McClendon Visits Packers!

Sorry if I sound sarcastic but you have got to be kidding.

Let's talk Foote: He's the Leader of the defense and calls all the plays. His physical play may be middle of the pack among active ILBers but mentally he's on top. He lead an aging group to a # 1 ranking. Sylvester is garbage and if he or Carter had to lead this defense we'd be drafting top 5. Carter has shown little and is a disappointment but he still has hope to at least be a decent back-up someday. Sean Spence may or may not return but Foote's very cheap 3yr contract gives us time to evaluate Spence and/or draft a ILBer to become the eventual lader of this defense.

Let's talk W. Gay= His stats last yr were very close to our star Lewis who left in FA. Gay gave up less TDs and had more int's.He's a proven tackeler and is better in run support. Best part he doesn't replace Lewis but is replacing another disappointment, Curtis Brown in being our nickel corner. C. Allen replaces Lewis.

Cajun-

 

It's tough to compare Gay and Lewis #'s when they played in a different system. If Lewis wasn't playing 30 yards off the line of scrimmage I bet his #'s would've been better.

As for Foote , he's lost 2 steps, guys blow by him on the outside, and he can't cover TE's.( in a TE league) If he's the one calling the plays then no wonder the most important #'s are in the toilet. The #1 ranking only meant yards allowed, that isn't the whole picture. Turnovers, forced fumbles, INT's were horrible. I remember Foote missing the NE game and our D shut Brady right down ( less than 200yards passing for the first time ever in Marsha's career) . It was the best I've seen the D play in years. So if he's calling the plays, I say BYE!! to him and Lebeau.

 

Bleedsteel...I am with you on this. I am not, nearly, as cap smart as some people (and really have no desire to be) on here are, however, I'm glad that that the Steelers do what they do, regardless of whether they do it with our blessings or not.

 

i agree about foote, shouldn't be starting anymore. mcfadden,sylvester and rolle will have the most expierience behind him though. i liked what i saw from mcfadden last preseason. rolle has starting expierience in the NFL. sylvester has had to learn something while here, and he's back. can't timmons get the green dot by now? do we need to draft some smarter LB'ers? spence going down hurt and still does.

 

That's true, but Foote still missed that game, and I remember people being worried about it cus he's the one calling the plays on the field and shifting people around. Foote can be easily replaced for cheaper bodies. TE's are playing a bigger role in todays game and Foote doesn't have the speed to cover them. He'll be the ILB version of Gay.

 

I agree Lewis is a better CB but Gay is not as bad as people think. He plays the system how's he asked to play
I agree Foote has lost a step but you are quite confused. Last yr was Foote's 1yr running the defense and we DID NOT play NE and Marsha. Not sure of what/when you're referring to. Last year foote lead the team in tackles, had 2 pass def and 2 Forced Fumbles to go along with 4 sacks. I'm not gonna get into Buck vs Mack and who does what/when but will say its Timmons job to cover the TEs, not foote.

You are correct in defense rankings being yds allowed and we did stink it up with TO difference, something LeBeau has been screaming about for a couple years and one reason we let Lewis walk with no offer.

Cajun-

 

I dont know that I would even use the word Bad when referring to Gay. I for one was upset that we lost Gay and very glad he is back. He is actually pretty darn good ...

Bman

 

SM is a Steeler.

Breath... Again....

Now, back to your regularly scheduled ranting

Let's begin w/ "Big Play Willie Gay says he knows Steeler football!"

LOL

 

larry foote gave up 4 receiving TD's last year most of all LB'ers. 75% reception rating against him. last in lb'ers in yards after contact. he was 1st amongst lb'ers in missed tackles. last amongst lb'ers in pass defense. he has no need to be starting again here. they surely can find someone that can play better at some point this year.

 

I'm not a huge fan of Foote and not trying to be his apologist but I really didn't think he was as bad as you say. You got a source for those numbers/stats. Do you also have a suggestion ( other than sylvester/carter) of who can replace foote This year?

By the way I'd be more than happy if we had a top ILB replacing foote but just don't see it happening this year.

Cajun-

 

the numbers and write ups are out there. i don't feel like looking through a bunch of stuff right now cajun. rolle would be my first thought. mcfadden would be my next if not the rookie. carter is working on becoming our backup OLB first. sylvester, well i'm not sure where he fits. they were trying him at OLB some last year in practice i read back then.

 

I was talking about the NE game 2 seasons ago, when Woodley first injured his hamstring. (been bugging him since)

 

When you get the time mac I'd like to see those sources. Blast furnace linked a nice article on Foote. Bleacherreport has a good article ranking the top 60 ILB of 2012 but no where have I've seen or read such terrible reports on foote. Foote isn't HOF bound but he isn't garbage either, at least from what I've seen and read.

Now you're suggesting replacing our defensive leader with either Mcfadden who we just signed in January and has no experience or rolle who in two years in Phi has done less than foote did in one year.

At least replacing Foote with McLain from Oak had a little merit. what you and Jim are suggesting isn't very sound if you ask me.

Cajun-

 

In that game Pitts offense held the ball almost 40 min vs 20 min for NE. Not only did that aid in the win but also Foote did play and lead all LB with 4 tackles. I know you're down on LeBeau also but in this game LeBeau put on the field his version of the 46 defense and it was that coupled with the offense's ball control that shut down marsha

Cajun-

 

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2013/0...-agents-analysis-lb-larry-foote-unrestricted/

here is part of it. i will try to find the others.

mcfadden was here last year and led the team in tackles in the preseason.

rolle was put in a 4-3 at philly and that wasen't a good fit for him at all. DLB likes him alot. he's spence bigger and faster. he's a much better buck in a 3-4 then an OLB in a 4-3.

 

as for Foote having a great season last year, lets not forgot when it comes contract time players tend to play at their best, lets see if there's a drop off after the new 3 yr deal?