Coach Mitchell talks up McLendon

I don't think McLendon is a good fit at DE at all.

He is only 6'-1 3/8" per his pro day in college and weighed 306 lbs. Since being on the team, he has gained weight and functional NFL strength and now says he's between 320-325 lbs.

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=79325&draftyear=2009&genpos=DT

Again, I don't know where the 6'-4", 280 lbs. came from. I think that was listed in his college biography at Troy but he was never that size/weight. The Steelers.com roster page just always went with it since he came in as an undrafted free agent.

McLendon is our next Chris Hoke and he will do well as a depth NT and, in a pinch, at DE. But if he's playing a lot of snaps at DE, something is wrong and we are very thin up front.

 

Hmm, weight numbers are fudged all the time. Height numbers are pretty hard to get away with, especially by almost 3 inches. Usually after they leave college, their height is determined and the number never changes again. I'm never inclined to believe the Steelers website about anything, but I've seen 6'4" everywhere I've looked, at least 3 sources. I think it's possible his pro day numbers are inaccurate. Maybe as a nose tackle, they were trying to make him shorter instead of taller? I have no idea. I'm gonna go look at the tape though in a little bit, and see if I can spot him standing next to someone whose height is confirmed.

Anyway, if he is only 6'1.5", that's fine with me since I want him sticking to NT anyway, and that seems like a fine height for the position to me.

 

I would not keep only 6 defensive linemen and am pretty sure the Steelers will again have 7 on the roster (like they have most seasons with Tomlin at head coach). The game versus Denver last year is still fresh in their minds and we got thin on D-line really quick.

I think it's going to be Keisel, Hampton, Hood, Heyward, Ta'amu and McLendon. The 7th spot will be a defensive end. Either Al Woods or Kade Weston (who are prototypical for LDE) or the new kids: Ike Igbinosun or Jake Stoller (who are better at RDE).

Do not underestimate Al Woods. I think he has struggled on 4-3 teams (Seattle, New Orleans and Tampa Bay), but the Steelers have always kept tabs on him. He has a shot at a much better positional fit now.

 

7 active? I wouldn't keep 7 active. Unless people were limping into games. I don't see why we'd need more than 6 active guys for week 1. Keisel, Hood, Heyward, (Hampton), McLendon, Ta'amu. If Hamp's not ready, then someone else. Whoever.

 

joe greene?

 

No not 7 active. 7 on the 53 man roster.

 

Have you seen the picture of McLendon at the OTAs? If he is indeed 325 Lbs as they say he has got to be at least 6'4"... If he's 6'1" he's barely 300 Lbs... Dude looks fit and ripped.... Either way he doesn't have the typical NT Body.

I think we indeed keep 6 DL on the 53 with Hampton on the PUP. The last spot going to either woods or Bryant. When Hampton is healthy enough to return it'll be down to other injurys or who'll be PS material/eligible.

McLendon knows Hoke is gone and Hampton is injured and this is his best chance to win the Job at NT. He also knows the team traded up for a NT so it won't be just handed to him.

I'm pulling for the guy and hope he shows a great improvement over last year.

Cajun-

 

Alright, we're on the same page then.

Assuming McLendon is still #90, I think I found our answer.

http://www.steelers.com/video-and-a...tter#?id=d6058ec6-9ba6-426c-9533-18f608a81dfc

At about 1:03, right after some DL and LBs do a get-off, you can see them standing around next to each other. McLendon looks at least as tall as Ziggy Hood, listed at 6'3", and considerably taller than Larry Foote, listed at 6'1". Shoot, he even looks as tall or taller than Heyward, listed at 6'5". I'm inclined to believe the 6'4" is accurate and the pro day number is somehow a mistake. I also watched some of the Cardinals game from this year, and while I didn't get a good look at him standing, I saw him running side by side with Keisel and they looked like the same height to me.

 

he has been getting high praise from the coaches and from pouncey............ everything looks good so far.
http://pit.scout.com/2/1190465.html

 

i like the part i read about the weight he put on was muscle not fat. thats alot of muscle. this boy's gonna do some damage this year.

 

Honestly, that means more to me than praise from the coaches.

After evaluating him I thought he was a great player, but was only missing size/strength to his game, and if he added some of that he could be a great starter. But I really didn't expect 25 pounds of pure muscle. I'm really excited to see how this plays out. We could turn out to be again blessed at the position.

 

i also read hood is a work out warrior also. He should be ready to go alao