Rashard Mendenhall set for first contact practice

Here are the grades for the OL and it seems the article is saying exactly what I am saying...

For the record I never said that it was Mendenhall's fault when he had a 2.1 average over 2 games...It was mostly the OL and they are playing even worse now than they where then....http://www.steelersdepot.com/2012/09/st ... ts-week-2/

 

well actually no he didn't have 2 TD's because they didn't count. did he run clear down the field with the ball? yes he did. i was however mearly aknowledging those two plays and what happened on them. [/quote:2fi8ljj6]
Why are you being so difficult?

I thought the point was that he hasn't played as well since the hit against the Colts. I thought that his two disallowed preseason punt returns for touchdowns were examples of good (actually, better) play, and they happened after the hit against the Colts. Apparently that wasn't the point, so I was wrong.[/quote:2fi8ljj6]

i'm not trying to be difficult at all, nor did i have any secret meaning to his punt returns. no he didn't mess them up. i don't understand the meaning you state about now they know about him. teams know about everyone they face and what they are capable of and teams still don't stop them. why would he be different? punt returns are a little different animal then runs from scrimmage, and something was just different about him after that hit. that's what i'm seeing. i never once said he didn't deserve those runs just that those were the two plays you were referencing. you know as in aw, yes the infamous block in the back punt returns. dosen't that refer you to those two plays? you also put the words in my mouth that i said he didn't play well. i never once said that. that was all you. i said he hasen't been the same.

 

When is this guy going to earn his paycheck, it seems like he doesnt mind riding the bench for as long as he can, after he does start it wont be long untill he is back on IR, maybe he is fragile like China Ware, ya think????

 

Up until when he tore his knee last year, in the last reg. season game mind you. Has only had one season ending injury and that is when Ray Lewis destroyed his shoulder in his rookie year. Other than that he has been pretty good about avoiding injury.

 

That shoulder injury was what he got for calling out ray lewis before the game, but he has also had KEY fumbles in big games since he's been here, none more key than the one he had in the last superbowl and Harrison blamed him for loosing that game, i'm not sold on this guy being a top RB in this league, he hasnt been solid in all the phases it takes to be a top back, getting him back in the lineup is no cure all for our running game, I need to see him produce without getting dinged and without fumbling the ball before i'm on board with him being the answer for our running back woes......

 

I think it's fair to say that we have had running woes in the last two games, but I wouldn't call that running back woes. We're not weak at that position - we have a range of power, speed, catchers, bruisers etc. We just don't seem to be able to get the production we should do from them.

 

With the bye following the Raiders game, continuing to rest him may be the most prudent thing to do. Then again, bringing him in for 5-8 carries might not be so bad either. Would be a good judge for the next game plan as to how much you can expect him to shoulder the load. If he dresses, my guess, Batch will not.

 

Can't wait until Mendenhall is back as the full time starter, then you're going to see Haley's playcalling in action and you're going to see our running game significantly improve. Guaranteed Mendenhall has a good season from week 8 on.

 

well actually no he didn't have 2 TD's because they didn't count. did he run clear down the field with the ball? yes he did. i was however mearly aknowledging those two plays and what happened on them. [/quote:3k6r1mav]
Why are you being so difficult?

I thought the point was that he hasn't played as well since the hit against the Colts. I thought that his two disallowed preseason punt returns for touchdowns were examples of good (actually, better) play, and they happened after the hit against the Colts. Apparently that wasn't the point, so I was wrong.[/quote:3k6r1mav]

i'm not trying to be difficult at all, nor did i have any secret meaning to his punt returns. no he didn't mess them up. i don't understand the meaning you state about now they know about him. teams know about everyone they face and what they are capable of and teams still don't stop them. why would he be different? punt returns are a little different animal then runs from scrimmage, and something was just different about him after that hit. that's what i'm seeing. i never once said he didn't deserve those runs just that those were the two plays you were referencing. you know as in aw, yes the infamous block in the back punt returns. dosen't that refer you to those two plays? you also put the words in my mouth that i said he didn't play well. i never once said that. that was all you. i said he hasen't been the same. [/quote:3k6r1mav]
Alright, you're right. I was inferring. You said he hasn't been the same since he got his bell rung. I took that to mean he hasn't played as well since then. I pointed out he actually played better since then. As for the rest, it seems like we just put him in on 3rd downs, the defense expects him to get the ball... and then he does. They see it coming. Unfortunately, the one time they didn't see it coming, he dropped the ball.

 

We'll have to wait and see. If he's healthy, I think he will. However, "better" is not the same as "good enough." No one is going to do anything with crappy line play.

 

maybe some time on the blocking sled this week will help the O-line. we have to run straight ahead power with these guys. they are to slow for anything else compared to d-lines we are facing. that sled would be the first and last thing they see everyday.

i like mendy and hope he's back. we will see him in some pass protection i would think to see how he handles that. he may get a run or two, maybe a dump pass. they will check him at halftime. i agree until we fix slow feet on our linemen it won't matter who is there. we were a little successful running that zone type blocking we did early last week, if the backs can cut it back. getting guys out of the box with some passes to the outside will help.

 

I think he will. Everything I've heard indicates that Haley is dying to get Mendy back as he fits better with what Haley wants to do. I think you're going to see Haley calling plays to get Mendy out in space, which is where he is so dangerous.

 

i just wonder how that burst that mendy used to have is still there? he's our quickest back through the line when he sees a gap, that burst he had was a big part of some of his success. does he still possess that difference is what we have to look for.

 

i just wonder how that burst that mendy used to have is still there? he's our quickest back through the line when he sees a gap, that burst he had was a big part of some of his success. does he still possess that difference is what we have to look for. [/quote:27oaamar]

AP still has the same burst, so there's no reason to think Mendy won't. A lot of his teammates have already commented about how fast he seems.

I think he's going to be really good with Haley, but it will take a bit to get there.

 

He didn't call out anyone. Ray Rice and (Terrell Suggs? or Bart Scott?) made that up to get their team fired up or some BS like that. I forget where I heard that, but it was definitely one of the Ravens. I think it might have been Bart Scott, who said it once he went to the Jets. Here are the fumble stats I looked up and posted back in June. They don't include the 2012 season:

What does it say about us as fans that we complain about Mendenhall's ball security? Why don't we just complain about Mike Wallace's speed, while we're at it, or LaMarr Woodley's pass rush, or Troy Polamalu's coverage? Oh, wait...

By the way, off the top of my head, I'd say Redman's two fumbles that almost cost us a game entirely on their own were pretty key. Besides the Super Bowl, I honestly can't even remember any of Mendenhall's being at horrible times. I mean, it's never a good time to fumble. I don't remember any of them being key. Actually, I don't remember any of them at all! And a lot of people don't even put most of the blame for the SB fumble on him. It wasn't just bad blocking. It was blocking sabotage.

 

if mendy would have carried the rock 25+ times that game we would have won. The packers had no answer for him. 4.6 yards a carry and got it 16 times

 

Hindsight is 20/20
One can also argue that if Johnson hadn't completely whiffed on his block the Steelers would be going for Lombardi #8 right now.

I just have a bad feeling about Mendenhall that he will eventually end up modeling sweats on the sidelines AKA Deuce Staley. Hopefully I'm way off base though.

 

It wasn't hindsight, it was a dumbass OC. Most fans knew then and were vocal about it at the time - before, during, and after. So, not so sure I would call it hindsight. I don't get the love affair with Rahtard M now. He has become a dancing fool and my prediction is that when he returns from this injury he will timid and tepid and even less likely to hit the hole - ala Wee Willie Parker. He seems to have the skills, but I question the will.

 

tats way off considering last year was his second highest maybe highest i dont feel like doing the research ypc avg. Does he dance yes he does but when you dont have anybody to block for you so etimes you have to dance amd look for other ways out.

 

well i'd dance too, throw the ball up in the air,turn and run the other way , with the blocking these RB's have gotten for the last few years.

 

Thanks for putting that up. This is the exact reason I put up the at that same post. RM is not a fumble machine by any stretch and those stats just show how good he actually is at not fumbling. That one in the SB, I think 95% of Rbs in the league have the ball popped out on that same hit. And as far as dancing, ever watch Franco Harris run, he danced way more than RM. He would dance and get 4 yards and he is a great Steeler legend!

 

PG reporting 9-22-12 Mendy will not play in Oakland.