Steelers coach Mike Tomlin pleased with Steve McLendon's development

[stillers4me]

Steve McLendon had the misfortune of following Casey Hampton, who made five Pro Bowls in 12 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers and looked the part of nose tackle as much as any player ever did.
But McLendon, a battler who made the NFL as an undrafted free agent, has held his own since replacing Hampton in the middle of Steelers’ defense. The fifth-year veteran received a vote of confidence from coach Mike Tomlin on Tuesday.

McLendon fought through a recurring shoulder in jury that cost him four games...........

Read more @ http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/po...ns-development

[steelreserve]

Yeah, no thanks. In a 3-4 defense that relies heavily on this position, I do not want "holding your own." You've got to be way better than that.

McLendon may have done better than expected, but failing to address this position has been one of the biggest mistakes of the last 10 years. I am not going to be sold on more of the same.

[Dwinsgames]

this does not bode well for McCullers development

[steelreserve]

this does not bode well for McCullers development

I thought we didn't need any more NT depth because of him?

But yeah, even if he was doing great, I could see him getting stuck on the bench behind McLendon just ... because. The coaching staff has had a giant hard-on for that guy for years, for what reason I cannot understand. He'll be in there every down if he's average; they won't do anything to replace him if he's average.

[hawaiiansteeler]

#Steelers Depot: Contract Extension Possible For Steelers NT Steve McLendon

http://bit.ly/1RXU5q6

[steelreserve]

#Steelers Depot: Contract Extension Possible For Steelers NT Steve McLendon

http://bit.ly/1RXU5q6

Ugh. No thanks. McLendon's been OK for us, but only OK, and in my opinion, not nearly good enough. They need to find someone better, whether it's through the draft or free agency, and there's no reason why it should be as hard as we're making it out to be. Extending McLendon, unless it's expressly as a BACKUP, at a BACKUP salary, makes no sense and just locks us into three more years of mediocrity. Much better to just take our chances and move on if you ask me.

I also see no reason whatsoever to give the guy a RAISE to $4M a year. We don't give our other mediocre role players $4 million. Why should we give it to him? Oh, that's right, because we don't have anyone better, because we don't try. Good for us.

[SteelerFanInStl]

I agree. I really hope that we don't give him a contract extension. Haven't they learned anything from the Cortez and Gilbert extensions?

McClendon is easily replaced (could've had Knighton for $2M/year).

[ALLD]

Same article states Tomlin wants to give Archer a shot at kickoffs and punt returns too.

[86WARD]

Same article states Tomlin wants to give Archer a shot at kickoffs and punt returns too.

There goes Tomlin regressing into idiocy again...

[Steelman]

Yeah, why don't we give Cam F'ing Thomas an extension while we're at it too.

I like McLendon more than some on this board, but this extension talk is lunacy. Did the Al Woods situation get them scared? Or is this just another one of Tomlin's pets?

[Craic]

There goes Tomlin regressing into idiocy again...

Because no player in the NFL has taken more than a year or two to adjust to the NFL game, right? Never mind the fact that no returner was getting yards until half way through the season.

(this post is assuming youre responding to ALLD. If not just ignore it).

[86WARD]

No. I was talking about Archer. I'd be more than happy to eat crow on this one. I have zero confidence that he will amount to anything on this team. Aside from ONE preseason play, the guy has shown ZERO on the football field and to start "the experiment" all over again, with Archer, is a waste of time IMO. I mean there were no flashes that this guy may have some talent...other than that ONE play...

[Mojouw]

No. I was talking about Archer. I'd be more than happy to eat crow on this one. I have zero confidence that he will amount to anything on this team. Aside from ONE preseason play, the guy has shown ZERO on the football field and to start "the experiment" all over again, with Archer, is a waste of time IMO. I mean there were no flashes that this guy may have some talent...other than that ONE play...

Here's the thing, we are talking about camp and preseason at this point. Why on earth would the team not want to give Archer another chance on returns? Like it or not, he is on the roster and he was a 3rd round pick. They have to find places and roles to attempt to exploit his physical gifts (speed and open field running).

Now if Archer doesn't look any better during camp and preseason in one or more of the roles the team carves out for him AND he is still on the roster, then we can start talking about idiocy. Prior to that it is simply over reacting to the types of statements that ALL coaching staffs make about players during the off season.

Anyone ever hear of anyone not reporting to training camp "in the best shape of their life?"

[hawaiiansteeler]

Anyone ever hear of anyone not reporting to training camp "in the best shape of their life?"

[Bluecoat96]

Here's the thing, we are talking about camp and preseason at this point. Why on earth would the team not want to give Archer another chance on returns? Like it or not, he is on the roster and he was a 3rd round pick. They have to find places and roles to attempt to exploit his physical gifts (speed and open field running).

Now if Archer doesn't look any better during camp and preseason in one or more of the roles the team carves out for him AND he is still on the roster, then we can start talking about idiocy. Prior to that it is simply over reacting to the types of statements that ALL coaching staffs make about players during the off season.

Anyone ever hear of anyone not reporting to training camp "in the best shape of their life?"

Stop with your common sense and logic.

[86WARD]

Here's the thing, we are talking about camp and preseason at this point. Why on earth would the team not want to give Archer another chance on returns? Like it or not, he is on the roster and he was a 3rd round pick. They have to find places and roles to attempt to exploit his physical gifts (speed and open field running).

Now if Archer doesn't look any better during camp and preseason in one or more of the roles the team carves out for him AND he is still on the roster, then we can start talking about idiocy. Prior to that it is simply over reacting to the types of statements that ALL coaching staffs make about players during the off season.

Anyone ever hear of anyone not reporting to training camp "in the best shape of their life?"

That's all fine and I'm all for second chances in most cases...but he would be taking snaps away from someone who may be more productive at those positions. This "experiment" could stunt the growth of a different player/rookie. He's had OTAs, Preseason and a full season to have a "chance" and nothing he showed was remotely promising. Like I said, I saw nothing in him that was worth anything except for that one play and I'd be more than happy to see him pan out and be something. I just don't feel like it's gonna happen and rather see another player get those reps.

[polamalubeast]

I hope that Haley will not try too much Archer to the offense(in Regular Season) if he has no improvement.

The drives killer are so frustrating

[Count Steeler]

I hope that Haley will not try too much Archer to the offense(in Regular Season) if he has no improvement.

The drives killer are so frustrating

I think it will depend on how much input Haley had on that pick. If it was his pick, he will probably try to prove that Archer was not a wasted pick. I say, if he doesn't perform in the pre season, cut bait and use the roster spot on a promising prospect. Don't let them sit on the practice squad so that the Cards rebuild their roster.

[hawaiiansteeler]

No. I was talking about Archer. I mean there were no flashes that this guy may have some talent...other than that ONE play...

is this the play you're referring to?

[Count Steeler]

That is the one.

[steelreserve]

Nice run, but wow, that was some terrible defense. The DBs especially looked like they were totally unprepared to cover two receivers on that side of the field.

Also, that was a great ineligible man downfield by Pouncey. I'm amazed they didn't bust him for that. Throwing blocks 5 yards in front of the receiver before the ball is even thrown ... but then again, it is preseason, lol.

[86WARD]

is this the play you're referring to?

That's the one...there the guy has so much promise. Since that and into the "real thing" he was nothing but a liability on the field from what I viewed.

Limas Sweed had more highlights than Archer...

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bl_69NNQ_kk" target="_blank">



Again, nothing would make me happier than to see Archer become the next Darren Sproles and I'll root for him, but I have little to no confidence that he will lead to anything and rather see a younger guy get the reps.

[hawaiiansteeler]

Alex Kozora‏@Alex_Kozora:

Why backside DL are so important in defending zone runs. And why Steve McLendon is a good fit. All-22 tape #Steelers

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2015/05...vs-wide-zones/ …

[Mojouw]

A couple of things.

1. The Steelers Depot article says to me that the days of massive slow footed NTs that simply anchor in the middle of the line are over. Which is my polite way of saying that I simply do not get what the criticism of McLendon is other than he is not Casey Hampton or some arbitrary vision of what a 3-4 nose looks like. And I am well aware of what the Steelers ranked against the run last year. Two words: Cam Thomas. Some more words: Jason Worilds and Jarvis Jones stink against the run. The Steelers defense suffers from some rather large problems, NT is simply not in the top 3-5.

2. So we want to give snaps and reps to a young player over Archer? When did Archer get old? He is in his 2nd season of making an adjustment from a small school at a lower level to the NFL. I'm guessing he can't be older than 22. Best we get rid of him now. I put all the data together of similar small return/gadget back guys that have "made it" in the NFL back when Archer was drafted and everyone went off the deep end. Basic point was every single one of them took a year or so to get adjusted to the NFL and settle in to an effective role. Gotta figure that Sproles is about the best comp that we can all hope Archer grows into. http://www.pro-football-reference.co...S/SproDa00.htm. Well look at. Hmmm. It took Tiny Dancer a few seasons to get his career off the ground. Weird. Yeah. We better cut Archer today. He hurts nothing at this point. Who are they not rostering instead of Archer, right now? No one useful. Now if this is September and Archer still hasn't shown anything and they are cutting someone more useful than the back-up long snapper, then we can have an entirely different conversation.

[tube517]

McClendon needs to stay healthy. He has yet played 16 gms in a season since becoming a starter

Sent from my SM-N910C using Tapatalk

[teegre]

McClendon needs to stay healthy. He has yet played 16 gms in a season since becoming a starter

Exactly.

As Bill Parcells once said:
"A player's most important ability is availability."

[fansince'76]

And I am well aware of what the Steelers ranked against the run last year. Two words: Cam Thomas. Some more words: Jason Worilds and Jarvis Jones stink against the run.

The Steelers were actually ranked a respectable 6th against the run last season, but that was probably a function of other teams being able to pass at will on them as much as anything else...

[Mojouw]

The Steelers were actually ranked a respectable 6th against the run last season, but that was probably a function of other teams being able to pass at will on them as much as anything else...

I actually forget they were that high. I think I read somewhere too that most of the success running against them was not up the middle, but to one the sides. I'm guessing that was called "find Cam Thomas. Run right at him." Or the viable alternative, of not towards James Harrison.

[polamalubeast]

The Steelers were actually ranked a respectable 6th against the run last season, but that was probably a function of other teams being able to pass at will on them as much as anything else...

This is misleading, since the Steelers finished 25th in yards per carry vs the run but they were better in the last nine games of the season, except for the game against the Saints.

[Mojouw]

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/dl

Scroll to the second table in the link (the grey and white one). Remember the table is from the perspective of the offense, so mirror everything to get what defenders are "responsible".

The Steelers were 14 and 22 to things from the offensive left tackle to offensive left guard. They were 29th and 28th over the right guard and right tackle (offense). And they were 9th up the middle.

So that means they were kind of bad (relative term here) over the defensive right side - that would be Heyward/Kiesel/Harrison/Moats/Jones

Really bad over the defensive left side - Thomas/Worilds/Tuitt/etc

And solid up the gut - McLendon/Timmons/Shapencilliams

At least I think I got that right, trying to picture it in my head. Not going off of depth charts, trying to remember who actually lined up where for the most part. Now, perhaps an argument can be made that McLendon is not doing enough to soak up blocks on "outside" runs (meaning anything to the left or right of either guard) and I can not really address that from the data at hand. But someone needs to show me, with actual #'s and stuff, where the problems in the run defense are largely McLendon's fault.

Now looking further at those #'s and considering what the Steelers did on the off-season. You can see that they don't really think it is the NT's problem either. If McLendon can't hack it or stay healthy, the can insert the Mountain that Wears pads at his spot. They picked up a few late round guys and UDFAs that may serve to push Cam "Roller Skates" Thomas off the roster. And they drafted a boat anchor who can run sideline to sideline to replace Worilds. All these things also help the pass rush, but they help the run D as well. Curiously, none of them are NTs.