Steve McLendon could start at DT for Steelers

[polamalubeast]

With Casey Hampton (http://www.steelersuniverse.com/players/caseyhampton/profile?id=HAM671173) coming off knee surgery and likely to begin the season on the physically-unable-to-perform list, the Pittsburgh Steelers (http://www.steelersuniverse.com/teams/pittsburghsteelers/profile?team=PIT) have enough confidence in Steve McLendon (http://www.steelersuniverse.com/players/stevemclendon/profile?id=MCL589496) that he could be their starting nose tackle (http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/1863450-85/mclendon-2010-nose-signed-steelers-sept-released-tackle-2009-practice) come Week 1.

"Everybody wants to discard McLendon. Let me tell you this, hold your opinion until the season is over," Steelers defensive line coach John Mitchell recently said, via Mark Kabloy of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "I'm just saying keep your opinion until after the season, (then) you make the decision."...................


Read more @ http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d82964380/article/steve-mclendon-could-start-at-dt-for-steelers (http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d82964380/article/steve-mclendon-could-start-at-dt-for-steelers)

[Steeldude]

Why wouldn't he be the starting NT? I doubt Hampton plays at all. Hampton has played rather poorly the last few years. Can anyone really see him doing better at his age and coming off knee surgery?

[Count Steeler]

Why wouldn't he be the starting NT? I doubt Hampton plays at all. Hampton has played rather poorly the last few years. Can anyone really see him doing better at his age and coming off knee surgery?

I'm still a bit surprised they didn't let Hampton go. I think he is a big cap hit this year. He may not last training camp. We'll see how McClendon, Ta'amu and the Hood rotation work out.

[The Duke]

I'm still a bit surprised they didn't let Hampton go. I think he is a big cap hit this year. He may not last training camp. We'll see how McClendon, Ta'amu and the Hood rotation work out.

that's the way I'm seeing it. He'll likely be the 4th member of the veterans that were cut this prior to the 2012 season

[ShutDown24]

I think Hampton makes the team, but I'm not so sure McLendon wouldn't have won the job against a healthy Hampton and Ta'amu. He was excellent in the start he made last season.

[GBMelBlount]

Why wouldn't he be the starting NT? I doubt Hampton plays at all. Hampton has played rather poorly the last few years. Can anyone really see him doing better at his age and coming off knee surgery?

I would not mind if they put Hampton out of his misery.

He was a great player but has played very uninspired the past few years.