polamalubeast
06-07-2010, 08:13 AM
http://www.timesonline.com/bct_news/news_details/article/1373/2010/june/07/monday-madden-steelers-need-white.html
Monday Madden: Steelers need WhiteTEXT SIZE By: Mark MaddenBeaver County Times
Monday June 7, 2010 12:02 AM
The World Cup starts Friday. For me, it’s the real football. For you, it’s Steelers, Steelers, Steelers. So I’ll entertain you, and not myself, with refreshing Steelers notes. Big Ben until I die, Big Ben until I die, I know I am, I’m sure I am, Big Ben until I die!
-- If the Steelers are serious about making a bigger commitment to the run, they are ill-equipped to do so. Expecting sixth-round pick Jonathan Dwyer to provide power is a leap of faith, especially when rookies usually get short shrift in Pittsburgh. The answer: LenDale White, cut by Seattle. What a boost White and Ben Roethlisberger would provide in Week 6 when their suspensions finish. White would help the Steelers grind clock and keep their defense off the field in the fourth quarter.
Oh, I forgot: White desecrated a Terrible Towel once. He’d have to stand trial for war crimes before joining the Steelers.
-- Ben Roethlisberger spoke to the media. Some feel he didn’t say enough. What did you expect, play-by-play from the VIP men’s room at Capital City? Some things, Roethlisberger simply isn’t going to talk about, nor should he. There’s no upside.
-- The weirdest part of Roethlisberger’s comeback will be when fans who proclaim undying love for the Steelers try to hinder the team’s cause by making Ben’s life as difficult as possible. Again, no upside. I’d be interested in knowing how many of these people apply the same exacting moral standards to their own lives.
-- Roethlisberger would err if his first in-depth sit-down interview since Milledgeville is with a big-name national sportscaster or, God forbid, Oprah or Larry King. Roethlisberger’s biggest amends must be made with the people of Pittsburgh. He should talk with KDKA-TV’s Bob Pompeani. Pompeani is credible, a good interviewer, and he’s been fair to Ben. Anything of substance that’s said will be picked up nationally.
-- Receiving is a potential problem area. If Hines Ward or Mike Wallace gets hurt, the Steelers’ pass-catching corps would be really, really bad.
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-- The aforementioned reluctance the Steelers traditionally display when it comes to giving rookies meaningful roles will deprive them of a chance to strengthen their offensive line. No way Maurkice Pouncey isn’t better than Trai Essex right now.
Pouncey is probably better than Justin Hartwig right now, too.
Pouncey might also be superior to Chris Kemoeatu.
I wonder if Pouncey can play wide receiver?
l Don’t worry about James Harrison missing OTAs. He missed the entire second half of last season, too.
-- After initially looking shaken by his team’s off-field shenanigans, Mike Tomlin has regrouped. His cliché-ridden self-importance during interviews still irritates — Tomlin comes off as part president, part Pope — but he’s regained his cool and composure and appears to be in control. Time will show if he really is.
-- Tomlin handled the four-headed quarterback monster perfectly when he gave Charlie Batch very little work at OTAs. Batch won’t play during Roethlisberger’s suspension unless Byron Leftwich and Dennis Dixon both get hurt, and he’ll be cut when Ben returns. It’s not about being fair (although a QB of Batch’s age, limited skill and meager accomplishment having a job at all, for any length of time, seems charitable, never mind fair). It’s about preparation. Save fair for the Homestead Little League.
-- Is Daniel Sepulveda’s job at risk? During his three-year NFL tenure, the former fourth-round pick has disappointed — when he hasn’t been injured, that is. If Adam Graessle (ex-Pitt) can match Sepulveda’s punting, he could provide a big upgrade on kickoffs.
-- Don’t let the recent calm deceive you. The storm is just around the corner. Major distractions will combine with another tough year defensively to keep the Steelers out of the playoffs.
Mark Madden hosts a radio show 3-6 p.m. weekdays on WXDX-FM (105.9).
Monday Madden: Steelers need WhiteTEXT SIZE By: Mark MaddenBeaver County Times
Monday June 7, 2010 12:02 AM
The World Cup starts Friday. For me, it’s the real football. For you, it’s Steelers, Steelers, Steelers. So I’ll entertain you, and not myself, with refreshing Steelers notes. Big Ben until I die, Big Ben until I die, I know I am, I’m sure I am, Big Ben until I die!
-- If the Steelers are serious about making a bigger commitment to the run, they are ill-equipped to do so. Expecting sixth-round pick Jonathan Dwyer to provide power is a leap of faith, especially when rookies usually get short shrift in Pittsburgh. The answer: LenDale White, cut by Seattle. What a boost White and Ben Roethlisberger would provide in Week 6 when their suspensions finish. White would help the Steelers grind clock and keep their defense off the field in the fourth quarter.
Oh, I forgot: White desecrated a Terrible Towel once. He’d have to stand trial for war crimes before joining the Steelers.
-- Ben Roethlisberger spoke to the media. Some feel he didn’t say enough. What did you expect, play-by-play from the VIP men’s room at Capital City? Some things, Roethlisberger simply isn’t going to talk about, nor should he. There’s no upside.
-- The weirdest part of Roethlisberger’s comeback will be when fans who proclaim undying love for the Steelers try to hinder the team’s cause by making Ben’s life as difficult as possible. Again, no upside. I’d be interested in knowing how many of these people apply the same exacting moral standards to their own lives.
-- Roethlisberger would err if his first in-depth sit-down interview since Milledgeville is with a big-name national sportscaster or, God forbid, Oprah or Larry King. Roethlisberger’s biggest amends must be made with the people of Pittsburgh. He should talk with KDKA-TV’s Bob Pompeani. Pompeani is credible, a good interviewer, and he’s been fair to Ben. Anything of substance that’s said will be picked up nationally.
-- Receiving is a potential problem area. If Hines Ward or Mike Wallace gets hurt, the Steelers’ pass-catching corps would be really, really bad.
Advertisement
-- The aforementioned reluctance the Steelers traditionally display when it comes to giving rookies meaningful roles will deprive them of a chance to strengthen their offensive line. No way Maurkice Pouncey isn’t better than Trai Essex right now.
Pouncey is probably better than Justin Hartwig right now, too.
Pouncey might also be superior to Chris Kemoeatu.
I wonder if Pouncey can play wide receiver?
l Don’t worry about James Harrison missing OTAs. He missed the entire second half of last season, too.
-- After initially looking shaken by his team’s off-field shenanigans, Mike Tomlin has regrouped. His cliché-ridden self-importance during interviews still irritates — Tomlin comes off as part president, part Pope — but he’s regained his cool and composure and appears to be in control. Time will show if he really is.
-- Tomlin handled the four-headed quarterback monster perfectly when he gave Charlie Batch very little work at OTAs. Batch won’t play during Roethlisberger’s suspension unless Byron Leftwich and Dennis Dixon both get hurt, and he’ll be cut when Ben returns. It’s not about being fair (although a QB of Batch’s age, limited skill and meager accomplishment having a job at all, for any length of time, seems charitable, never mind fair). It’s about preparation. Save fair for the Homestead Little League.
-- Is Daniel Sepulveda’s job at risk? During his three-year NFL tenure, the former fourth-round pick has disappointed — when he hasn’t been injured, that is. If Adam Graessle (ex-Pitt) can match Sepulveda’s punting, he could provide a big upgrade on kickoffs.
-- Don’t let the recent calm deceive you. The storm is just around the corner. Major distractions will combine with another tough year defensively to keep the Steelers out of the playoffs.
Mark Madden hosts a radio show 3-6 p.m. weekdays on WXDX-FM (105.9).