Hampton watch

[zulater]

He's starting because he is a veteran and Tomlin doesn't have the guts to bench him. That's my take on it.

All I know is that I hope the hell it's corrected soon. Either they need to play McClendon the vast majority of the downs or Hampton's play has to improve considerably or this team will be a sieve up the middle and vulnerbale to the run like they haven't been in a couple decades.

They difference in their play is so pronounced I don't understand how it escape the beat writers when they question Tomlin at the press conferences?

I'd like to see Ike Taylor bumped down to the nickel or dime back until there's some improvement in his game. But I can see where that's at least debatable for a number of factors.

But for anyone who bothers to look close enough and focus on the middle of the field, there is no debate. Hampton is not getting it done. He gets pushed around like a blocking sled down after down. McClendon on the other hand, going against the very same offensive line man is blowing up plays when he gets the chance.

[Steeldude]

But for anyone who bothers to look close enough and focus on the middle of the field, there is no debate. Hampton is not getting it done. He gets pushed around like a blocking sled down after down. McClendon on the other hand, going against the very same offensive line man is blowing up plays when he gets the chance.

Yep, and it's been happening for a few seasons now. Which I was I wanted Hoke starting a few seasons ago. Basically, Mclendon is the new Hoke who rides the bench

[Count Steeler]

Can't understand why Hampton is playing more this year than he has in the last 2 years. It is obvious McLendon is the better player at this point.

[steelers_switzerland]

i can't understand that hampton is still Nr.1 on the depth chart... steve should have started the season there

[zulater]

Can't understand why Hampton is playing more this year than he has in the last 2 years. It is obvious McLendon is the better player at this point.

Yeah and the strangest part about it is that a couple years ago when Hampton was still playing at a high level they almost always took him out of the game on passing downs. Now more often than not they have him on the field in obvious passing situations. Makes no sense to me?

[60_MINUTES]

GOD forbid this is true but is it about money??? I would hope and pray not but damn I got no other reason that makes any since...

Facts... Hampton played less last year then he has this year...
Fact.... Towards the end of last year Hampton basically was benched..they called it a minor injury or something but thats the same thing they called Chris Kemo...bottom line McClendon got more reps
Fact.... After Hampton was benched he then late in the year tears his ACL
Fact... 10 year NT 35 years old that was benched for youth coming off ACL injury
Fact...Playing more downs this year by average then he has in the past 3 years before he was 35 or coming off ACL injury
Fact.... McClendon is making good plays and being noticed by everyone in the 8 plays a game he is getting..

So how can a guy that was benched the year before... thats 35 at NT which is like being 50... that let me remind you one more time tore his ACL not to long ago be playing more snaps then he has played in years????????????????????????????????????????

Its the one question If I could ask any at all I would love to know.....Its blowing my mind.... 35 years old NT coming off ACL injury and your giving him more snaps then you gave him last year not to mention the guy playing behind him is playing very solid... so>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

As much as I hate to think this and as much as I sit here and tell myself theres just no way I have to wonder is it about money????

Explain.......Ok

We have mendy,,,,wallace.... coming up for contracts...pouncey wont be long....... starks is on a one year deal I think its safe to say looking at adams so far and also how well starks is playing we will prob sign him or look to sign him to a 2 or 3 year deal...... Hood wont be long.... Sanders is next year. and to my main point McClendon is next year...

So no more then NT is on the field now days can the steelers really afford to pay a NT 4 or 5 million a year with our cap hell and having the above problems we need to sign...how great would it be for the front office to be able to take hamptons 4.5 million or so that hes making this year and give that to a couple different guys above after we let hampton walk after this year.... If McClendon comes in and gets 30 snaps a game starts making splash plays then all of a sudden his agent is gonna demand a few million... if we keep fucking him over like we are doing now with 8 plays a game then there is no way in hell he will sign next year for anything bigger then a 1 or 2 million a year....

yeah Yeah I know how stupid it sounds and yeah yeah I know we would never put money ahead of winning............................well if you make yourself believe that there is really not much difference in hampton and McClendon...and you think to yourself signing a couple guys to the future is more important then a small drop off at NT then maybe you could sale yourself on it being the right thing to do......

Anyway as dumb as it sounds and as pissed off as i feel to even thinkk it could be true... I will say this...what the hell does anyone else have for a reason?????

35 year old NT that was basically benched the year before...coming off an ACL tear and looking like he is on rollerskates for 5 straight games............Anybody????

I would agree with the Tomlin wont bench vets thing but like I said he benched Kemo... Farrior and Hampton last year....

So what to yall think????? I got nothing but that dumbass money thing....

[GBMelBlount]

We are at a critical crossroad this season.

If no significant changes are made and we continue to lose I will blame the brass for this.

Stupidity is doing the same things that don't work over and over and expecting a different outcome.

[86WARD]

Hampton should've been cut in the off season and some of that money used to sign Wallace/Brown/Sanders. I've only said it a million times...lol.

He's no where near what he used to be.

Looks like Warren Sapp had spoken the truth...old and slow. Lol...

[86WARD]

We are at a critical crossroad this season.

If no significant changes are made and we continue to lose I will blame the brass for this.

Stupidity is doing the same things that don't work over and over and expecting a different outcome.

The shotty drafts are starting to catch up to this team. There's absolutely no depth and now that the team is getting older and banged up, it's really starting to catch up and show...

[BlastFurnace]

We are at a critical crossroad this season.

If no significant changes are made and we continue to lose I will blame the brass for this.

Stupidity is doing the same things that don't work over and over and expecting a different outcome.

The team needs to be gutted of older veterans that simply don't get the job done. Take the hit next year in the salary cap and start to get this turned around.

After this year, I hope we have seen the last of the following:

Colon
Hampton
Mundy
Keisel
Taylor

I hope some coaches are gone too. No one needs to be shown the door more than John Mitchell. Mitchell would have ruined Reggie White if given the chance. The Offensive Line coach needs to go too.

I wrestle with letting LeBeau go. The defensive talent on his side of the ball is either ancient or just plain stinks. Someone in the Steelers FO also needs to understand how to draft defensively.

For all the praise given to Kevin Colbert and Omar Kahn regarding the salary cap, they have continually given players on the wrong side of their careers, or just average to below average players, big contracts and have put this team in a very bad salary cap spot during Ben's prime years.

The Steelers need to understand that just because they draft a player that turns out to be average to below average, doesn't mean that they need to give him big money to keep him on the team. This has happened far too often.

[GBMelBlount]

The shotty drafts are starting to catch up to this team. There's absolutely no depth and now that the team is getting older and banged up, it's really starting to catch up and show...

I think it depends on how you look at it 86 ward.

We have absolutely hit the ball out of the park with our receiving corp and arguably have a top 5 pitch and catch offense.

Also, after hearing some board member thoughts on Zu's thread about how to fix the defense, I HONESTLY feel we are just a few personell and defensive scheming tweaks from holding our own on defense.

I think it is all about coaching to our strengths on both sides of the ball at this critical crossroad.

[X-Terminator]

You know, I was going to come on here and rip the fans here with their 20/20 hindsight on the draft, but after thinking about it, they really haven't drafted all that well on defensive players after the first 2 rounds. They're best later-round picks are offensive guys...no late-round steals on the defensive side of the ball other than McLendon. Their first-round DL picks aren't being used properly or are barely used at all, and they have no safety depth whatsoever. If Troy or Ryan get hurt, they are screwed, because Ryan Mundy is not getting it done. And I think it's high time that Cortez Allen get on the field and Ike Taylor off it, because I do not see him getting any better. I'd rather take my chances with the younger guy, because he can't possibly play any worse. But the major change won't happen until next season when LeBeau finally retires and Butler takes over, and maybe design a defense that makes better use of Hood, Heyward and McLendon's talents.

[Steeldude]

Yep, Hampton still sucks. The same kind of play for last few seasons

[NCSteeler]

When their starting center was in the game he was owning Hampton. Casey spent most of the first quarter picking himself up off his back. Taylor played better but as mention numerous times during the broadcast he had help over the top all night and the Bengals never really seemed to challenge that.

[katmandu]

I still think if you want to talk about one guy struggling vs the run, it's Keisel. And no one has talked about him.

Haven't heard his name much this year......except for all the beard talk.

[steelpride12]