McLendon to play a bigger role?

I've said it all along that this sub package is the new wave for DL. we have the studs to do it on the d-line even down to arnfelt. he is also a capable guy from an interior spot in those packages. the base defense we were used to has to change with the times, and we may give up a little more in the run game until our young LB'ers improve. they will with more playing time.

mclendon will improve too. he was a first year starter people seem to forget with a lot of new parts around him. I agree BF he wasn't as bad as most think. he is not casey Hampton and we are not looking for a casey Hampton at this point. I think this defense will be much improved year two. they better be with the way the schedule unfolds. I'd hate to be playing from a hole again early in the year and in the division.

 

This may sound crazy, but I think McClendon's athleticism is under-utilized at NT. Convert him to DE. I still think Nix could be in their plans if he slips into the second round.

BTW, Blast, I see you got a promotion. Does this mean I have to show you a little more respect during our sometimes contentious debates?

 

as did elvis and steelcity. good job yous guys.

 

I don't think we need to convert him to DE, but I do think he's been underutilized in sub-packages. He should have been rotating with Ziggy and Keisel all last year in nickel. I hope he sees significant time there this year opposite Heyward.

 

There are times when this team goes with only 2 down lineman. Add Jones and Worilds rushing and we are basically running a 4/3 at that point, but we end up with 2-4-5 or 2-3-6 when in the dime. In the past we have used Keisel/Hood or Keisel/Heyward. I think we will slide McLendon out to the end in these situations.

 

Maybe I wasn't clear. I know we go with 2 down linemen a lot. I'm saying I wish we'd kept McLendon as one of those 2 guys more often. It seemed like they took him off because he's the NT and the NT needs to come off... but we'd have benefitted by keeping him in as part of the nickel rotation. Hopefully we do that this year.

Also, I know typically our DEs are the guys that stay in when we go 2-4-5 or 2-3-6, but I wouldn't call that making him an end. It's closer to changing our DEs into DTs.

 

I think that is the plan Snack. I really do. At the moment, I see NO reason that he isn't one of our best 2 Dlineman. That IMO means he stays in.

 

I do agree on his athletisicm being under used. I would rather see him in the sub package flipping with heyward to the strong side of the defense. It not a hard read by the QB or OLine but it's something that would have to be noticed.

Knowing our scheme I feel it is almsot imparitive to keep "a big body " on when teams spread out. Correct me if I am wrong but didn't we see this with Casey staying on the field when they spread us out. Is there really a difference in pass rush between a run stuffer and a guy they doesn't have any moves? Atleast a big guy could push the pocket.
With the Dline as uncertain as it has been in my memories, I would love to see McClendon on the field on third down and 4ish. I don't see the issue with having him there.

 

That is and has always been my issue. With all of the 3-4 love in passing situations you are still showing 4, basically. Yes of course situation dictates who is coming but with all of the love the 3-4 olbs get its only because of versatility. I don't think ILB, in a 3-4, gets enough love. They must have just as much versatility as the outside counterpart. I'm not saying percentages of actions are the same but versatility is.

 

Watched the Presser with Coach Mitchell about Tuitt and he talked about McClendon and Heyward as well as Tuitt and what he sees as the line moving forward. Biggest thing I took away from it was that McClendon is trying to be too much like Big Snack and to a lesser degree Hoke. He said Steve needs to be Steve. HE is never going to be as strong as Snack was but he needs to focus on his game and playing like Steve McClendon and not try to be the next Casey Hampton. Good stuff. It is over on the Steelers.com site if you want to watch.

 

Thorn, Ding, Ding, Ding!!!
We Have a winner!!!
McClendon has plenty of athletic ability, he will just never be the run stuffer/ block eater, that Hampton was...
Not many will...
But he has PLENTY of ability, to do his job, and I`m fairly sure Mr. Lebeau, will figure out how to use his talents, and the talents of his teammates, to stop our opponents from moving the ball!!!
Steve has earned his spot in the middle of the Steeler`s D-line, and after watching tape for a year there, I`m sure Lebeau will figure out how to disrupt an offense, starting with Mc`clendon in the middle, even if he doesn`t play every snap there...

 

we have the ability to change things up at anytime or against any opponent if we choose to up front. this sub package could be really used to our advantage. when we go to it the types of players we have can be changed up per need. mclendon and Thomas as the down guys, or tuitt,heyward,or arnfelt, heyward, or any combination wanted. pass heavy teams or run heavy teams. let's just say even in the base 3-4 we could change things up if we want with the players we have here now.