxury of having Bettis on hand. The problem in that regard for Tomlin was that Davenport wasn't productive or reliable enough to be the 2nd back that they wanted. Mendenhall drops during the draft and the Steelers pounce.
I think Mendenhall has more of an immediate negative impact on Davenport than he does on Parker. Davenport's big, but he doesn't run big. He also gets hurt frequently when he's used a lot. I think they'd have loved for him to have taken up some more carries last year, but he didn't do much with the opportunities he had. So, they rode Parker into the ground. As a by-product, he gets hurt and maybe they didn't like the idea of relying on Dookie, or anyone currently rostered, as their "1A" in the event of another Parker injury when actually forced to live through it(albeit only for a short time). Enter Mendenhall.
Parker was losing out on RZ touches last year due in large part to the amount of attempts the offense took in the RZ with the double TE sets/4 WR sets/etc. They also gave Davenport far more chances in short-yardage situations than he deserved(he's just not that good at it). So, even if Mendenhall is called upon to be nothing more than the short-yardage and RZ back this season, Parker wasn't making much hay there in 2007 anyway.
In 2008 I could easily see Mendenhall narc a bunch of Parker's short TD attempts and steal 3rd down looks from Moore. I don't think he's going to be logging 300 touches in 2008. 2009 is another animal. The guy whose sphincter should have tightened up to the size of a needle for 2008 when Mendenhall got drafted is Davenport.
They brought in Mendenhall because of two primary reasons, in my opinion:
1. Fantastic value that could not be ignored, paired with the fact that the value at their area of primary need(OL) was non-existant by that point.
2. Both of Parker's head coaches have expressed their desire to pair him with a 2nd, bigger, runner in order to prolong his value to the team as a gamebreaker. Even when naming him starter, both Cowher and Tomlin pointed out their desire to utilize a 2nd back as part of a rotation. Cowher had the luxury of having Bettis on hand. The problem in that regard for Tomlin was that Davenport wasn't productive or reliable enough to be the 2nd back that they wanted. Mendenhall drops during the draft and the Steelers pounce.
I think Mendenhall has more of an immediate negative impact on Davenport than he does on Parker. Davenport's big, but he doesn't run big. He also gets hurt frequently when he's used a lot. I think they'd have loved for him to have taken up some more carries last year, but he didn't do much with the opportunities he had. So, they rode Parker into the ground. As a by-product, he gets hurt and maybe they didn't like the idea of relying on Dookie, or anyone currently rostered, as their "1A" in the event of another Parker injury when actually forced to live through it(albeit only for a short time). Enter Mendenhall.
Parker was losing out on RZ touches last year due in large part to the amount of attempts the offense took in the RZ with the double TE sets/4 WR sets/etc. They also gave Davenport far more chances in short-yardage situations than he deserved(he's just not that good at it). So, even if Mendenhall is called upon to be nothing more than the short-yardage and RZ back this season, Parker wasn't making much hay there in 2007 anyway.
In 2008 I could easily see Mendenhall narc a bunch of Parker's short TD attempts and steal 3rd down looks from Moore. I don't think he's going to be logging 300 touches in 2008. 2009 is another animal. The guy whose sphincter should have tightened up to the size of a needle for 2008 when Mendenhall got drafted is Davenport.
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Andy Dufresne
Footballguy
A Mendenhall/Parker duo is probably more impactful than a McAllister/Bush duo (which worked out extremely well for the Saints), since Mendenhall is uninjured and Parker is a more complete back than Bush.
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Godsbrother
Footballguy
I think there is a very good chance that Davenport is cut by camp's end. The Steelers are loaded at RB and Davenport has had a few off-the-field issues. Right now he is good insurance in case someone gets hurt but if everyone is healthy after the last preseason game I think he is gone.
5-ish Finkle
Footballguy
Won't shock me at all either if guys like Russell/Mendenhall/Davis show anything in the pass-blocking area in TC. Right now that's about the only thing Najeh has going for him that the others haven't really proven yet: He can block NFL caliber rushers pretty well for a non-FB.
The off-field stuff could certainly be a factor as well.
The off-field stuff could certainly be a factor as well.
A Mendenhall/Parker duo is probably more impactful than a McAllister/Bush duo (which worked out extremely well for the Saints), since Mendenhall is uninjured and Parker is a more complete back than Bush.[/qoute]Not a bad observation given the circumstances since, as of right now, Mendenhall is technically "injured.", but I can foresee them using a little bit of the reverse angle. The "potential big play guy" in this formula is probably going to get more of the 1st/2nd down touches in '08. Then I can see them using Mendenhall in the RZ and to fulfill the role that they've been missing since Bettis retired: the "Ice Back." Parker makes defenders chase him all over the field for 3 quarters, mixing in Rashard/Moore here and there, and then when the oppositions D is gassed from that they bring in the bigger, more powerful runner(in this case Mendenhall) to put the games away.
Only two things that I have questions about if that is, indeed, sort of what they go with:
1. Is Mendenhall enough of a bruiser to move the chains when teams are gunning for him with 8 in the box. Yes, he's not a scatback. But how often was he facing that in the spread for the Illini?
2. He MUST take care of the football. If you're going to be the "ice back" you can NOT be a fumbler. As Steeler fans we were spoiled with Bettis in that regard, since he practically never put the ball on the ground. Mendenhall has been sniped for having ball security issues at Illinois. If those are still present then he needs to take care of that post-haste. Defenders have heard about it already, no doubt, and they will go after the ball even moreso if he shows he can't hang onto it.
Having said all that, I think the Steelers are going to be very happy with how the split duty stuff works out over the next couple years. Parker/Mendenhall owners in FF are another story, I'm afraid.
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JAA
Footballguy
Chachi
Footballguy
These are just skillsets coming out of college. They aren't saying Stewart will have an LT type career or that Mendy will have a Benson type career. I actually agree with the comparisons. Being compared to Benson isn't a horrible thing, the fact that Benson turned out to be a bust doesn't mean that his particular skill set is "bust material". It just didn't work out for Ced for whatever the reason(s).
One of the questions people had about Rashard is that he played in a spread offence. The Steelers will be running some short of a spread offence. I would say 80 percent of the time they will have a 3 wr set plus Miller. This will open up the field for Rashard and help him in his rookie season. I think he will have the best NFL carreer out of all the RB's drafted this year. The Steelers have a really good young offence which Rashard will be a huge part of for a long time coming. There O line looks bad now but it will get better I'm sure.
Alluro
Footballguy
Just admit it D, you drafted the next Benson. moving on.......
Frenchy Fuqua
Footballguy
Mendenhall started for one season but he was hardly a one-year wonder. In 2006 he led the Big Ten in yards per carry (8.2), finishing the season with 78 carries for 640 yards and 5 TD. Also 12 receptions for 164 yards and a TD. In 2006 he had 3 plays of over 75 yards: 76 yard reception vs. Cuse, 79 yard run at Penn State and an 86 yard run at Northwestern. He went for 161 yards at Penn State and 113 yards a Northwestern (on only 5 carries).
brewer
Footballguy
I agree with all of this as well, but it will be nearly impossible for the team to resign Parker at the end of his contract if he continues to perform. 2009 may very well be the curtain call for Willie as a Steeler.
Catbird
Footballguy
Most of us think in terms of a top dog RB for any team - I know I do - but hate it as we might for FF, that may be a phase passing. Taylor/MJD and Deuce/Bush we're my first realizations of a 2 back system really working. Although they all have their quirks, now Jacobs/Bradshaw, MBIII/Jones and Stewart/DWill all look like some rough form of those big hammer guy/speed-hands-agility guy combinations. And doesn't it make sense to have one bull suited to always get you that Third and 2, and another guy entirely to put in who can turn the corner or catch a screen and make someone miss or go down field at Third and 8? And to face much less injury danger since an inevitable injury won't cripple you if you have 2 guys?
I think Mendenhall/Parker looks like another example of this 2 back approach - which might be why their coach is saying they're going with a 2 back system. I think the problem has historically been that no coach ever wants to have his lesser back in when you could have had your top dog and done better. Now, however, there are so many good RBs, and so many different skill packages, that running Barber into the pile, but bringing in Jones when it Second and 11 or Third and 6 really is playing your best RB every play - for that situation. No reason I can see to think either Rashard or FWP has to take a back seat. There are a lot of ways this could turn out to be some kind of long team 60/40 arrangement.
I think Mendenhall/Parker looks like another example of this 2 back approach - which might be why their coach is saying they're going with a 2 back system. I think the problem has historically been that no coach ever wants to have his lesser back in when you could have had your top dog and done better. Now, however, there are so many good RBs, and so many different skill packages, that running Barber into the pile, but bringing in Jones when it Second and 11 or Third and 6 really is playing your best RB every play - for that situation. No reason I can see to think either Rashard or FWP has to take a back seat. There are a lot of ways this could turn out to be some kind of long team 60/40 arrangement.
A
awesomeness
Guest
The only thing is, Mendenhall would likely be the guy to get the ball on 3rd and 2, but he may also have the better hands to receive a pass on 2nd and 11. Mendenhall is one of those guys who will have little trouble with being a 3 down back. This makes the Steeler case different from almost all the other situations beside maybe for Taylor/MJD, although MJD has never had more than 190 carries in a single season in his career, so there may be a question of whether or not he can carry a full load.
