What are Reasonable Expectations for Mike McCarthy in year one with the Steelers?

Bubbahotep · Apr 5, 2026 at 1:50 PM

Hanratty#5 said: ↑

Yeah that was Doug Legursky who got blown back into Ben just as he was ready to throw a TD to a wide open Mike Wallace. Legursky getting run over by the Packers D lineman caused a 14 point swing in the game. David Johnson who was a TE playing FB whiffed on the block that got Mendenhall hammered as we were about to take the lead.
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There is no play that I would blame a fumble on a blocking player. Job 1 for any player with the ball is keep the ball.

S.T.D · Apr 5, 2026 at 1:56 PM

Bubbahotep said: ↑

There is no play that I would blame a fumble on a blocking player. Job 1 for any player with the ball is keep the ball.
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I'm kinda with you there, and I said as much. I totally agree that there was bad missed blocks, and it wasn't all Mendenhalls fault, but .......as a RB your 1st priority must be to maintain possession of the ball.
Exactly how I felt when the Bus fumbled it on the goal line against the Colts in the playoffs. Only difference is he had Ben to save him with that tackle.

forgotten1 · Apr 5, 2026 at 3:26 PM

MeanJoeBlue said: ↑

Since Mendenhall has hijacked this thread, I've a theory on why he didn't have more success with the Steelers.
(It is only a few plays that come to mind, so maybe I'm not seeing the whole picture.)
His speed was sometimes a drawback. If he had Bell's patience and vision, Mendenhall probably would have done better.

There was a running play where the RB does a sweep around the RT. The TE is on the left side, and at the snap pulls to the right, lead blocking for the RB.
When Mendenhall did it, he was too fast. He got to the line of scrimmage almost the same time as the TE, who didn't have the time to get a good block. Mendenhall gets hit at the line of scrimmage for a 1 yard gain.
The next year, Dwyer (decent for a 6th rounder but lived in Tomlin's doghouse) ran the same play. Since he was slower than Mendenhall, the TE got to the right side first, and was able to seal off a defender. Dwyer had a hole to run through, and got a 6 yard gain.
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Mendenhall was a way better runningback than Najee Harris

forgotten1 · Apr 5, 2026 at 3:30 PM

S.T.D said: ↑

I'm kinda with you there, and I said as much. I totally agree that there was bad missed blocks, and it wasn't all Mendenhalls fault, but .......as a RB your 1st priority must be to maintain possession of the ball.
Exactly how I felt when the Bus fumbled it on the goal line against the Colts in the playoffs. Only difference is he had Ben to save him with that tackle.
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yes Ben was there and yes made a tackle
BUT
Harper fvcked the runback luckily and that is the only reason Ben was there to make a play he should have made at that range like any football player does
HARPER FKD UP
PLAIN AND SIMPLE

Hanratty#5 · Apr 5, 2026 at 3:59 PM

forgotten1 said: ↑

yes Ben was there and yes made a tackle
BUT
Harper fvcked the runback luckily and that is the only reason Ben was there to make a play he should have made at that range like any football player does
HARPER FKD UP
PLAIN AND SIMPLE
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Harper's wife stabbed him in the knee the night before the game and he had to run in a straight line.

forgotten1 · Apr 5, 2026 at 4:39 PM

Hanratty#5 said: ↑

Harper's wife stabbed him in the knee the night before the game and he had to run in a straight line.
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Yeah lots of credit goes her way too.

Harper was playing hard all game

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What are Reasonable Expectations for Mike McCarthy in year one with the Steelers?

Bubbahotep Well-Known Member

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