Specific Player/Position Updates

TTF Great job with the daily updates from practice at camp. I see that there are at least a few people on the board who have been going, so I wanted to ask for your opinions on a few specific areas I'm curious about...

1. I was really hoping Clemons would be able to show some things for WR depth, but I'm confused based on the reports. Sounds like his hands aren't as consistent as I'd expected from scouting reports, and conversely, it sounds like he is getting separation and beating guys, which was my bigger concern from scouting reports. Anybody have updates or opinions on his performance thus far?

2. Not hearing much about Sean Spence, besides the comments that he looks bigger than his numbers state. How's he looking out there? Is anyone thinking he may have the potential to see D play, or is he just looking at ST duties this year?

3. Can anyone give a little more insight into how J Johnson is looking a QB?

4. How's Ta'amu looking? I'm not as concerned as I was at the start of camp with him since it sounds like McClendon has turned himself into a beast over the offseason, but still curious about where he's at.

I'm looking so forward to watching the first preseason game where I can make my own judgements on these things, but I'm just curious what others opinions are at this point?

Thanks Everyone!

 

i've read johnson has made some nice throws. he's been accurate. he's big. if he did oust charlie, and we had ben, leftwich and johnson, i could say without a doubt, our 3 qbs could kick the crap out of any other teams 3 qb's. ben 6-5 245,lefty 6-5 250, johnson 6-5 250. they could be 3 lb'ers.

 

Heres my opinions/thoughts and from what I've heard/read:

1. Clemons seems up and down at this point...and that possible 5th WR spot is totally up for grabs between him, D. Williams, D Gilreath and M. Maze.

2. I've read articles saying he could be forcing the coaches hands to play him on D more this year than they might have planned. I've heard only positive things about him so far.

3. Doesnt seem to be blowing people away...if he can beat out Batch not sure...though it WOULD be nice to have some YOUNG blood in the backup QB role.

4. Not sure...I have heard he's still learning/etc...but I havent heard anything bad yet...so i guess thats good.

 

Clemons is exactly what he is....but since he really is only trying to become the next Arnaz Battle....he still has a shot...will have to see how he tackles.


HACK

 

I liked Battle and I have no stake in Clemons at all except for wishing the best for the team... but as bad as his hands have been in camp so far (I believe you called that, if I'm remembering right), he has better size and speed and potential than Battle. Having good hands is largely mental. It's possible he can turn that around.

But yeah, even as the #5, there's little to no reason for him to ever see the field on offense, unless he establishes himself as a great red zone threat. We can go with 4 WR, and we'll still have Heath, as well as a wide selection of running backs to either protect Ben or sizzle out in the open. Even Saunders could be a pretty good threat.

 

I heard all the rookies for the most part have been unimpressive, including Decastro. Decastro is grasping the offense well, but he is getting over powered at times by lower level talent. Not to say they are all busts, but Decastro, Adams,and Tamu prolly won't be day one starters.

I have heard J Johnson has been somewhat impressive though.

 

Boy are we hearing different things.

Out of the 9 draft picks, only 1 was even for sure expected to start -- DeCastro. Ta'amu, Spence, Rainey, and all the 7th rounders have had zero chance of starting all along. Adams was a question mark from the beginning, but by all accounts has been pretty impressive so far. He's a boom/bust guy who slid in the draft because of character concerns, and so far he's looking good and working hard. With over a month to go and an injured competitor, he actually has the inside track to start. DeCastro hasn't been perfect, but is still performing well. He also has the inside track to start. No matter what Foster does, leaving DeCastro on the bench does nothing for this team, and Tomlin knows that.

The live tweets and everything are fun, but people read, "DeCastro beaten by Bryant on 1-on-1 drills" and they FREAK out! All rookies go through this, even the best to ever play. However, not all rookies have had this kind of attention and scrutiny paid to them at this point in their learning process. That's a pretty new thing. I'm sure Alan Faneca got his ass handed to him by a bunch of scrubs to never suit up for a game when he was a rookie, too. The reports on DeCastro have not been that he hasn't been living up to the hype. Not at all. I've heard he is easily the most athletic lineman they have, that he's learning quickly and working hard, and most of the time when he loses, he comes back strong after that. I don't know what else people want from him. Beat everyone all the time with a few exceptions from seasoned veterans? Sounds like we don't know the difference between week 1 of the reguar season and week 1 of training camp. He will start week 1 and it will be the right decision.

 

Damn you for being in my head again on this one...hahaha

 

PS, the other guys are doing well too! Rainey is making the biggest splash and could be active week 1. Ta'amu won't be needed much, but is showing promise, and Spence (from what I've read) is impressing somewhat too. It's like people want our draft picks to be Alan Faneca, Marvel Smith, Kendrell Bell, Casey Hampton, and Barry Sanders, all in their prime, during the first week of their rookie training camp. Frankly, I think it's going as well as we could have hoped.

 

I think people just want to hear they are like Pouncy. But Pouncy wasn't Pouncy until week 5 or 6 as I remember.

 

And Pouncey had the huge advantage that the "fight" for starting center was about as fair (as in equal level of talent) as Usain Bolt v. me would be at ... heck, any distance

 

I'm hearing/reading that the rookies are on pace where they are suppose to be. No one is being reported as not being where they should be.

 

i agree, and no one is doubting decastro. no need to get defensive about the subject. he's lost some battles. it happens. even those no names like woods, people are talking about. bull , this is woods 3rd nfl camp. year 3 guys take a big jump. decastro is not a huge guy weight wise, and wood has had 3 years of coaching tecnique. he better be beating him this early. they are all even in learning the new offense, the tecniques they are taught are a learning process that these guys didn't have to deal with at the college level. this is a big boy pad league. even the worst guy in the nfl is a rare football player or everyone could do it. timmons didn't start til year 3 over larry foote either. they will play when they are ready.

 

IMHO Clemons wont make it. He is another Sweed and we all know how that project ended

 

I have read many reports saying that Marquis Maze has shown the most flash of any of the "other" receivers. In fact, he has been called a "playmaker" and has not dropped a pass in the articles I have read (such as in Bleacher Report) and may be one of our top five receivers at the end of camp.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...ers-sleepers-to-watch-in-training-camp/page/2

 

I have also read that CB Cortez Allen may even be starting opposite Ike Taylor by the end of camp. Although according to the article, all of our DBs have played well, Cartez has just been the best. (He has even played better than Ike according to the reports.)

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...ers-sleepers-to-watch-in-training-camp/page/5

 

I will post this once again because I think it was a great bit of advice and pertinent to the conversation concerning DeCastro.


Pouncy said that the rookies (but I think he was mostly speaking of DeCastro), at this point early in camp, need to not worry about making mistakes, but just be as physical as they can be and establish their physical presents. He said mistakes will happen because they are inevitable so, competing is the most important for establishment.

 

Pouncey is dead on imo. I don't believe the coaches would expect these rookies, no matter how big their expectations are, to come in right away and dominate. It's a fairly big leap from college to the pros and they understand it takes time and experience. I believe right now the coaches are looking for heart, determination, and physical presence. This is where the mental part can kick in and hurt a rookie. When they are hyped up and fans and the media are expecting them to impress right out of the gate and they don't it can weigh heavy on a person if they buy into way of thinking. Hopefully they listen more to Pouncey's advise and less of those expecting them to look like starters already.

 

Yeah, there are going to be errors as anyone trying to learn a new system would make. Just go in there and show you belong physically. That is ability, mistake free comes from patience, study and practice. He (they) should forget about mistakes.

 

well guys, it's just the opposite of what you are saying about decastro. the mental part is fine the physical part is his problem right now. http://www.steelersdepot.com/2012/08/de ... lisberger/

 

i went ahead and made it a thread of it's own TTF. big news most will want to hear about, i figured. they may not see it in this thread.

 

I would hope that people are expecting these rookies to make mistakes. I've watched a lot of football in my life because, well, I have no life. Be that as it may, I've seen veterans make mistakes during the regular season, plenty of them. I would expect that rookies will make plenty as well. What will separate the good ones from the greats is that the greats will learn from the mistakes. If Decastro is getting the mental part than I see absolutely no problem but you go on with your bad self chicken little!