It took some time, but it appears that finally Mike Tomlin is starting to think a lot more highly of his feature running back, Rashard Mendenhall:
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said he spoke to halfback Rashard Mendenhall about taking more steps to improve in his third season. “I think he had a productive season. I think he’s capable of a lot more to be quite honest with you. I’ve been pretty clear with him in terms of that with our exit interview. He’s a very talented guy. He’s still a very young guy. He was 20 years old when we got him. He’s a guy that’s on the rise, and I think he needs to have that mentality. Looking for him to do great things for us.”
Right now Tomlin had better be in Mendenhall’s corner, as he’s the future of this team when it comes to running the football. The team doesn’t seem to have an interest in bringing back Willie Parker, so the former first round pick is about all the team has when it comes to running the ball.
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mark
March 25, 2010 at 12:33 pm
I think the Steelers are bringing back Parker. If they arent, I expect them to draft a RB early on. Maybe 3rd round.
arrow61095
March 25, 2010 at 5:02 pm
I have to disagree that Mendenhall is all the team has.
While I do think that Mendenhall will be the feature back ……. I also think that Mewelde Moore is more than capable of spelling Mendenhall and providing good runs. (He hasn’t done badly when mendenhall and Parker have been injured the past several seasons).
Also, this means that someone like Issac Redman might actually make the team and could be worked in as a 3rd RB.
If you really want to improve the running game -> improve the O-line.
jay
March 25, 2010 at 8:28 pm
I agree that improving the O-line and Redman and Moore are all viable options as (deep) running back corps. But what about Stafan Logan? I mean, he is relatively identical in size to Darren Sproles. He is shifty with good speed. I’m not suggesting he be the backup but could you imagine him out of the back field on third downs?!! I guess it all revolves around whether or not he can read blitz pickup properly and whether or not the coaching staff DOES NOT feel as though he would get absolutely crushed OCCASIONALLY toting the rock and being in vulnerable spots against linebackers and the like. I don’t know of any linebacker who could cover him out of the backfield though on third and four or five. Maybe Patrick Willis but we don’t play S.F. this year
arrow61095
March 26, 2010 at 1:45 pm
There has been some talk of lining up Logan as a slot receiver and/or running some gimick plays with him. Maybee giving him 4 or 5 plays some games.
I think the main concern with him is his size and how he will hold up. (If he is doing blitz pickup on 3rd down, he could get run over and the QB could get killed. If he is lined up in the slot, will he be able to get off the line of scrimmage if he is jammed by a LB/Corner/Safety?)
I think that the Steelers may use him some more in some special situations and trick plays this year, but I would be suprised if he was lined up at halfback unless the Steelers were running a formation with multiple backs.
DrGeorge
March 26, 2010 at 4:03 pm
Like the QB position, the RB position is over-rated in its importance to a team. Both QBs and RBs depend on a solid O-line for success, as Arrow noted. Football is still a team game, and our existing backfield is good enough to move the chains if the O-line can be restored to respectability.
For my money, M. Moore is at least as valuable as Mendenhall, although with different strengths; Redman is an adequate backup with obvious potential. We can’t afford another expensive RB, but we absolutely must upgrade our O-line. (Even Jim Brown in his prime couldn’t run effectively behind last year’s dismal blocking.) So, if we hope to win this year, the top draft picks and bonus money will go to the Defense and the O-line.
But a few years back, we acquired W. Parker very cheaply as an UFA. I wouldn’t be surprised if K. Colbert finds another hidden gem at RB this year, after the draft.
jay
March 27, 2010 at 10:49 am
I agree Doc, I like Iupati from Idaho a lot and think we may even be able to trade back three-five slots and pick up an extra second or third (since this is reportedly a deep draft) and still ascertain Iupati in the early to mid twenties.