Pro Football Weekly had this tidbit today on Limas Sweed needing to do more in camp in 2010 for playing time. Here’s hoping he does step up, as it would be a welcome addition to the offense:
The sudden departure of WR Santonio Holmes, dealt to the Jets for all of a fifth-round pick after Pittsburgh tired of his off-the-field problems, means Mike Wallace ascends to his spot in the starting lineup and it potentially opens the door for third-year WR Limas Sweed to get more playing time than he would have otherwise received. However, a source close to the club suggests Sweed will have to earn his way onto the field, and that will come when he consistently catches the ball in game situations – something he hasn’t done. The Steelers added another pass catcher to the mix with the selection of SMU’s Emmanuel Sanders in Round Three, thus ramping up the competition for catches.
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DrGeorge
April 25, 2010 at 4:34 pm
To say the Limas Sweed has been a monumental disappointment to the Steelers would be an understatement. Many fans, including me, questioned his toughness and focus last year. To be fair, he may have had undisclosed physical or mental issues that affected his performance, as some in the media conjectured. Be that as it may, Sweed is back with a new attitude, it seems, and we should be charitable and wish him the best, if only because he is the only WR other than Wallace who is a legitimate deep threat. If he can help stretch the field and take the top off the defense, we won’t miss Holmes so much. Otherwise, opposing defenses will collapse on our short routes and significantly alter our passing game. We need Sweed to step up.
jay
April 26, 2010 at 8:50 am
I agree with Dr. George. Also, call me gimmicky, but I always prefer one of a teams top two or three receivers to be 6’3″ or 6’4″.
DrGeorge
April 26, 2010 at 1:49 pm
Absolutely right, Jay. All of the championship teams seem to have one or two tall ones, because they put so much pressure on the short CBs and Safeties. But of course, you are speaking of tall WRs who can catch a football in traffic, a skill at which Mr. Sweed has yet to distinguish himself in the NFL.
My take last year was that the kid was trying too hard and let the monkey of high expectations get on his back. Or maybe he thought it would all come easy for him, as it did in college. Now, he knows how hard it is to play at this level.
He looked like a sure-fire prospect at Texas, and I suspect if he can get his head straight, his hands will follow; if so, he’s likely to have a stellar career yet. Let’s hope so.