Chidi29
11-16-2010, 06:56 PM
We've reached the midpoint of the year. There is of course a lot of football still be played, but it's always interesting to compare players from the beginning of the year, to the midpoint, to the end and see how they progress or regress.
For the most part, the Patriot game was not included in the evaluations since that's the 9th game of the season. That's probably a good thing.
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#4 Byron Leftwich: A sprained MCL suffered in the final preseason game after being slated start the first four games, Leftwich has yet to throw a pass this season. He's the immediate backup to Ben Roethlisberger and should something happen to him, the team won't be uncomfortable throwing Leftwich into the lineup.
#7 Ben Roethlisberger: It's been a mixed bag of results for Ben since he's returned to the lineup. It seems that consistency is still alluding him. Namely in being able to pick up the blitz, there have still been instances of him not going to his hot read against a heavy blitz look and trying to be Superman when doing so is futile. This is what's keeping him from being an elite quarterback. Of course, this isn't to knock him as a whole; the offense goes as Ben goes and he's ultimately the best asset on the team. He's still making big plays, hooking up with Mike Wallace has become a question of "when" and not "if" these days, and he has the unique ability to keep plays alive.
#9 Daniel Sepulevda: He's quietly having a strong season. He ranks seventh in yards per punt and based off of my eye test, his net average must be high. Two years removed from a torn ACL, we're seeing why the team traded up to get him in the 4th round. Sep is a free agent after this season though it is likely the team will make every effort to re-sign him.
#10 Dennis Dixon: Currently on injured reserve after tearing the meniscus in his knee, Dixon struggled mightily in his starts. He struggled to read defenses and failed to throw a touchdown pass. An initial strong preseason showing made him a fan favorite, but when faced against top competition, he crumbled. Despite that, he'll likely receive an original round tender (5th) in the offseason.
#16 Charlie Batch: Chris Berman's MVP of the season, we're lucky to have a player like Batch on the team. He won't get mistaken for even an above average quarterback, but he's a quality backup and helped get the team through the first four games. After being phased out in training camps and basically working with roster fodder all training camp, should we continue to have a successful season, Charlie Batch will deserve a chunk of the credit.
#17 Mike Wallace: In the time it takes to read this blurb, Mike Wallace ran around the world. Twice. Truly one of the fastest players in the game, highlighted when he burned Jason Allen despite a cushion against Miami, he is a matchup nightmare for defenses. Lesser seen has been his willingness to block. However, he's been called out for not being a complete route runner and is still an area he needs to improve on. He's now the number two receiver, no longer in the slot, and his game will have to evolve as such.
#19 Tyler Grisham: Contrary to what some think, he is not Wes Welker. Making one catch does not qualify a person as such. He's been on the practice squad all year long, and it seems unlikely he'll get to be on the 53 this season.
#20 Bryant McFadden: Brought back to the team after a stint in Arizona, he's been solid for what LeBeau's scheme asks for. He's a physical corner who is willing to play the run and is a sure tackler. Those are the main keys to play under LeBeau. He has one interception on the year, diving to intercept Kerry Collins early in the year.
#21 Mewelde Moore: His role has shrunk as Rashard Mendenhall's game becomes more complete. Moore had some early season struggles, dropping a few passes. He's still an option out of the backfield and is a serviceable pass blocker though it's nothing awe-inspiring. In recent weeks, he's spelled Mendenhall as a runner and has shown some hard, downhill running.
#22 William Gay: I've been a supporter of Gay even since last year (insert joke here), and he's done a fine job as the team's nickel back. Like mentioned above, Gay is willing to play the run and is a reliable tackler. He doesn't have much in terms of ball skills, but we're not asking our cornerbacks to go all Charles Woodson on offenses.
#23: Keenan Lewis: He finally got a helmet after being inactive for the first quarter of the year. His role has been on special teams, working as a gunner on punts. After injuries and inability to pick up the playbook his rookie year, it's a bit disappointing to see him not be able to get onto the field as a defensive back. His progress has been steady but slow.
#24 Ike Taylor: He's "swaggin'" his way to another fine season. He hasn't been covering number one receivers exclusively like in years past although he's been asked to at certain points (i.e. against Brandon Marshall). He runs well and can take away some of the top receivers in the game. Marshall had a quiet game and Ochocinco was held to a single catch. Taylor is a free agent at the end of the year.
#25 Ryan Clark: It's been a relatively quiet year for him, but that isn't a terrible thing. He's the safety net (bonus points for the pun) that lets Troy roam. He hasn't had many big plays, but he's been valuable help over the top and continues to be a sure tackler.
#26 Will Allen: Another special teamer who has done a good job of helping a unit that struggled a year ago. Allen has only seen limited action at safety, but has routinely been one of the first players down on punts. He's also worked on kick coverage and his veteran experience will come in handy should an injury occur at one of the safety spots.
#27 Jonathan Dwyer: Considered to be a steal when he was drafted, Dwyer hasn't played a snap in the regular season. He struggled to keep his weight down in preseason and the injury bug bit him a couple times, slowing his progress. Running back is typically an easy transition but the fact that Dwyer did little pass blocking in Georgia Tech's triple option makes it a tougher climb for him than most others. Barring injury, we won't see him suit up until next year.
#28 Crezdon Butler: The rookie from Clemson had been inactive all year, but got a helmet for the first time against New England. He's a big hitter who looked good in the third preseason game against Denver, but has been buried behind five other cornerbacks. Butler is a work in progress, and like a lot of rookie defensive players, may be struggling to pick up the playbook.
#29 Ryan Mundy: He's worked with the special teams unit, but as long as Troy Polamalu is healthy, Mundy won't see many snaps on defense outside of some sub-package work as the third safety. He's aggressive but it's cost him in the past. He's a little like Anthony Smith in that regard.
#33: Isaac Redman: A preseason darling a year ago, he's made his presence felt in games that acutally count this year. He doesn't have many carries, but has been used in short yardage situations to churn out the tough yards. Bruce Arians called him the best pass protector early in the season although Redman hasn't been used there very often. It appears that if Mendenhall were to get hurt, Moore and not Redman would get the majority of the carries. Of course, Redman's role would expand in that situation.
#34 Rashard Mendenhall: If they haven't already, the rest of the NFL better look out. Mendenhall is the complete package and the real deal. He's a tough runner who always keeps his legs moving and shows the ability to fall forward. He shows a degree of agility too, making decisive cuts and often uses a spin move. One overlooked fact is that Mendenhall hasn't fumbled once this year despite his heavy usage. He was the main offensive reason as to our 3-1 record without Ben. His pass protection has really come into its own and is one of the best in blitz pickup in the league.
#37 Anthony Madison: The life of a gunner. It's tough work and little to no credit. Madison has done a fantastic job in that role and is another piece that has helped our coverage unit. He's always the first guy down on punts and doesn't miss many tackles. Fans don't say it enough (or at all). Thank you Anthony Madison.
#37 Tuff Harris: The only reason why Harris is wearing number 37 is because he went on IR in training camp. A former Titan and placed on the practice squad right before we played them Week 1 last season, he spent the entire year on the practice squad. He found himself in a sling after the practice under the lights in Latrobe and went on IR shortly after. He has little future with the team.
#42 Da'Mon Cromartie-Smith: He had a strong first three games in the preseason, but an injury that forced him to sit out the finale cost him any shot he had of making the 53. He's a hard-hitter and will get another crack next year.
#43 Troy Polamalu: Everything that can be said about him has been said. One of the few players you can use the word "game changer" with and not be cliche. The numbers may not be as gaudy as you'd expect, but he's still flying all over the place and giving offenses fits. He's superb against the run and does a fantastic job in timing snaps and coming off the ball free.
#44 Frank Summers: His blocking vastly improved in the preseason, but the second year man found himself on the practice squad as a casualty of the numbers game. I for one am excited to watch him next year in hopes he is able to get one of the final spots.
#50 Larry Foote: Another player brought over in the attempted reunion, Foote was seen limited action this year. He's been placed on special teams, and is the top backup at ILB. It's been a quiet year for Foote.
#51 James Farrior: He was heavily criticized last year and many thought he was on a continuous downhill slope. That didn't happen. Any lack of speed has been masked by his intelligence and experience. He's excellent against the run, (the Bengals do give him problems) and he's been dishing out hard hits all year long. The team is willing to let him run in coverage too. Potsie is the defensive leader and value of him calling out all the plays can't be measured.
For the most part, the Patriot game was not included in the evaluations since that's the 9th game of the season. That's probably a good thing.
------------------
#4 Byron Leftwich: A sprained MCL suffered in the final preseason game after being slated start the first four games, Leftwich has yet to throw a pass this season. He's the immediate backup to Ben Roethlisberger and should something happen to him, the team won't be uncomfortable throwing Leftwich into the lineup.
#7 Ben Roethlisberger: It's been a mixed bag of results for Ben since he's returned to the lineup. It seems that consistency is still alluding him. Namely in being able to pick up the blitz, there have still been instances of him not going to his hot read against a heavy blitz look and trying to be Superman when doing so is futile. This is what's keeping him from being an elite quarterback. Of course, this isn't to knock him as a whole; the offense goes as Ben goes and he's ultimately the best asset on the team. He's still making big plays, hooking up with Mike Wallace has become a question of "when" and not "if" these days, and he has the unique ability to keep plays alive.
#9 Daniel Sepulevda: He's quietly having a strong season. He ranks seventh in yards per punt and based off of my eye test, his net average must be high. Two years removed from a torn ACL, we're seeing why the team traded up to get him in the 4th round. Sep is a free agent after this season though it is likely the team will make every effort to re-sign him.
#10 Dennis Dixon: Currently on injured reserve after tearing the meniscus in his knee, Dixon struggled mightily in his starts. He struggled to read defenses and failed to throw a touchdown pass. An initial strong preseason showing made him a fan favorite, but when faced against top competition, he crumbled. Despite that, he'll likely receive an original round tender (5th) in the offseason.
#16 Charlie Batch: Chris Berman's MVP of the season, we're lucky to have a player like Batch on the team. He won't get mistaken for even an above average quarterback, but he's a quality backup and helped get the team through the first four games. After being phased out in training camps and basically working with roster fodder all training camp, should we continue to have a successful season, Charlie Batch will deserve a chunk of the credit.
#17 Mike Wallace: In the time it takes to read this blurb, Mike Wallace ran around the world. Twice. Truly one of the fastest players in the game, highlighted when he burned Jason Allen despite a cushion against Miami, he is a matchup nightmare for defenses. Lesser seen has been his willingness to block. However, he's been called out for not being a complete route runner and is still an area he needs to improve on. He's now the number two receiver, no longer in the slot, and his game will have to evolve as such.
#19 Tyler Grisham: Contrary to what some think, he is not Wes Welker. Making one catch does not qualify a person as such. He's been on the practice squad all year long, and it seems unlikely he'll get to be on the 53 this season.
#20 Bryant McFadden: Brought back to the team after a stint in Arizona, he's been solid for what LeBeau's scheme asks for. He's a physical corner who is willing to play the run and is a sure tackler. Those are the main keys to play under LeBeau. He has one interception on the year, diving to intercept Kerry Collins early in the year.
#21 Mewelde Moore: His role has shrunk as Rashard Mendenhall's game becomes more complete. Moore had some early season struggles, dropping a few passes. He's still an option out of the backfield and is a serviceable pass blocker though it's nothing awe-inspiring. In recent weeks, he's spelled Mendenhall as a runner and has shown some hard, downhill running.
#22 William Gay: I've been a supporter of Gay even since last year (insert joke here), and he's done a fine job as the team's nickel back. Like mentioned above, Gay is willing to play the run and is a reliable tackler. He doesn't have much in terms of ball skills, but we're not asking our cornerbacks to go all Charles Woodson on offenses.
#23: Keenan Lewis: He finally got a helmet after being inactive for the first quarter of the year. His role has been on special teams, working as a gunner on punts. After injuries and inability to pick up the playbook his rookie year, it's a bit disappointing to see him not be able to get onto the field as a defensive back. His progress has been steady but slow.
#24 Ike Taylor: He's "swaggin'" his way to another fine season. He hasn't been covering number one receivers exclusively like in years past although he's been asked to at certain points (i.e. against Brandon Marshall). He runs well and can take away some of the top receivers in the game. Marshall had a quiet game and Ochocinco was held to a single catch. Taylor is a free agent at the end of the year.
#25 Ryan Clark: It's been a relatively quiet year for him, but that isn't a terrible thing. He's the safety net (bonus points for the pun) that lets Troy roam. He hasn't had many big plays, but he's been valuable help over the top and continues to be a sure tackler.
#26 Will Allen: Another special teamer who has done a good job of helping a unit that struggled a year ago. Allen has only seen limited action at safety, but has routinely been one of the first players down on punts. He's also worked on kick coverage and his veteran experience will come in handy should an injury occur at one of the safety spots.
#27 Jonathan Dwyer: Considered to be a steal when he was drafted, Dwyer hasn't played a snap in the regular season. He struggled to keep his weight down in preseason and the injury bug bit him a couple times, slowing his progress. Running back is typically an easy transition but the fact that Dwyer did little pass blocking in Georgia Tech's triple option makes it a tougher climb for him than most others. Barring injury, we won't see him suit up until next year.
#28 Crezdon Butler: The rookie from Clemson had been inactive all year, but got a helmet for the first time against New England. He's a big hitter who looked good in the third preseason game against Denver, but has been buried behind five other cornerbacks. Butler is a work in progress, and like a lot of rookie defensive players, may be struggling to pick up the playbook.
#29 Ryan Mundy: He's worked with the special teams unit, but as long as Troy Polamalu is healthy, Mundy won't see many snaps on defense outside of some sub-package work as the third safety. He's aggressive but it's cost him in the past. He's a little like Anthony Smith in that regard.
#33: Isaac Redman: A preseason darling a year ago, he's made his presence felt in games that acutally count this year. He doesn't have many carries, but has been used in short yardage situations to churn out the tough yards. Bruce Arians called him the best pass protector early in the season although Redman hasn't been used there very often. It appears that if Mendenhall were to get hurt, Moore and not Redman would get the majority of the carries. Of course, Redman's role would expand in that situation.
#34 Rashard Mendenhall: If they haven't already, the rest of the NFL better look out. Mendenhall is the complete package and the real deal. He's a tough runner who always keeps his legs moving and shows the ability to fall forward. He shows a degree of agility too, making decisive cuts and often uses a spin move. One overlooked fact is that Mendenhall hasn't fumbled once this year despite his heavy usage. He was the main offensive reason as to our 3-1 record without Ben. His pass protection has really come into its own and is one of the best in blitz pickup in the league.
#37 Anthony Madison: The life of a gunner. It's tough work and little to no credit. Madison has done a fantastic job in that role and is another piece that has helped our coverage unit. He's always the first guy down on punts and doesn't miss many tackles. Fans don't say it enough (or at all). Thank you Anthony Madison.
#37 Tuff Harris: The only reason why Harris is wearing number 37 is because he went on IR in training camp. A former Titan and placed on the practice squad right before we played them Week 1 last season, he spent the entire year on the practice squad. He found himself in a sling after the practice under the lights in Latrobe and went on IR shortly after. He has little future with the team.
#42 Da'Mon Cromartie-Smith: He had a strong first three games in the preseason, but an injury that forced him to sit out the finale cost him any shot he had of making the 53. He's a hard-hitter and will get another crack next year.
#43 Troy Polamalu: Everything that can be said about him has been said. One of the few players you can use the word "game changer" with and not be cliche. The numbers may not be as gaudy as you'd expect, but he's still flying all over the place and giving offenses fits. He's superb against the run and does a fantastic job in timing snaps and coming off the ball free.
#44 Frank Summers: His blocking vastly improved in the preseason, but the second year man found himself on the practice squad as a casualty of the numbers game. I for one am excited to watch him next year in hopes he is able to get one of the final spots.
#50 Larry Foote: Another player brought over in the attempted reunion, Foote was seen limited action this year. He's been placed on special teams, and is the top backup at ILB. It's been a quiet year for Foote.
#51 James Farrior: He was heavily criticized last year and many thought he was on a continuous downhill slope. That didn't happen. Any lack of speed has been masked by his intelligence and experience. He's excellent against the run, (the Bengals do give him problems) and he's been dishing out hard hits all year long. The team is willing to let him run in coverage too. Potsie is the defensive leader and value of him calling out all the plays can't be measured.