dwyer- redman

dwyer looks good to me. could there be a controversy at RB? sorry PWP, i'm just putting it out there for discussion.

 

Dwyer has more "big play" ability than Redman, but I truly believe Redman is better at the 4 yards and a cloud of dust type run. I think Dwyer can be productive in this offense. In fact, I was looking forward to having Mendy on the PUP list to start so we could see what we had at RB prior to him hitting free agency next year. I think Dwyer and Rainey have the ability to be dynamic, whereas Batch and Redman are going to be very reliable.

I will also say Gilreath right now is my #4 receiver until Wallace comes back.

 

do you see Baron Batch getting cut? He has not shown much. With Mendenhall coming back that makes it 5 RB's.

Ford is considered a FB?

 

ford ran hard. i'll give him that. what a bruiser.

as for batch, i have not really seen him in the role i thought he was being groomed for originally, as a 3rd down back. he's been more of a up the gut runner. i don't think he's doing that bad, just no breakaways yet. he's running hard and he was fighting and getting extra yards after contact with that newly repaired knee. that is a good sign.

 

Cut Batch....he sks

 

He doesn't suck. From the moment we drafted him we knew he was going to be a Mewelde Moore type and nothing more. Good receiver out of the backfield, can pick up the blitz, solid on special teams. Batch has looked pretty good in those roles to me for what is basically a rookie.

He hasn't looked as good when they're using him as a goal line back, which they're doing a lot of. But then, neither did Mewelde Moore.

I agree that Dwyer's looked impressive. I don't think he'll be taking Redman's job unless Redman is still out come regular season and Dwyer sets the world on fire there, against starters, for a whole game. Even then it's still unlikely considering how much more experience Redman has and what he's done with it... although he will have had almost as many starts.

 

Dwyer will get his carries, I think right now he is a good change of pace back. With Haley's past he likes to use mulitple backs in games often. If Redman can't go I'm good with Dwyer. I think Batch is the odd man out. I think your going to see Rainey become the 3rd down guy, but he's got to pick up the blitz, to get the job.

 

I like the new rookie FB Ford. He looked good. They started calling him the Mini Bus, I like it. Rainey is already the man. I just hope he can stay injury free. The way it looks, he is the most healthy back. He hasn't missed any time in the pre-season at all. All the other backs have missed time except Rainey and Batch. So I say, Redman, Dwyer, Rainey, Batch, and Mendenhall al make the team along with Ford as the FB. Will Johnson can do both, block as a FB and play TE, especially since Saunders will be out the first four games. Ford is a true FB and can run better then Johnson. Ford weighs 251 lbs, Johnson is listed at 238 lbs. Doesn't it just make sense!

 

It makes perfect sense. Ford's past experience is as a running back. That's what he's best at. Johnson was formerly a tight end, and before that a wide receiver. I'm amazed he's getting any carries at all. According to pro day numbers, Ford ran a 4.69 and did 21 reps, and Johnson 4.49 and 30 reps. But Ford should still be a better ball carrier, because that's what he is.

I've been extremely impressed with Will Johnson's FB play to this point. We knew he could run and catch, but his blocking was a concern because he had so little experience with it, especially lead blocking. In my mind he's already better than DJ ever was, and has shown better skills and tenacity on special teams too. Great pickup. David never would have kept that job.

 

i just read a couple of weeks ago johnson is at 258 of muscle.

they may only keep 4 wr's and rainey opening up an extra spot.

i too liked fords game last night.

josh victorian has looked very good to me in his short here. i can't wait til he learns the defense. another hidden gem or carnell?

 

I'm pretty sure you mean "for." That's actually a huge typo.

 

Ok, Johnson is 6'2 and a former WR, Ford is 5'10 and a FB. Johnson would be faster. As far as the reps on the bench who knows who is stronger. But the fact still remains that Ford is a back. Now I agree that Johnson probably would have taken the job from DJ but if Ford can run and block, he should be the FB. Johnson will still make the team as a TE and backup FB. Because Saunders will be out the first four weeks, Johnson will be needed at TE.

 

One more thing, Justin Peele might make things interesting. He caught a pass down the field in the game last night, plus he is a blocker. He stated himself that he has been mostly a blocker most of his career but he said that he can do everything!

 

Baron Batch is a lock as far as I am concerned.

Mendy, Redman, Dwyer, Batch, Rainey.....With Mendy and Dwyer flip flopping a hat when Mendy is healthy.

Steelers kept 6 WR's last year....at most they keep 5 this year (many think maybe 4)....with Rainey as the extra 6th


HACK

 

I wasn't making the case that Will should be the starting fullback, only that it makes sense for Ford to be the better ball carrier and we should expect that. I'm thrilled for there to be competition at FB, and I believe that regardless of running or receiving skills (I think Ford has one clear advantage, Will has the other), the job should go to whoever is the best lead blocker. That's in neither man's background. We need to see more from both.

Frankly, I don't really care if the FB is a great runner. It's a benefit if he's a threat to take the ball, but we really only need him for the occasional trap play or 2nd and 1 run. I never liked using FBs on 3rd 4th and short. I say go with the RB and do it properly, or do a QB sneak. FBs always seem too easy to stuff; the play is too slow to get the yardage quickly, and too fast to let the runner find the hole. So I don't care if he's great at it, especially when you add in that we have a number of great RBs on this team, particularly when it comes to short yardage, but the fact that both of these guys are able and willing to take a handoff is still an advantage as a threat to keep the defense honest. DJ went 3 years and didn't get one carry. Defenses will know that both of these guys can carry the ball.

 

what i did notice from willj last night while lead blocking, he picked up the right man. it wasen't the guy in the hole but the guy that was going to make the play before the rb got to the hole. nice vision on his part. he actually took the guards trapman, and the guard (i think it was decastro) kind of hesitated for a split second and then he turned up into the hole in front of the RB. good headsy plays by both.

 

That's true. If it was Legursky and David Johnson, they'd have each let the first guy go, each let the second guy go, and then both gone to block the safety, who would be walking back to the huddle and giggling by the time they arrived because Mendenhall just lost 2 yards. Then this message board would light up with how Mendy sucks. People talk like fullbacks and lead blocking is no big deal. It's the biggest deal. It's where the freaking play is going. That's like saying the guy covering your WR that you are throwing it to is no big deal.

 

I will say this, I think some guys made things a LOT tougher on the FO last night. Gilreath looked good. I liked what I saw of both Ford and Johnson. Peele looked good on that one play, but it was against scrubs. Lee is clearly beating Beachum and may be ahead of Essex. Sylvester getting hurt may make things tough on him to earn a roster spot unless he goes PUP to start the year. Golden had some nice plays on special teams and at 11 on 11. Curtis Brown still looks like a rookie. No other DBs look good at all to me. Ivy had a nice block and it wouldn't surprise me if he is the backup to Foote the rest of this week. Adams is still not ready to be a tackle and unless Starks is ready to play week 1....I don't like ANY of our RTs.

 

Batch will be on the PS. Rainey brings more to the table already and they're similar types of backs, no point in keeping both.

 

NP....I think Dwyer is looking good and has earned him some snaps...I think he should spell Redman about 8 or 10 runs or so a game...Rainey and Redman will split the 3rd. down work....I think Batch may be heading for the practice Squad and Ford could make the Team....

Our Redzone Offense has not been good we where 0 for 2 in Goal to Go situations last game...Redman and Ford should tote the Rock because thy can push the pile better than our other RB'S.....

I think we will run the ball about 40 Times a game plenty of work to go around...Redman 20 or so ,Dwyer 10 or so and Ford and Rainey around 5 or so a piece...When Mendehall gets back they will work him in very slow he will probably get like 8 or 10 runs total each game,IMO Haley will just take some snaps from every RB and share them with Mendehall....

 

Batch didn't make any impressive runs. But, boy I loved that two for one special block that he made on Brown's catch and touchdown run. As a former lineman, I give him props for that block, beautiful.

 

thats 320 carries a year in just the regular season. you must not want him to play long. do you think we will run it 640 times in a season? why are we paying ben,wallace,sanders and brown?

 

I think you're delusional. It would be beyond stupid and more than likely cost several people their jobs if we did that. YOu don't pay a QB 20 million a year and your top two recievers 8-10 million per year each to run that style of offense.

 

This will all be a moot point when the real RB gets in game shape
and he gets his 17 carries a game and Redman and Dwyer and Batch get the remaining 15 carries.