PDA

View Full Version : Midseason Evaluations



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.

------------------

#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.

Chidi29
11-16-2010, 06:57 PM
#53 Maurkice Pouncey: This seemed like the projected pick for the team from very early on in the draft process, and Pouncey has easily surpassed expectations. Quickly picking up the playbook and as Tomlin will tell you, playing like anything but a rookie, he made Justin Hartwig expendable. Pouncey is athletic and can chip and get to the second level. He's excelled against 4-3 defenses and although he's had a little more trouble against nose tackles, he's a much better option than Hartwig and will continue to grow.

#55: Stevenson Sylvester: A rookie out of Utah, "Sly" has made his name known on special teams. He's an athletic linebacker who in his conference call after he was drafted, talked about loving to play on special teams. However, his tackling has been inconsistent. He seems to prefer the hard yet non-fundamental hit instead of the solid wrap up. He did soundly destroy Lance Moore against New Orleans so hopefully he's making strides.

#56 LaMarr Woodley: It appears he's being talked about a bit less this year, but his numbers are solid. He's on pace for about 12 sacks. He's one of the strongest linebackers in the league and has the ability to bullrush tackles. He's dropped back into coverage more often, he'll drop underneath to take away a quick hitch or slant, and could have had a couple interceptions that turned out to be drops. This is the final year of his contract. A long-term deal would take 40+ million in signing bonuses, making a franchise tag a more likely option.

#57 Keyaron Fox: He's still going strong on special teams. Larry Foote has supplanted him as the top backup at ILB, but Fox has still been solid on punts and kicks and is the team's special team captain. If he sees the field on defense, expect Fox to be a thumper against the run but a liability against the pass.

#60: Greg Warren: He beat out Matt Stewart to keep long snapping duties. There have been instances of high snaps, but there haven't been many problems. Most importantly, Warren has stayed healthy after tearing his ACL in back-to-back years. Knock on wood, Steelers fans.

#61 Chris Scott: The rookie out of Tennessee was just activated from the PUP. He fractured his foot over the summer even before training camp started so we haven't seen any action from him. He's a big body who had experience at every position along the line at Tennessee, even taking reps at center in practices. He'll likely either kick inside to guard or be a backup RT.

#64 Doug Legursky: He's slowly been moving up the football totem pole. After putting in the work just to make the team, he's gone from backup to starting extensively this season after Trai Essex suffered an ankle injury. Legursky is a workout warrior who plays with good technique to make up for his short height and has a good first step to boot. However, when starting multiple games, his flaws in pass protection and overall talent disparity between him and some defensive lineman showed. He's a useful backup who has the ability to play any interior lineman position and has resumed that role with Essex's return.

#66 Tony Hills: It seemed unlikely that he'd make the team coming into training camp, but a strong preseason and finally showing the lateral agility and upside that led him to be drafted by the team earned him a spot on the roster. Hills has seen limited action and actually saw time at LG against Tennessee after injuries ravaged the team. With Starks out for the year, Hills figures to be active the rest of the way.

#67 Kyle Jolly: An undrafted rookie free agent, Jolly is currently on the practice squad. He started 35+ gaes at left tackle at North Carolina though moved over to RT with the Steelers. Even with all the injuries, it's unlikely that Jolly will get put on the roster. We'll see him next year.

#68 Chris Kemoeatu: It's been a bit of a disappointing season for him. Injuries have taken their toll and he is currently dealing with a sprained knee and ankle. His pass protection still hasn't improved, and he's susceptible to getting bull rushed and thrown off balanced. He's a punishing run blocker and is a real asset on trap blocks, but he hasn't "broken out" like I thought he would.

#69 Steve McClendon: Bouncing around between the practice squad and roster, McClendon will be on the roster until/if Aaron Smith comes back. He saw his most playing time early in the year against the Titans and recovered his first fumble. He hasn't seen a lot of time on defense in his most recent call-up, mostly playing on the field goal unit, but Tomlin has talked the level of comfort in having another lineman should an in-game injury occur.

#71 Flozell Adams: His season has been on par with expectations. He can be a force as a run blocker and his size is a rarity, but he isn't getting any more athletic. He struggled mightily against New Orleans, repeatedly getting beaten to the inside. That has been as much of an issue as getting beat off the edge has been. On the bright side, he'll only continue to get more comfortable at right tackle and considering how bleak the right tackle spot looked at Willie Colon went down, we could be worse off.

#72 Jonathan Scott: We're worse off at left tackle. Replacing the injured Max Starks, Scott is now the starter at left tackle. He isn't a terrible run blocker and offers good size (listed at 6'6 320) but is an awful pass blocker who bends his waist. We'll have to give extra help to the left side be it keeping a back on that side or chipping with a tight end in order to keep Ben upright.

#73 Ramon Foster: He got his first start at LG against New England. Foster is a good in-line blocker but offers little else. He isn't athletic and trying to pull him isn't nearly as effective as it is with Kemoeatu. When Kemoeatu returns, Foster will likely be inactive again.

#74 Willie Colon: Colon was the best lineman last season and unfortunately, tore his Achilles doing an agility drill in the spring. He's set to become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason.

#76 Chris Hoke: I doubted his ability to fill in for Casey Hampton, but even in his mid-30's, Hoke excelled against the Titans and is a valuable backup. He'll also spell Hampton at times and has gotten snaps in sub-packages. He can play defensive end in a pinch.

#77 Dorian Brooks: Considered to be a small school sleeper out of James Madison, Brooks didn't see many reps in the preseason and is currently on the practice squad. Tomlin once commented on his short space burst a la Legursky. He'll be back in camp next year.

#77 Ra'shon Harris: He was added back to the practice squad after losing Al Woods to Tampa Bay. Harris was part of the final cutdowns after spending last year with Carolina and Pittsburgh. He's shown impressive upper body strength but after getting outright cut by Pittsburgh and unable to stick with Buffalo, his ability is in question.

#78 Max Starks: He's far from elite, but we're really able to notice the drop off at left tackle with him out of the lineup. He's always shown improvement and has shut down some of the best pass rushers in the league in recent years. Jared Allen is a perfect example. Starks recently went on IR after a disc injury in his neck. With his contract close to expiring, the team may start thinking about other options at left tackle.

#79 Trai Essex: Essex has missed a good chunk of the year with an ankle injury. When he has played, it's been more of the same of last year. A decent run blocker who is awful in pass protection. It's a testament to the poor state of the line to say he's the best option at right guard. I'm hoping for an upgrade in the draft.

#80 Limas Sweed: He had hoped this would finally be the year for him. For him to put the drops and ridicule behind him. That wasn't the case as he tore his Achilles tendon late in OTAs. He of course has the size and is a good route runner, but with the team drafting two rookies this past April, he will likely never make the team again.

#81 Arnaz Battle: He's been playing almost exclusively on special teams as an up back on punts along with kick coverage. His receiving numbers have declined every year and doesn't offer much as a receiver.

#82 Antwaan Randle El: He's definitely not the same guy we had in 2005. Randle El was always more quick than fast and doesn't even have that anymore. He's a reliable player on punt returns which is more valuable than some may think, but he's not a threat to break off a big return and has seen a lot of punt return duties given to Emmanuel Sanders. He has trouble getting separation as a receiver. In this offense that is centered more around the pass, we need better weapons than him.

#83 Heath Miller: It's been a similar fate as John Carlson of Seattle. Miller had 76 receptions a year ago and was rewarded with a long-term deal, but injuries along the offensive line has led him to stay in and block more often. Miller said he doesn't expect that role to change the second half of the year. Miller is a strong run blocker and has good hands, but has been on the bad end of some crucial plays most notably the fumble against New Orleans.

#84 Antonio Brown: The start of his NFL career has been a rare one. Brown scored on the very first play of his very first game, taking a reverse on the opening kickoff against the Titans to the house. Brown has busted off some big returns and come up with some big tackles when he worked as an outside contain guy on kick coverage, but Emmanuel Sanders has been picked over him for the majority of the year.

#85 David Johnson: The closest thing we have to a fullback. Johnson has been used in that role quite a bit and is a decent blocker. He's had some key blocks on the 22 double runs that have been so effective. He offers little else outside of that.

#86 Hines Ward: I guess it's fitting that his catch streak ended at 186. Like Polamalu, there isn't anything I can say that hasn't been said about Ward. A linebacker who just happens to catch passes, Ward has done a little bit of everything in his career. His numbers are down this year, and he's only had one game with more than 60 yards with Ben back in the lineup. Expect him to have a stronger second half of the year.

#87 Eugene Bright: Moved around from tight end and defensive end, the Purdue alum is on the practice squad. You won't hear his name this year.

#88 Emmanuel Sanders: Sanders has had his fair share of explosive plays and third down catches, but he's making too many mistakes. The rookie has fumbled the ball and been running wrong routes. It may be time to put Brown back into the lineup.

#89 Matt Spaeth: He already has more yards and first downs than he had all of last year. Still a bust after being taken in the 3rd round, Spaeth mainly blocks in 2 TE sets. His run blocking has improved but he hasn't given back the return we hoped he would.

Chidi29
11-16-2010, 06:58 PM
#90 Chris Ellis: Ellis was just placed on the practice squad. He's an outside linebacker that has limited experience with the Bills.

#91 Aaron Smith: Another injury has hit one of the most irreplaceable people on the team. Smith tore his triceps and although he hasn't been put on IR, any return would occur at the very end of the regular season at the earliest. A monster against the run, his absence will of course be missed.

#92 James Harrison: The center of controversy as the NFL cracked down on hits, let's just focus on everything else for a moment. Harrison leads the team with seven sacks and four forced fumbles. He continues to have to fight off double teams from tackles and backs, leading LeBeau to move him around more often. He'll sometimes overload the right side with Woodley. Harrison is as strong against the run as he is coming off the edge and is a ferocious player. Not a dirty one.

#93 Nick Eason: His story needs to better known. Appendicitis that eventually led to an infection that nearly cost him his life, Eason's play has stepped up with all the injuries along the defensive line. If the run defense remains as good statistically as it has been, Eason and Hood will deserve much of the credit.

#94 Lawrence Timmons: There isn't an ankle injury to slow him down this season. Timmons has been an absolute monster. He uses his athleticism to shed guards and stop the run. He can run with tight ends and is almost like another cornerback. Like so many players on the defense, he's also a sure tackler. Timmons gets my vote as defensive MVP.

#96 Ziggy Hood: He's having to grow up and fast. After seeing limited time last season, Hood has been starting opposite Eason with Kiesel and Smith out. So far, he's looked good despite going against tough matchups like Jahari Evans. He offers a better pass rush than most 3-4 ends.

#97 Jason Worilds: A Tomlin pick, Worilds is starting to come into his own on special teams. He was a monster against the Bengals, recording three tackles. He's also seen some time on defense and recorded his first sack against Tampa Bay late in the game. If Woodley isn't retained, Worilds is a logical replacement.

#98 Casey Hampton: An ageless run stuffer, Hampton is the lone survivor of the defensive line. He's the player who allows guys like Timmons and Farrior to come in free. He may also play in more nickel packages with all the injuries along the line.

#99 Brett Keisel: A hamstring issue has sidelined him for all but two series of the past couple games. In all honesty, Keisel is a bit overrated. He has a better first step than most that play that the five technique but isn't a productive pass rusher. He can get pushed around against the run, too. He's not terrible by any means, but I wouldn't call him "underrated" as some have recently.

Merchant
11-16-2010, 09:39 PM
Good overall evaluation. Guess there's still McFadden and Gay supporters out there.

Austin87
11-17-2010, 02:12 AM
Good stuff Chidi.