hawaiiansteel
12-18-2011, 03:39 PM
Steelers Redman has a goal (line) to reach
By Mike Bires mbires@timesonline.com | Posted: Saturday, December 17, 2011
PITTSBURGH — It’s been three long months since Isaac Redman last scored a touchdown, and he’d like to end that streak Monday night.
He also wants to put an end to one of the most amazing streaks in the NFL this season.
Through 13 games, the 49ers have not allowed a rushing touchdown.
“That’s impressive. You really don’t see that too much in the NFL,” said Redman, the backup to Steelers’ starting running back Rashard Mendenhall. “Hopefully, we can be that first team and I can be that first back.”
At 10-3, the 49ers are clearly one of the league’s most surprising success stories. Certainly, one of the major reasons for their success is fiery first-year coach Jim Harbaugh, who inherited a 6-10 team and transformed them into NFC West champions.
But certainly the efforts of the Niner defense can’t be understated. It ranks first in the NFL in scoring defense (14.0 points per game) and first in rushing defense (70.5 yards pg).
“That’s damn good,” said Steelers guard Trai Essex, who’ll be making his second start of the season Monday night. “Those numbers speak for themselves.”
So does the 13-game streak of not allowing a rushing TD.
To put that in perspective, it’s never happened before. Since the NFL was founded in 1933, the fewest rushing touchdowns allowed by a team in one season is two.
“It can’t say that I ever have heard of a streak like that,” Harbaugh said. “It’s not something that’s talked about. But (our defense) does take a lot of pride in it. The way our guys, our coaches and our team approach it is how it plays into situational football.
How it helps us to accomplish the one and only thing we want to accomplish and that’s be a winning defense. Win the next game.
“But it is big factor,” Harbaugh added of the streak. “It’s a big factor, being able to contain an opponent’s running game ... to shut down an opponent’s running game and keep them out of the end zone.”
Beside not allowing a rushing touchdown this season, the 49ers’ defense continues to add on to another impressive streak. It has not allowed an opposing running back to rush for 100 yards or more for 35 straight games. That’s the longest current streak in the NFL.
The last back to surpass 100 yards against the 49ers was Green Bay’s Ryan Grant, for rushed for 129 on Nov. 22, 2009.
Because of Ben Roethlisberger’s success throwing the football in recent years, the Steelers no longer rank among the league’s best running teams. This year, they’re only 17th in rushing.
Mendenhall, who rushed for 1,273 yards and 13 touchdowns last year, has only 710 yards and eight TDs this year.
“That is impressive,” Mendenhall said of the 49ers’ TD-less streak. “And it will be a challenge for us. But as an offense, we want to score a rushing touchdown every week.”
In a 14-3 over Cleveland on Dec. 8, both Steelers touchdowns came on pass plays. On four consecutive plays in the fourth quarter inside the Browns’ 2-yard line, Mendenhall was stopped cold.
If the Steelers get into a similar situation Monday night against the 49ers, Redman hopes he gets the chance to carry it in.
“As a running back, you always like to score when you get those close,” said Redman, who scored his only TD this year in the Sept. 18 win over Seattle.
“That’s especially the case this week against a team that hasn’t allowed any rushing touchdowns. So maybe it will be Isaac Redman who’s the first running back to score on them this year.”
http://www.timesonline.com/sports/local ... mode=print (http://www.timesonline.com/sports/local_sports/steelers-redman-has-a-goal-line-to-reach/article_076027fa-7624-55bf-9dd2-c85f3507afeb.html?mode=print)
By Mike Bires mbires@timesonline.com | Posted: Saturday, December 17, 2011
PITTSBURGH — It’s been three long months since Isaac Redman last scored a touchdown, and he’d like to end that streak Monday night.
He also wants to put an end to one of the most amazing streaks in the NFL this season.
Through 13 games, the 49ers have not allowed a rushing touchdown.
“That’s impressive. You really don’t see that too much in the NFL,” said Redman, the backup to Steelers’ starting running back Rashard Mendenhall. “Hopefully, we can be that first team and I can be that first back.”
At 10-3, the 49ers are clearly one of the league’s most surprising success stories. Certainly, one of the major reasons for their success is fiery first-year coach Jim Harbaugh, who inherited a 6-10 team and transformed them into NFC West champions.
But certainly the efforts of the Niner defense can’t be understated. It ranks first in the NFL in scoring defense (14.0 points per game) and first in rushing defense (70.5 yards pg).
“That’s damn good,” said Steelers guard Trai Essex, who’ll be making his second start of the season Monday night. “Those numbers speak for themselves.”
So does the 13-game streak of not allowing a rushing TD.
To put that in perspective, it’s never happened before. Since the NFL was founded in 1933, the fewest rushing touchdowns allowed by a team in one season is two.
“It can’t say that I ever have heard of a streak like that,” Harbaugh said. “It’s not something that’s talked about. But (our defense) does take a lot of pride in it. The way our guys, our coaches and our team approach it is how it plays into situational football.
How it helps us to accomplish the one and only thing we want to accomplish and that’s be a winning defense. Win the next game.
“But it is big factor,” Harbaugh added of the streak. “It’s a big factor, being able to contain an opponent’s running game ... to shut down an opponent’s running game and keep them out of the end zone.”
Beside not allowing a rushing touchdown this season, the 49ers’ defense continues to add on to another impressive streak. It has not allowed an opposing running back to rush for 100 yards or more for 35 straight games. That’s the longest current streak in the NFL.
The last back to surpass 100 yards against the 49ers was Green Bay’s Ryan Grant, for rushed for 129 on Nov. 22, 2009.
Because of Ben Roethlisberger’s success throwing the football in recent years, the Steelers no longer rank among the league’s best running teams. This year, they’re only 17th in rushing.
Mendenhall, who rushed for 1,273 yards and 13 touchdowns last year, has only 710 yards and eight TDs this year.
“That is impressive,” Mendenhall said of the 49ers’ TD-less streak. “And it will be a challenge for us. But as an offense, we want to score a rushing touchdown every week.”
In a 14-3 over Cleveland on Dec. 8, both Steelers touchdowns came on pass plays. On four consecutive plays in the fourth quarter inside the Browns’ 2-yard line, Mendenhall was stopped cold.
If the Steelers get into a similar situation Monday night against the 49ers, Redman hopes he gets the chance to carry it in.
“As a running back, you always like to score when you get those close,” said Redman, who scored his only TD this year in the Sept. 18 win over Seattle.
“That’s especially the case this week against a team that hasn’t allowed any rushing touchdowns. So maybe it will be Isaac Redman who’s the first running back to score on them this year.”
http://www.timesonline.com/sports/local ... mode=print (http://www.timesonline.com/sports/local_sports/steelers-redman-has-a-goal-line-to-reach/article_076027fa-7624-55bf-9dd2-c85f3507afeb.html?mode=print)