McClendon's return ... Who sits?

[Stryker]

I would deactivate Allen for a full game. Let him know what it feels like to be benched and hit rock bottom. Then I activate him the next week.

 

[TDX27]

They should sit Thomas or someone else. McCullers should continue to get more reps. If they sit him, I would be very disappointed. I can't say he has looked spectacular but I do think he has looked good enough to earn the reps for the remainder of the year ahead of Thomas.

 

[stillwright]

I would not give Archer a hat and give it to McCullers. However, Tomlin will probably sit McCullers

who is our 3rd RB then...i dont even think Archers named is in the equation honestly.

 

[insaniti]

I really don't understand why people are so obsessed with a 3rd RB. How often does he even see the field with Bell and Blount ahead of him? If both Bell and Blount go down to injury, Archer isn't going to save us. Sit him, then they aren't forcing plays to him, we get quality players on the field where they are needed. A 3rd RB is as important as a 3rd QB... wasted active day spots.

 

[stillwright]

]I really don't understand why people are so obsessed [/B]with a 3rd RB. How often does he even see the field with Bell and Blount ahead of him? If both Bell and Blount go down to injury, Archer isn't going to save us. Sit him, then they aren't forcing plays to him, we get quality players on the field where they are needed. A 3rd RB is as important as a 3rd QB... wasted active day spots.

ummmm.....when you say this are you referring to the coaching staff.....right?

 

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

who is our 3rd RB then...i dont even think Archers named is in the equation honestly.

Will Johnson. he can at least carry it up the middle.

 

[stillwright]

Will Johnson. he can at least carry it up the middle.

yep...he could.

 

[SteelerSask2]

Johnson could do a better impersonation of an NFL running back then Archer. Thing that Pissed me off was that in the preseason they did all these things to get the ball to Archer in space. He actually looked OK. Now they run draws and stuff that can't possibly work with a guy who can be tackled with one hand.

 

[SteelerFan448]

I'd sit Archer for a week. McLendon may not be ready and it'd be wise to keep the extra DL available. Moving forward, Thomas can find his way to the bench.

 

[Wingman]

If keeping archer is a priority sit Bey, a wide out that has suspect hands is not valuable. If nothing else send a message for the fumble that was breathing life into the COLTS! At least on the strip from Blount you could see that they put real effort into it. DHB looked like a kid in high school could have taken the ball from him on that play total lack of awareness. Give Archer his spot on special teams the other teams returner is not likely to be very fast while dragging Archer and maybe he is fast enough to get down there.

 

[Drink IRON City]

Great idea Wingman, I can just see it, Minni being drug along. Bottom line, McCullers needs a hat and I don't care which candidate sits. There is arguement for 2 or 3, so it shouldn't be that tough of a decision. Show us the coach Mike Tomlin, here is where we need to see it!!!!



Salute the nation

 

[obxsteeler]

Which of McCullers 4 reps against the Colts impressed people most?

 

[Wingman]

Which of McCullers 4 reps against the Colts impressed people most?

Any of the ones that removed Thomas from the field

 

[TDX27]

I would think Archer or someone taking a special teams only spot should sit. Archer does seem to either have lost a step (meaning he is not 100%) from his injury or is thinking too much. Most kickoffs nowadays are so deep in the endzone, you don't want to bring them out. Only bring them out if they are near the goal line and then take your best line and go full speed. Blount didn't do any better this past week returning kicks than Archer has done. I am not sure what the problem is but it may be our blocking rather than the person returning the kicks.

 

[SteelChip]

Unlike those of us here online, I have this feeling that the team isn't ready to give up on Archer OR give McCullers a lot more playing time just yet. The big man has a lot of work to do on his technique before they unleash him and for some reason they seem to think Archer's troubles are mostly between the ears.

 

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

Which of McCullers 4 reps against the Colts impressed people most?

I was shocked to see he only had 4 def snaps.. (I went and looked after you stated this) I was at the game and thought I saw him more.

shocked,, and I found that he actually played more vs. the Texans.

"McCullers played 10 snaps against the Texans but Cam Thomas, who started in place of McLendon, only logged 18 of them with the Steelers playing nickel much more than their base defense.
Assuming McLendon is out for at least another week it will be interesting to see how the Steelers split snaps on Sunday between Thomas and McCullers --
and how much of base defense they play against the high-powered Indianapolis Colts. "

 

[ZACKB]

Thomas has played much better at NT, than at DE. McCullers will prob back up McClendon after Thomas is cut. We will need the $$$ to sign guys and extend Ben. Thomas will get a hat.

 

[bermudasteel]

Thomas...without a doubt. The big man has shown he can take away the zone stretch play and be very physical with the best Centers in the league. We are going to need that with the Ravens.

Agreed. I'd sit Cam Thomas...

I don't think Brown was active against the Colts. He's already become an afterthought with Bryant's emergence.

I'm not sure Archer is an option, as teams always dress three backs it seems.

It will probably be as simple as Thomas or McCullers, with it likely being McCullers who sits, unfortunately.

Yes, he was. Archer dropped a screen pass on Sunday...

 

[bermudasteel]

I would think Archer or someone taking a special teams only spot should sit. Archer does seem to either have lost a step (meaning he is not 100%) from his injury or is thinking too much. Most kickoffs nowadays are so deep in the endzone, you don't want to bring them out. Only bring them out if they are near the goal line and then take your best line and go full speed. Blount didn't do any better this past week returning kicks than Archer has done. I am not sure what the problem is but it may be our blocking rather than the person returning the kicks.

Great analysis.

Perhaps it is safe to assume that our blocking on ST is sub-par. Because, I, like you, didn't see any improvement w/ Blount returning kickoffs...

 

[Bigappleyinzer]

McCullers is improving. He also has the chance to be what we are looking for at the NT spot.


But its pretty silly to sit here and throw fits about a guy who has played all of 12 snaps.

 

[Steeltime]

Perhaps it is safe to assume that our blocking on ST is sub-par. Because, I, like you, didn't see any improvement w/ Blount returning kickoffs...

But pretty much every kickoff return, for all teams, winds up between the 15 and 20 yard lines.

The Steelers hem in opponents on kickoff coverage. Other teams hem in the Steelers. All teams are suffering the same fate. It is not a product of poor blocking, it is simply a result of the kickoff from the 35 yard line.

High school kids kick off from the 40. Kids. Not adults, who are among the 32 best in the world at the task. And they wind up putting most into the freaking endzone.

The kickoff return is on the way out of the NFL.

 

[bermudasteel]

But pretty much every kickoff return, for all teams, winds up between the 15 and 20 yard lines.

The Steelers hem in opponents on kickoff coverage. Other teams hem in the Steelers. All teams are suffering the same fate. It is not a product of poor blocking, it is simply a result of the kickoff from the 35 yard line.

High school kids kick off from the 40. Kids. Not adults, who are among the 32 best in the world at the task. And they wind up putting most into the freaking endzone.

The kickoff return is on the way out of the NFL.

This is Rog's way of minimizing head injuries...

 

[Drink IRON City]

I am one that thought McCullers had more snaps than that. Thanks for bringing that to light. I still am for getting him more playing time. He won't go forward, if not given the chance.


Salute the nation

 

[keslerclan]

With McLendon coming back from injury, I doubt we will de-activate any DL guys. My projected inactives for Sunday would be Jones, Ventrone, Taylor, Hubbard, J Brown, Webb and Garvin.

 

[Fiji Mariner]

Shark is back?