Willie Parker - Status this weekend? (1 Viewer)

[Tommy Collins]

Sorry if this is a Honda. I did a search and found nothing. He was held out of practice Wednesday due to a hip injury. Did he practice today? Chances of starting this weekend? Possible they take it easy on him this weekend since they're facing the worst rush defense in the league?

 

[Keith Lewis]

Parker wants to carry day

By F. Dale Lolley, Staff writer

PITTSBURGH - The Steelers are on the road this weekend to play a team that ranks last in the NFL in rushing defense, something that's usually not a good sign when facing Pittsburgh.

If the scenario sounds somewhat familiar, it should. A month ago, the Steelers played at Denver and the Broncos' defense, at that time, ranked last in the league in rushing defense.

Yet the Steelers threw the ball on 11 of their first 14 plays and Denver beat Pittsburgh, 31-28.

It's a scenario running back Willie Parker doesn't want to see happen again this week when the Steelers (7-2) play New York to face the New York Jets (1-8)

"It wasn't that they shut us down. It was more that we beat ourselves," said Parker, who finished with 93 yards on 21 carries against Denver.

"We went in and we got away from our game plan a little bit and we beat ourselves. It wasn't nothing they did; it was all us, all Steelers."

That's why Parker is lobbying to get the ball early and often against a Jets defense that is allowing 152.2 rushing yards per game.

"If we would have stuck to the run, we would have been better off against Denver," said Parker, who missed practice Wednesday with a sore hip that won't keep him out of Sunday's game.

"But that's behind us now. We've all have our different opinions about that game. Going against these boys, they're last in the league in rushing and we've just got to take it to them. Don't let up, just keep your foot on the gas and keep pounding. If they beat us then, knowing that we went in there trying to run the ball, they're the better team."

The Jets allow 152.2 yards rushing per game and 4.4 yards per carry. Their leading tacklers are a pair of rookies, inside linebacker David Harris and cornerback Darrelle Revis.

Still, that Denver game remains fresh in the team's mind.

"If I'm not mistaken, the team that we played before that was last against the run was the Broncos and we lost," said quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. "We're approaching it as if they're a great defense."

The temptation for the Steelers has to be to put the ball in Parker's hands and see how effective he can be. When Parker more than 21 carries in a game this season, the Steelers are 7-0. When he's had 21 or less carries, Pittsburgh is 0-2.

Parker leads the AFC and is second in the NFL with 873 rushing yards, yet is still learning how to run the ball after rarely doing so in college at North Carolina.

Parker had 105 yards on 25 carries Sunday against Cleveland - his sixth 100-yard game of the season - but admits it wasn't his best performance.

"That was a bad 100-yard game," said Parker, who felt he could have made some cuts differently that would have led to more yards. "I've got to learn from my mistakes and get better and get ready for the second-half run."

That kind of desire to improve is what head coach Mike Tomlin likes about Parker.

"I like to keep the discussion between myself and Willie on what he sees, his tracks and his decisionmaking," said Tomlin. "We've got to get better in that regards. We've got to get better at sustaining blocks for him. We are running the ball effectively. He did run for 100 yards. I'm excited that he feels like he left some yards out there because I believe that he did."

 

[Tommy Collins]

Thanks!

 

[BuddyKnuckles]

parker will play according to Tomlin - LINK

 

[Limp Ditka]

rotoworld

Willie Parker (hip) returned to a complete workout on Thursday.Parker is listed on Pittsburgh's injury report with the hip, not a knee that was expected. He should have a standout performance against the Jets.Source: steelers.com

 

[The Redbeard]

thank you for all the good info folks.

 

[Godsbrother]

Tomlin has been cautious with Parker since training camp. FWP will likely be held out a day or two of practice for the rest of the season.

 

[Rogi]

Anybody see the PIT/NYJ game? How does the second leading rusher only get 52 yards against a team that has been giving up 150 rushing yds/game?

He faces MIA next (the worst team against the run). If he does not break 100 yds in this game I'm going to be concerned.

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

Anybody see the PIT/NYJ game? How does the second leading rusher only get 52 yards against a team that has been giving up 150 rushing yds/game?

PIT OLine is playing like complete crap.

 

[CrossEyed]

Anybody see the PIT/NYJ game? How does the second leading rusher only get 52 yards against a team that has been giving up 150 rushing yds/game?

PIT OLine is playing like complete crap.

It's not Parker. But that doesn't really help his fantasy owners.

 

[shadyridr]

I honestly dont know how hes the 2nd leading rusher in the NFL. Ive watched quite a few PIT games and it seems like he gets stuffed at the line on every carry.

 

[Power Monster]

Is this OL play going to be a concern? With trading deadlines looming- Is Parker worth moving if this keeps up? There will be no championship if this weak play keeps up and I am willing to do something about it.

 

[shadyridr]

Is this OL play going to be a concern? With trading deadlines looming- Is Parker worth moving if this keeps up? There will be no championship if this weak play keeps up and I am willing to do something about it.

The OLine is horrible. Roeth scrambles on every play and its been that way all year.

 

[Godsbrother]

Is this OL play going to be a concern? With trading deadlines looming- Is Parker worth moving if this keeps up? There will be no championship if this weak play keeps up and I am willing to do something about it.

The OLine is horrible. Roeth scrambles on every play and its been that way all year.

The o-line has not been very good run blocking or pass protection. This has got to be the #1 priority for the Steelers to address this off-season (other than to sign Big Ben to an extension).

 

[Steel Town]

Sure seems like Willie loses his footing more than any other player on the field. I thought it was Heinz Field that caused this, but he tripped over the carpet a few times yesterday also. He needs to be more patient and not just try to run real fast all the time.

 

[Godsbrother]

Sure seems like Willie loses his footing more than any other player on the field. I thought it was Heinz Field that caused this, but he tripped over the carpet a few times yesterday also. He needs to be more patient and not just try to run real fast all the time.

I agree although part of the problem is the o-line is not opening up any lanes for him to run through which makes him try to make cuts to try and find one.I remember listening to a Jerome Bettis interview where they asked the Bus why he was so much more effective in the 2nd half of games. He said it normally took him a quarter or two to see which lineman was having the most success beating his man and then he would just start running there. I can't say that I have seen many Steeler lineman really dominate their man in any game this season.

 

[FieldGoalTimeOut]

FWP has been a major bust for my team this year. Two freakin' TDs through 10 games? And pretty much healthy for all of them? You've gotta be kidding me.

 

[Steel Town]

FWP has been a major bust for my team this year. Two freakin' TDs through 10 games? And pretty much healthy for all of them? You've gotta be kidding me.

That's the first time I heard Parker referred to as a bust. He has been a yardage machine, until yesterday. Hopefully he can get on track against the phins on MNF.

 

[MDSkinner]

FWP has been a major bust for my team this year. Two freakin' TDs through 10 games? And pretty much healthy for all of them? You've gotta be kidding me.

That's the first time I heard Parker referred to as a bust. He has been a yardage machine, until yesterday. Hopefully he can get on track against the phins on MNF.

I agree with you here. He is not a bust. He won't win you any games, but he is not losing them for you either. There is something to be said for that, in this year of bizarre running backs.

 

[Brutis]

FWP has been a major bust for my team this year. Two freakin' TDs through 10 games? And pretty much healthy for all of them? You've gotta be kidding me.

That's the first time I heard Parker referred to as a bust. He has been a yardage machine, until yesterday. Hopefully he can get on track against the phins on MNF.

I agree with you here. He is not a bust. He won't win you any games, but he is not losing them for you either. There is something to be said for that, in this year of bizarre running backs.

RB's have been so bad this year I'm thinking next year i would be better off grabbing a top QB/WR early and get rb's in later rounds, they seem to be just as good as the top rb's.

 

[ChuckLiddell]

FWP has been a major bust for my team this year. Two freakin' TDs through 10 games? And pretty much healthy for all of them? You've gotta be kidding me.

That's the first time I heard Parker referred to as a bust. He has been a yardage machine, until yesterday. Hopefully he can get on track against the phins on MNF.

I agree with you here. He is not a bust. He won't win you any games, but he is not losing them for you either. There is something to be said for that, in this year of bizarre running backs.

RB's have been so bad this year I'm thinking next year i would be better off grabbing a top QB/WR early and get rb's in later rounds, they seem to be just as good as the top rb's.

Like Steve Smith, Marvin Harrison, or Chad Johnson?

 

[Blueb]

FWP has been a major bust for my team this year. Two freakin' TDs through 10 games? And pretty much healthy for all of them? You've gotta be kidding me.

That's the first time I heard Parker referred to as a bust. He has been a yardage machine, until yesterday. Hopefully he can get on track against the phins on MNF.

I agree with you here. He is not a bust. He won't win you any games, but he is not losing them for you either. There is something to be said for that, in this year of bizarre running backs.

Every year is a bizarre year for running backs. That shouldnt be used as an excuse. And yes he is losing games for teams. He is not scoring TDs and he is not involved at all in the passing game. So if your league's score is TD heavy he's losing you games by not scoring TDs; if you are in a PPR league, he's losing you games by not catching any receptions. Rushing alone is good for real life football if that's all your team needs from you but its terrible for fantasy football. It may not be his fault (O-Line -- we're looking at you), but as an FF first round draft choice -- he is a bust (and no, it doesnt matter at all that so are SJAX, Gore, Henry and LJ -- they can all be busts).

 

[MDSkinner]

FWP has been a major bust for my team this year. Two freakin' TDs through 10 games? And pretty much healthy for all of them? You've gotta be kidding me.

That's the first time I heard Parker referred to as a bust. He has been a yardage machine, until yesterday. Hopefully he can get on track against the phins on MNF.

I agree with you here. He is not a bust. He won't win you any games, but he is not losing them for you either. There is something to be said for that, in this year of bizarre running backs.

Every year is a bizarre year for running backs. That shouldnt be used as an excuse. And yes he is losing games for teams. He is not scoring TDs and he is not involved at all in the passing game. So if your league's score is TD heavy he's losing you games by not scoring TDs; if you are in a PPR league, he's losing you games by not catching any receptions. Rushing alone is good for real life football if that's all your team needs from you but its terrible for fantasy football. It may not be his fault (O-Line -- we're looking at you), but as an FF first round draft choice -- he is a bust (and no, it doesnt matter at all that so are SJAX, Gore, Henry and LJ -- they can all be busts).

I own the guy in every league and I can say for sure he is not losing me any games and I am in one PPR league and 2 non-PPR leagues. Perhaps he is for some? Anything is possible.Has he been worth a 1st round pick? Definitely not. Does that make him a bust? Your opinion is as good as mine, I suppose.

 

[pfalvey]

I agree with those saying the O-line has been a problem affecting FWP's numbers. However, another reason that hasn't been talked about much is that Willie doesn't have a lead blocker much this year, they are putting him in a single back formation quite a bit. They always used Kreider in the past and I Willie may be having a hard time adjusting. I think one of the biggest reasons for him not breaking the long TD runs this year is that FWP now has has to make the first defender miss and that probably gives the secondary just enough time to keep him from breaking the big ones. He's gotten a few 20-30 yard runs this year, but he hasn't taken any to the house like we've seen him do inthe past. Him losing some of the GL carries this year limits his fantasy value that much more. I own FWP in a couple of leagues and I think FWP's first 11 weeks fantasy production this year is about what we can expect for the rest of the season.

 

[the spanker]

FWP has been a major bust for my team this year. Two freakin' TDs through 10 games? And pretty much healthy for all of them? You've gotta be kidding me.

That's the first time I heard Parker referred to as a bust. He has been a yardage machine, until yesterday. Hopefully he can get on track against the phins on MNF.

I agree with you here. He is not a bust. He won't win you any games, but he is not losing them for you either. There is something to be said for that, in this year of bizarre running backs.

RB's have been so bad this year I'm thinking next year i would be better off grabbing a top QB/WR early and get rb's in later rounds, they seem to be just as good as the top rb's.

Like Steve Smith, Marvin Harrison, or Chad Johnson?

Or Manning, Bulger, or McNabb?

 

[FieldGoalTimeOut]

FWP has been a major bust for my team this year. Two freakin' TDs through 10 games? And pretty much healthy for all of them? You've gotta be kidding me.

That's the first time I heard Parker referred to as a bust. He has been a yardage machine, until yesterday. Hopefully he can get on track against the phins on MNF.

I agree with you here. He is not a bust. He won't win you any games, but he is not losing them for you either. There is something to be said for that, in this year of bizarre running backs.

Yes, he's getting yards, but he's not scoring AT ALL. How can you argue that 2 TDs at this point has not been a FF bust for a consensus 1st rd RB pick? You take into account his 1494/13 and 31/222/3 last year, and how can you logically NOT be disappointed with his performance so far (FF performance, mind you). Never mind that he doesn't have the recs for a PPR league...he's only scored TWICE this year. Jamal freakin' Lewis has scored 7 times!

 

[Gr00vus]

Seemed like they used Davenport quite a bit yesterday. I remember one play they ran that was a pass to Davenport that I thought was odd and would have been better suited for Parker.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Willie Parker - Status this weekend?

Ask yourself, does it matter?