Steelers RB Jonathan Dwyer to get more carries? (1 Viewer)

[Bracie Smathers]

Considering how thin the wire is for starting caliber RBs, I thought this warranted its own thread.

Bouchette seems to feel Dwyer will 'likely' get more carries but Tomlin is tight-lipped.

My link

Steelers likely to give Dwyer more carries

September 12, 2012 12:04 am

By Ed Bouchette / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Mendenhall will practice for the second consecutive week, and, again, Tomlin would not hint about his plans for him. Mendenhall's anterior cruciate ligament was torn Jan. 1, and he had surgery that month.

Minnesota's Adrian Peterson had surgery after his ACL and medial collateral ligament were torn one week earlier than Mendenhall. He not only started the Sunday for the Vikings, but he also scored two touchdowns and rushed for 84 yards on 17 carries, an average of 4.9 yards, against Jacksonville. He also caught one pass.

If Mendenhall were on the same timetable as Peterson, he would play this week. Tomlin officially listed him as "doubtful" Friday for the Denver game.

"We'll see how the week takes us," Tomlin said Tuesday. "I thought he had a good week last week. He's done a nice job with the things we've asked him to do, and we'll just continue to move forward and put our heads together as the week unfolds and see if he's the guy for us this week."

Many were skeptical when Mendenhall came off the PUP and speculated he might get his feet wet early in the season but that he wouldn't be healthy for a full return to the starting line-up until after the Steelers BYE week which comes in the fifth week.Redman's hip/groin injury seems a lot worse than reported, he looks awful whereas Dywer is running well and even looks good catching the running routes and 'decent' catching the ball.

If Mendenhall gets rushed back too soon he could easily have a relapse but even if he is eased back he may not be fully recovered and Dywer could be the guy by hook or by crook but right now he looks like their best option and might wind up the top back the whole year.

He needs another shot to start to entrench himself so this could be a pivital week if he gets the start and posts solid numbers again.

He seems to have moved past Redman last week, he could start to overtake Mendy this week.

 

[finito]

I don't think he'll overtake Mendenhall if Mendenhall is healthy, but the health thing could be a big deal. Still, in redraft I would probably look to deal him to the Mendenhall or Redman owner if I could get something of value.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

I don't think he'll overtake Mendenhall if Mendenhall is healthy, but the health thing could be a big deal. Still, in redraft I would probably look to deal him to the Mendenhall or Redman owner if I could get something of value.

I think that is the question.Also Rashard is not only coming off a major knee injury, he is in his contract year.

Will the Steelers pay out a huge contract extension to Mendy if he doesn't come back completely healthy?

That is another reason why Dywer entrigues me, not just a short-term spot-start but he could be in line to challenge as a starter next year if he continues to play solidly.

Oh and just posted on the ESPN podcast for FOOTBALL TODAY:

They like him and mention him in the first five minutes of today's podcast.

They feel he looks much better than Redman and feel he's a good start this week.

My link

 

[finito]

I don't think he'll overtake Mendenhall if Mendenhall is healthy, but the health thing could be a big deal. Still, in redraft I would probably look to deal him to the Mendenhall or Redman owner if I could get something of value.

I think that is the question.Also Rashard is not only coming off a major knee injury, he is in his contract year.

Will the Steelers pay out a huge contract extension to Mendy if he doesn't come back completely healthy?

That is another reason why Dywer entrigues me, not just a short-term spot-start but he could be in line to challenge as a starter next year if he continues to play solidly.

Oh and just posted on the ESPN podcast for FOOTBALL TODAY:

They like him and mention him in the first five minutes of today's podcast.

They feel he looks much better than Redman and feel he's a good start this week.

My link

I don't disagree with any of this, but I wouldn't want to have to bank on Dwyer (or anyone in Pitt for that matter) because the situation seems murky at best. I do like Dwyer this week, though. Seeing ADP come back so soon has to give Mendy owners hope that he'll be on the field in a few weeks - I know every situation is different and ADP is an absolute freak, but Mendy's injury wasn't as severe, so IMO there's a decent chance he's back in a couple of weeks, and then who knows what happens...

 

[Bracie Smathers]

I don't think he'll overtake Mendenhall if Mendenhall is healthy, but the health thing could be a big deal. Still, in redraft I would probably look to deal him to the Mendenhall or Redman owner if I could get something of value.

I think that is the question.Also Rashard is not only coming off a major knee injury, he is in his contract year.

Will the Steelers pay out a huge contract extension to Mendy if he doesn't come back completely healthy?

That is another reason why Dywer entrigues me, not just a short-term spot-start but he could be in line to challenge as a starter next year if he continues to play solidly.

Oh and just posted on the ESPN podcast for FOOTBALL TODAY:

They like him and mention him in the first five minutes of today's podcast.

They feel he looks much better than Redman and feel he's a good start this week.

My link

I don't disagree with any of this, but I wouldn't want to have to bank on Dwyer (or anyone in Pitt for that matter) because the situation seems murky at best. I do like Dwyer this week, though. Seeing ADP come back so soon has to give Mendy owners hope that he'll be on the field in a few weeks - I know every situation is different and ADP is an absolute freak, but Mendy's injury wasn't as severe, so IMO there's a decent chance he's back in a couple of weeks, and then who knows what happens...

I don't feel their RB situation is murky if Mendy is out for a few weeks considering Dywer has overtaken Redman and the Steelers are not going to start Rainey or Barron Batch over Dywer.What seems murky is their blocking, not just their offensive line but they lost their starting FB due to an injury in the preseason but Heath Miller seems to be doing a very good job lining up in the backfield as a lead/extra blocker at times. Then they lost another starting offensive lineman Sunday Night. I think those losses on the line hurt Rainey's chances to see the field more than Dywer.

One other thing about Mendenhall. He was drafted as a very young guy, only 20 years old at the time of the draft. He is only 25 but this will be his fifth NFL season and he already has one season ending injury on his resume, shoulder his rookie season.

He's been solid but not spectacular. Dywer has been with the team three years now. It was suprising he made the final roster the first two years but his year he came in his best shape, was praised by Tomlin, and he's got his first real opportunity.

The blocking issues are real but Dywer has flashed every time he's gotten an opportunity in the past, career average 5.5 compared to Mendenhall's 4.1 career average, and he looked fine Sunday Night and he 'likely' is in line for more of the workload.

He's my fourth back so I am not counting on him but for anyone needing a RB I think he's well worth a flyer and their could be an outside shot he'll work himself to a long-term job, possibly even challenge to start next year.

 

[nb009]

Starting him over Kevin Smith (against SF) this week. Hope that "hero call" works out.

I too am worried about what will happen when Mendy comes back. The key, right now, is for him to completely overtake Redman in the next two weeks. And then, he should worry about keeping the job once Mendy comes back.

 

[Childress]

Steelers run blocking has been the problem for a while now and it seems to me mendenhall would go down to easy at times, Redman powers through and get what he can bit Dwyer has running ability that neither of the other two have. Running into defenders Dwyer often can lower that shoulder and bounce off in an uncanny way. He did it well in college to, I believe Dwyer will prove to be the most suitable rb for the Steelers online abilities.

 

[Craig_MiamiFL]

Deserves to carry load.

Redman looks like a washed up Marion Barber. Not even sure why he sees the field outside of giving Dwyer a blow.

 

[cvnpoka]

i got this dude on a bunch of teams and am not near as optimistic as yall.

 

[Raider Nation]

Hypothetical: Dwyer gets his shot and tears it up. Then Mendenhall, within the next few weeks, is deemed "healthy"...

No way Dwyer comes out of the starting lineup, right?

 

[LOCO]

Not really worried about Mendy. He was average last year and NOW he is coming off knee surgery. Dwyer gets the job, and takes off with it, he is the play this year. Of course, he could suck and it will go full blown RBBC, but he has a huge opportunity right now.

 

[We Tigers]

Not really worried about Mendy. He was average last year and NOW he is coming off knee surgery. Dwyer gets the job, and takes off with it, he is the play this year. Of course, he could suck and it will go full blown RBBC, but he has a huge opportunity right now.

Even if Mendenhall does force a full committee, odds are still pretty good that Dwyer has some use as a 10-12 carry player. Maybe he drops out of the race entirely at some point, but I think he has a larger array of favorable outcomes than almost any other end-of-the-bench fantasy RB at this point.

 

[Macdaddy_2004]

Dwyer reminds me of Bettis for some reason - just looks like him totting the rock.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

More grist for the mill.

My link

Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers (18.2 percent owned 'in ESPN leagues'): The best thing Isaac Redman could've done to maintain his mystique as a potential fantasy starter would've been to stay injured. Once he got out there Sunday night against the Denver Broncos, Redman showed exactly what he is: a plodder who'll occasionally dole out some punishment but make nobody miss. (Redman wound up with 13 touches for 27 yards.) By contrast, Dwyer, a slightly bigger player, injected an element of speed and wiggle, producing 54 yards on 11 touches. Rashard Mendenhall may return in the season's first month, but until he does, Dwyer belongs at the head of this committee. He's addable in all leagues, because the Steelers certainly saw what was plain to all of America: He's a better player than Redman.

 

[Macdaddy_2004]

What is typical recovery time from an ACL? A lot of people didn't even draft Mendenhall thinking he was toast for the season.

 

[foxco]

What is typical recovery time from an ACL? A lot of people didn't even draft Mendenhall thinking he was toast for the season.

Usually a year, so he may not be healthy until December, though it *looks* like people may be coming back earlier and earlier from it.

 

[Macdaddy_2004]

Yup that's right ADP is ready to go but then again he is a freak.

Has Mendenhall been cleared for contact?

 

[donkshow]

More grist for the mill.

My link

Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers (18.2 percent owned 'in ESPN leagues'): The best thing Isaac Redman could've done to maintain his mystique as a potential fantasy starter would've been to stay injured. Once he got out there Sunday night against the Denver Broncos, Redman showed exactly what he is: a plodder who'll occasionally dole out some punishment but make nobody miss. (Redman wound up with 13 touches for 27 yards.) By contrast, Dwyer, a slightly bigger player, injected an element of speed and wiggle, producing 54 yards on 11 touches. Rashard Mendenhall may return in the season's first month, but until he does, Dwyer belongs at the head of this committee. He's addable in all leagues, because the Steelers certainly saw what was plain to all of America: He's a better player than Redman.

And Ben's average over the past 3 years is 275 passing yards per game, so it's not like they go out and pass 90% of the game. Dwyer certainly has a few weeks to make some noise and see if he can solidify himself as the #1 guy in Pittsburgh for this season and beyond.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Yup that's right ADP is ready to go but then again he is a freak.Has Mendenhall been cleared for contact?

I believe he's been practicing in full for a week, though maybe on a lower number of reps.

 

[LawFitz]

RB transition, fellas. It's the key to fantasy football.

If Dwyer's on your wire and you can free a roster spot for the next two weeks heading into the Steelers' bye, it's a no brainer. Redman is not a threat and who knows how Mendenhall will bounce back.

 

[Kenny Powers]

Yup that's right ADP is ready to go but then again he is a freak.Has Mendenhall been cleared for contact?

I believe he's been practicing in full for a week, though maybe on a lower number of reps.

On The Audible last week, Bramel said Mendenhall's reports of practicing in full were nothing of the sort. He wasnt taking contact, and he only participated in around half the reps, IIRC according to what he said.I think Dwyer is an easy start for the next month

 

[Bracie Smathers]

Link to a great story that is applicable to the Dywer situation:

Seems that an experiment was conducted in New York City’s Grand Central Train Station where a violinist played to the crowd for hours and was secretly video taped to watch what sort of people, if any, would stop and listen to the music.

Turns out only six people out of the throng stopped to listen to the violinist.

All six people who stopped to listen to the violinist had one thing in common, all of them were children. That was not the only similiarity, in every case the parent with the child went up to the child and directed them away from the violin player and rushed them away.

After hours of playing the violinist collected a grand total of over $35 in spare change.

Here’s the punch line.

The violinist was a world class violinist who played a violin worth over $2 million and had only a few days prior to this experiment had sold out a concert hall where the average ticket price was over $100 to hear him play.

POINT?

When taken out of the surroundings where people would pay top-dollar to hear a world renown violinist the only people who had the ability to hear the beauty of the music were those who had not been polluted or caught up in the trappings of the environment in which the music was played but only heard the true nature of the music. Everyone who paid top dollar to hear his music could have heard him for free and anyone else could and should have taken notice that this was no ordinary player but the only ones who heard were those un-tainted by the surroundings.

BRINGING THE PARABLE BACK TO FANTASY FOOTBALL.

Jonathan Dywer came into the NFL as one of the top RB prospects of his class. He was downgraded due to the offense run by Georgia Tech and because of his learning disability but the way he runs is like a world class violinist every time he steps onto the field.

Oh if you check out the video link the violinist story is in the first few minutes but a great dirty joke is around the twelve minute mark.

 

[shadyridr]

Jonathan Dwyer was held out of Steelers practice on Wednesday with a foot injury.

:screechinghalt:

 

[Bracie Smathers]

Jonathan Dwyer was held out of Steelers practice on Wednesday with a foot injury.

:screechinghalt:

Always good to have a link with FULL injury story.From ROTO>>

My link

Jonathan Dwyer was held out of Steelers practice on Wednesday with a foot injury.It's a new injury for Dwyer, who wasn't known to be hurt in Sunday's loss. It would be a bigger concern if coach Mike Tomlin hadn't said Tuesday that Dwyner has earned an "increased opportunity." It's doubtful Tomlin would be talking Dwyer up if he thought he wouldn't play in Week 2. His status should be updated no later than Thursday afternoon. Sep 12 - 3:52 PMSource: Ed Bouchette on Twitter

Check back Thursday.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

On The Audible last week, Bramel said Mendenhall's reports of practicing in full were nothing of the sort. He wasnt taking contact, and he only participated in around half the reps, IIRC according to what he said.

Interesting... that fits better with the Week 5 timeline.

 

[SameSongNDance]

Yeah it seems odd that Tomlin would announce that if it were serious. Who knows though.

 

[LOCO]

Multiple sources report Steelers running back Jonathan Dwyer did not practice Wednesday because of a foot injury.

is he hurt now?

 

[Macdaddy_2004]

Maybe he is getting the vet respect already?

 

[Macdaddy_2004]

Apparently Mendenhall was a full participant in practice today.

 

[SameSongNDance]

Apparently Mendenhall was a full participant in practice today.

It's misleading. He was also a "full participant" last week but had a 0% of seeing the field.I'm hoping Dwyer was held out for precautionary reasons and that he didn't injure his foot in Tuesday's practice.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

Mendenhall was reportedly a 'full participant' in practice on Thursday but the Steelers are mum on his status for Sunday.

My link

... injury updates

Rashard Mendenhall went through another practice in his second full week of drills after anterior cruciate ligament surgery in January. He continues to say he feels good, but neither he nor anyone else has hinted when he might return.

Mendenhall said he did not take any inspiration from the return Sunday of Minnesota halfback Adrian Peterson, whose ACL injury occurred one week before Mendenhall's on New Year's Day.

"I think it's great for him, but, for me, I'm just taking it day by day,'' Mendenhall said.

Meanwhile RB Jonathan Dywer, after sitting out on Wednesday was also a full participant in practice on Thursday according to ROTO-- Dwyer (foot) returned to practice Thursday, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writer Ed Bouchette reports.

Spin:

Dwyer practiced fully, as did Rashard Mendenhall. It's unclear as to what the Steelers have in mind with Mendenhall this weekend, but for now we'll pencil Dwyer in for a time-share with Isaac Redman on Sunday against the Jets.

Thu, Sep 13 --

How to parse this situation?

Jamison Hemsly the AFCN blogger has a take.

My link

STEELERS: For the second straight week, Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall went through another practice of drills. But no one, including Mendenhall, has hinted when he might return. Mendenhall, the team's leading rusher the past three seasons, is coming back from ACL surgery in January. He could be close considering Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, whose ACL injury occurred one week before Mendenhall's, ran the ball 17 times in the season opener. "I think it's great for him, but, for me, I'm just taking it day by day,'' Mendenhall told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Mendenhall will want to come back as quickly as possible because he will be an unrestricted free agent after the season. Until he comes back, the Steelers need to take a longer look at Jonathan Dwyer.

Mendenhall wound up not even dressing against the Broncos after 'reportedly' taking part in practice all-week leading up to the opener.My take? If Mendy was truly close to playing and it truly was a game-time-decision he would have dressed and taken the field for warm ups but he was in street cloths.

He own words don't elicit much hope he'll be back this week, "I'm just taking it day by day."

Redman looks gimpy, Mendy doesn't look like he's ready to roll.

This game could be Dywer's opportunity.

 

[cvnpoka]

Jonathan Dywer.... but the way he runs is like a world class violinist every time he steps onto the field.

hey im no scout but cmon

 

[Bracie Smathers]

Jonathan Dywer.... but the way he runs is like a world class violinist every time he steps onto the field.

hey im no scout but cmon

You got me with hyperboyle.Point for you.

A breakdown of snaps for the RBs with a projection that Dywer should see even more snaps this week.

My link

Pittsburgh Steelers

Emmanuel Sanders: (8), Antonio Brown: (8), Heath Miller: (7), Mike Wallace: (6), Jonathan Dwyer: (4), Isaac Redman: (2), Chris Rainey: (1), Jerricho Cotchery: (1)

The three Steelers wide receivers were used extensively in Denver. Antonio Brown and Mike Wallace ran 49 and 46 pass routes, while Emmanuel Sanders ran 38. Brown and Wallace are of course the main guys, but a healthy Sanders will continue to get targets in Todd Haley’s offense.

Antonio Brown’s three red zone targets are a nice stat to hold in your back pocket. He’ll continue getting looks near the goal line and should improve on his two touchdowns from last year by quite a few.

The running back situation broke down as Jonathan Dwyer being on the field for 42 snaps compared to 24 for Isaac Redman. And now Coach Tomlin has said Dwyer will see even more work going forward. Dwyer is the guy to own right now.

 

[SameSongNDance]

Jonathan Dywer.... but the way he runs is like a world class violinist every time he steps onto the field.

hey im no scout but cmon

You got me with hyperboyle.Point for you.

A breakdown of snaps for the RBs with a projection that Dywer should see even more snaps this week.

My link

Pittsburgh Steelers

Emmanuel Sanders: (8), Antonio Brown: (8), Heath Miller: (7), Mike Wallace: (6), Jonathan Dwyer: (4), Isaac Redman: (2), Chris Rainey: (1), Jerricho Cotchery: (1)

The three Steelers wide receivers were used extensively in Denver. Antonio Brown and Mike Wallace ran 49 and 46 pass routes, while Emmanuel Sanders ran 38. Brown and Wallace are of course the main guys, but a healthy Sanders will continue to get targets in Todd Haley’s offense.

Antonio Brown’s three red zone targets are a nice stat to hold in your back pocket. He’ll continue getting looks near the goal line and should improve on his two touchdowns from last year by quite a few.

The running back situation broke down as Jonathan Dwyer being on the field for 42 snaps compared to 24 for Isaac Redman. And now Coach Tomlin has said Dwyer will see even more work going forward. Dwyer is the guy to own right now.

Yup, I'm expecting Dywer to be out on the field for 60 snaps or so.Also, again, Tomlin is over-exaggerating Mendy's recovery. This is all just gamesmanship.