Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Questions at this point (by LLT - August 29, 2010)

  1. #1

    Questions at this point (by LLT - August 29, 2010)

    We are halfway through the preseason and it would appear that although some questions have been answered, we have now have two categories of questions still remaining. Those that existed at the beginning of the season that are still unanswered and those that have crept up since the preseason started.

    There is so much pre-camp roster analysis out there but the truth is you never know what is going to happen once the players strap on pads and you never can overestimate or truly gauge a players heart and his determination to make the roster.

    Let’s look at those positional questions preseason has not answered:

    Right Tackle (RT): Losing Colon hurt, but like others I thought that the signing of Flozell Adams might alleviate the pain. However, Flozell Adams looks disinterested at times and often looks as if he has forgotten that it’s okay to actually…well, move. I think he has lost enough of a step that he has found it impossible to block speed rushers, and at this point in his career, everyone looks like a speed rusher to him. Now throw in Tony Hills , who spent two years looking disinterested but has spent this preseason looking like a man who thought he might lose his job. At the very least, this shows that Hills is perceptive. At the most we might have found we have a right tackle in a player that we had all but given up on.

    Wide Receiver (WR) and Return Specialist (RS): Again, our problem at these two positions is a good problem to have. Wallace came into his own last year, showing us that he is a legitimate deep threat and a player with a future. We thought enough of him to let the troublesome Santonio Holmes leave via trade, we re-signed Antwaan Randle El and we picked up two speedsters in the draft to fight for the #4 WR slot with newly acquired veteran side receiver and special team ace Arnaz Battle. Both Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown have showed enough potential to warrant the 53-man roster and Brown may make it due to his return skills alone. That is no small feat when we consider just how well Stefan Logan did last year as a returner for us, but Brown returns both kickoffs and punts, and is versatile enough to line up as a receiver.

    Cornerback (CB): Bryant McFadden was brought back due to sub-par play by William Gay. We know that Bryant will be an immediate improvement but we never planned on Keenan Lewis, Joe Burnett and Crezdon Butler playing as well as they have. Good problem to have, but questions remain as to how the final depth chart will end up.

    Now for some of the questions that have come up since the preseason began:

    Linebacker (LB): Stevenson Sylvester....wow, what do we do with this kid? I see what the coaches mean when they say that he is too long legged and doesn’t bend well, but isn’t “results” the true test of player ability? This kid can play. I seem to remember another skinny Steelers linebacker who wasn’t “built” correctly. He also played inside and as I seem to recall, that foul-mouthed, toothless, ass-kicking middle linebacker did okay. We also have to look at the real possibility that we might have rookies backing up both outside linebacker positions. Gibson and Worilds wouldn’t survive the PS and placing them on the 53 man roster isn’t that much of a stretch when you consider the fact that two of our veteran inside linebackers could play on the outside if needed.

    Offensive Center (OC): Maurkice Pouncey was supposed to be our RG this year, but besides having very good blocking skills he has shown to be cerebral enough to absorb the playbook and make line calls. No one should be surprised if Pouncey begins the season as our starting center. That would allow us to keep Essex at RG and try Foster or Hills at RT or vice versa. If that’s the case, the question is what do we do with Hartwig? Does he become one of the highest paid backup centers in the NFL and we cut either Urbik or Legursky? Or do we cut Hartwig and look to the future?

    Quarterback (QB): This is probably the most talked about position since the pre-season began. Ben’s suspension made it necessary to re-sign Byron Leftwich. Lefty has looked pretty good these last two games and his 68-yard TD pass to Wallace was a thing of beauty. Dennis Dixon has shown that he has the arm to keep defenses honest but can use his feet to make defensive coordinators pay for not bringing an extra player up into the box. Batch may be the odd man out. The real question is going to be if the Steeler Nation is patient enough to let Ben shake the rust off upon his return.

    © 2010 Steelers Universe
    Last edited by LLT; 08-29-2010 at 10:34 AM.
    "I believe the game is designed to reward the ones who hit the hardest. If you can't take it, you shouldn't play"

    -- Jack Lambert --

  2. #2
    Administrator Array title="HometownGal has a reputation beyond repute"> HometownGal's Avatar

    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Da Burgh
    Gender
    Posts
    9,826

    Re: Questions at this point (by LLT - August 29, 2010)

    Phenomenal article Perry!






    CANCER - YOU PICKED THE WRONG BITCH!!!

  3. #3

    Re: Questions at this point (by LLT - August 29, 2010)

    Quote Originally Posted by HometownGal View Post
    Phenomenal article Perry!
    Thanks buddy.

    Hopefully tonight "creates" a whole new article!!!!
    "I believe the game is designed to reward the ones who hit the hardest. If you can't take it, you shouldn't play"

    -- Jack Lambert --

  4. #4
    U.S. AIR FORCE Array title="Hindes204 has much to be proud of"> Hindes204's Avatar

    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Shreveport, LA
    Gender
    Posts
    3,278

    Re: Questions at this point (by LLT - August 29, 2010)

    I seem to recall, that foul-mouthed, toothless, ass-kicking middle linebacker did okay.
    He sure did!!

    Great article brother!!!




  5. #5
    Senior Member Array title="stillers4me has a reputation beyond repute"> stillers4me's Avatar

    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Shitzinnati
    Gender
    Posts
    24,842

    Re: Questions at this point (by LLT - August 29, 2010)

    I'm so excited about all the young talent! This may very well be one of our best drafts in along time!! Funny sayng that, when by midway through the draft we were all saying "WTF???"

    Good job, my friend!



  6. #6
    Senior Member Array title="43Hitman has a reputation beyond repute">
    3 Reel Treasure Slots Champion!

    Join Date
    May 2010
    Gender
    Posts
    7,211

    Re: Questions at this point (by LLT - August 29, 2010)

    I really hope we can find a way to keep Sly around. I really like what I'm seeing in that kid. Great article LLT.


  7. #7

    Re: Questions at this point (by LLT - August 29, 2010)

    Quote Originally Posted by 43Hitman View Post
    I really hope we can find a way to keep Sly around.
    I am going to be watching to see if Tomlin puts him on ST's tonight...and if so...how he does. That might be where he will cut his teeth this year.
    "I believe the game is designed to reward the ones who hit the hardest. If you can't take it, you shouldn't play"

    -- Jack Lambert --

  8. #8

    Re: Questions at this point (by LLT - August 29, 2010)

    Quote Originally Posted by stillers4me View Post
    I'm so excited about all the young talent! This may very well be one of our best drafts in along time!! Funny sayng that, when by midway through the draft we were all saying "WTF???"

    Good job, my friend!

    I'm with you.

    There was so much "talent" on the board when we made some of our picks that I thought the FO was crazy. There can be no doubt that they were following a specific plan in this draft and that it looks like it panned out pretty well.
    "I believe the game is designed to reward the ones who hit the hardest. If you can't take it, you shouldn't play"

    -- Jack Lambert --

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •