Polamalu brightens injury report, could return against Ravens

[fordfixer]

Polamalu brightens injury report, could return against RavensNovember 7, 2012 12:32 am


http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sports/steelers/polamalu-brightens-steelers-injury-report-could-return-against-ravens-660967/


By Ed Bouchette / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
It appears that Antonio Brown and Chris Rainey are out, and Jonathan Dwyer is in. Some of the most important injury news Mike Tomlin presented Tuesday, however, was that Troy Polamalu may return in time to play Nov. 18 against the Baltimore Ravens.


As well as the Steelers have played on defense recently, having their seven-time Pro Bowl safety and former NFL defensive player of the year back in the lineup should make them even more dominant.


Or would he?


The Steelers are 3-1 since Will Allen moved into Polamalu's spot at strong safety, replacing Ryan Mundy. Allen will get his fifth consecutive start Monday night against the Kansas City Chiefs. He won't get a sixth as long as Polamalu is healthy and there's no reason to explain why.


What Allen has done, though, is bring stability to the position while one of their best players has been out. The Steelers rank as the No. 1 defense in the NFL in fewest yards allowed and also in fewest passing yards allowed.


Before this season, the Steelers were 13-10 without Polamalu, not nearly the kind of success they have had with him in the starting lineup (76-29). With Mundy at strong safety, they were 1-1 this season (0-1 with Mundy playing for free safety Ryan Clark in Denver). Polamalu has played in two games, which the Steelers split.


"Will's done a nice job for us playing in place of Troy over the last couple weeks," Tomlin said. "The assets of his game are he's a deliberate run-force guy, he's got good range and he's consistently physical.


"He's flexible positionally, but we're not doing anything different with Ryan because he's in there. Ryan has the ability to play both strong safety and free safety and does quite often when paired with Troy. He's still able to do that with Will because of his versatility."


Polamalu, 31, injured his right calf while practicing the week before the first game, then said he aggravated it in the opener. He skipped the next two games and returned three weeks after the opener following the team's off week to start Oct. 7 against Philadelphia.


He left that game in the first quarter and has not returned to play or practice. The Steelers have not described the specifics of the injury but there was a report that his calf was torn. He has been with the team and been taking treatment on it at the training facility on the South Side. He has declined to talk about his injury or when he might return to play.


Polamalu played in 22 consecutive games before he missed the second game this season. He missed two games near the end of the 2010 season because of an Achilles injury. This year has taken on the look of '09, when Polamalu left the opening game with a knee injury, missed the next four, and played in four more before his knee was reinjured and his season ended.


Who will start?
Rashard Mendenhall no longer is the clear-cut starting halfback. Tomlin made that clear without offering names when asked how he would use his backs when all are healthy.


"Whoever's being productive when healthy is going to get the totes. I really think it's that simple. I'm not going to make it any more complex than it has to be.


"At times this season we've had a running back-by-committee approach because none of them had been overly effective at that time. When someone's effective, they'll get the ball."


Tomlin said Mendenhall (Achilles) will get some work this week but characterized him as questionable to play. He said Jonathan Dwyer, who missed Sunday's game with a thigh injury, "has a strong chance to play.''


Dwyer rushed for consecutive 100-yard games before Sunday, when Redman took over and rushed for 147 yards against the Giants.


So, which of those two will start against the Chiefs?


CB Lewis praised
Tomlin praised the play of cornerback Keenan Lewis, who leads the team with 15 passes defensed, nearly double those of the next highest, Ike Taylor with eight.


Lewis also has moved into the No. 4 spot on the team with 31 tackles and has a forced fumble to his credit.


"I think the arrow has been pointed up with Keenan," Tomlin said. "More than anything, he's been consistently challenging and competing with just about every throw. I think that's a great place for solid corner play to begin, to challenge throws consistently. He has done that, has been productive and has been a big component of why we've been hot, particularly on the back end in recent weeks."


The arrow has gone way up on Lewis at ProFootballFocus.com, where the play of each NFL player is analyzed and ranked. Earlier, Lewis ranked 91 out of 100 cornerbacks. He has improved to a tie for 43. PFF ranks nickel back Cortez Allen in a tie for 26 and Taylor at 63.


Brown unlikely to play
Tomlin did not sound optimistic that Antonio Brown (ankle) would play against the Chiefs: "We will leave the door ajar, but usually those are not positive things, particularly for someone that earns a living the way he does with his short-area quickness and change of direction."


He was more optimistic about Chris Rainey (ribs): "It's going to be big-time uncomfortable, but he has an opportunity to play. We'll see where it takes us as we push through the week. His participation might be limited in the early parts of the week."


Emmanuel Sanders will return kickoffs and punts if Brown and Rainey are unavailable.


Tackle Marcus Gilbert (ankle) could resume some work this week and could possibly be ready to play vs. Baltimore. Stevenson Sylvester (hamstring) is questionable.


For more on the Steelers, read the blog, Ed Bouchette on the Steelers at www.post-gazette.com/plus. Ed Bouchette: ebouchette@post-gazette.com and Twitter @EdBouchette.
First Published November 7, 2012 12:00 am

[Jooser]

Gilbert can sit his big arse down for all I care, roll with the rook and let him earn his knocks. The line is getting plenty of push right now the way things are, no need to tinker because Gilbert isn't much, if any, of an upgrade over the rookie Adams.

[flippy]

I hope we don't bring back Troy too soon. We can let him wait as long as he needs. Allen's playing great.

[Oviedo]

I hope we don't bring back Troy too soon. We can let him wait as long as he needs. Allen's playing great.

Yes. We already brought Troy back once and that lasted less than a quarter.

[steelblood]

Polamalu brightens injury report, could return against RavensNovember 7, 2012 12:32 am


http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sports/steelers/polamalu-brightens-steelers-injury-report-could-return-against-ravens-660967/


By Ed Bouchette / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
It appears that Antonio Brown and Chris Rainey are out, and Jonathan Dwyer is in.

He was more optimistic about Chris Rainey (ribs): "It's going to be big-time uncomfortable, but he has an opportunity to play. We'll see where it takes us as we push through the week. His participation might be limited in the early parts of the week."







Which is it Ed? Is he out or should we be optimistic about him playing? Does Ed proofread anything? Good old, Lazy Ed.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Is it just me, or was Douchette actually questioning whether WILL ALLEN should continue to start over TROY POLAMALU? Seriously?!?!?

[lloydroid]

F Troy. We are on a roll without him. No "calf strain" lasts this long. I honestly say we turn the page on him; he's a china doll and all he does is mess up the D's psyche when he inevitably goes out from being hurt again. Move on. It's time to adjust and the team finally has. Remember what Clark said about the team when Troy goes out? F that. Move on.

[SidSmythe]

F Troy. We are on a roll without him. No "calf strain" lasts this long. I honestly say we turn the page on him; he's a china doll and all he does is mess up the D's psyche when he inevitably goes out from being hurt again. Move on. It's time to adjust and the team finally has. Remember what Clark said about the team when Troy goes out? F that. Move on.

the risk is worth the reward here. personally I see Troy as our only hope to get us some turnovers.

[RuthlessBurgher]

F Troy. We are on a roll without him. No "calf strain" lasts this long. I honestly say we turn the page on him; he's a china doll and all he does is mess up the D's psyche when he inevitably goes out from being hurt again. Move on. It's time to adjust and the team finally has. Remember what Clark said about the team when Troy goes out? F that. Move on.

As long as you are in the business of throwing injured Steeler legends to the curb when the team is successful with them on the sideline, should the Steelers have gotten rid of Terry Bradshow when the team went on a 6-0 roll in 1976 with Mike Kruczek when Bradshaw was hurt? That's about how silly a "F Troy. We are on a roll without him" sentiment sounds to me. You seriously prefer Will Allen to Troy Polamalu...seriously?

[Oviedo]

As long as you are in the business of throwing injured Steeler legends to the curb when the team is successful with them on the sideline, should the Steelers have gotten rid of Terry Bradshow when the team went on a 6-0 roll in 1976 with Mike Kruczek when Bradshaw was hurt? That's about how silly a "F Troy. We are on a roll without him" sentiment sounds to me. You seriously prefer Will Allen to Troy Polamalu...seriously?

I agree. Troy's end will come soon enough of it's own accord. We don't need to hasten it if we can get a few more miles out him. I say use him up as long as we can. We can't afford to do it however at his current salary.

[lloydroid]

As long as you are in the business of throwing injured Steeler legends to the curb when the team is successful with them on the sideline, should the Steelers have gotten rid of Terry Bradshow when the team went on a 6-0 roll in 1976 with Mike Kruczek when Bradshaw was hurt? That's about how silly a "F Troy. We are on a roll without him" sentiment sounds to me. You seriously prefer Will Allen to Troy Polamalu...seriously?

Your analogy is wet poop. Was Bradshaw constantly hurt and when he was did his unit get depressed and let down? Troy can't stay healthy, and up until now, the D gets all depressed when they see China doll limp off the field, according to Ryan Clark. Now they finally figured out how to perform well without him. If he comes back and INEVITABLY limps off the field again, they risk falling back into a depression again instead of playing as THE NUMBER ONE DEFENSE IN THE ENTIRE NFL. F Troy. I will say it again: F TROY. He can't stay healthy thus he is a detriment to the team. It's about the team, not one person. I have NEVER IN MY LIFE seen a "calf injury" last this long, or any where close to it. Calf injuries usually last a few weeks, not OVER A FREAKING YEAR.

[lloydroid]

I agree. Troy's end will come soon enough of it's own accord. We don't need to hasten it if we can get a few more miles out him. I say use him up as long as we can. We can't afford to do it however at his current salary.

Troy can't stay healthy, and up until now, the D gets all depressed when they see China doll limp off the field, according to Ryan Clark. Now they finally figured out how to perform well without him. If he comes back and INEVITABLY limps off the field again, they risk falling back into a depression again instead of playing as THE NUMBER ONE DEFENSE IN THE ENTIRE NFL. F Troy. I will say it again: F TROY. He can't stay healthy thus he is a detriment to the team. It's about the team, not one person. I have NEVER IN MY LIFE seen a "calf injury" last this long, or any where close to it. Calf injuries usually last a few weeks, not OVER A FREAKING YEAR.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Troy's the best player we have on our defense...when we lose him, the rest of the defense is "depressed" because the just lost the best playmaker on D.

To draw another parallel, Ben's the best player on our offense...when we lose him, the rest of the offense would be similarly "depressed" because the just lost the best playmaker on O.

Seems to me that Ben gets injured multiple times every year. A thumb here, a toe there, a hyperextended knee...you name the body part, and Ben's probably injured it at some point. Ben's only played in all 16 games one time in 8 seasons, while Troy has played in all 16 games 5 times in 9 seasons. We won 3 out of the last 4 games without Troy...when Ben was suspended, we also won 3 of the last 4 games without him. Should we just say " F Ben. He can't stay healthy thus he is a detriment to the team." Of course, not...that's ridiculous. As ridiculous as a Steeler fan saying "F Troy."

[hawaiiansteel]

Steelers secondary thriving without Polamalu

Posted: Wednesday November 7, 2012

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Will Allen knows he's not Troy Polamalu. He also knows the Pittsburgh Steelers don't need him to be for the defense to play with its typical cruel efficiency.

The checklist for Allen on a given week never changes: Run to the ball. Don't get beat deep. Go where you're supposed to. When appropriate, hit somebody.

Allen has no delusions about what will happen whenever Polamalu's right calf finally heals. He'll go back to the bench and watch one of the best safeties of his generation go to work.

Until then - and Polamalu has already been ruled out for Monday night's home game against Kansas City - Allen will do his best to be Polamalu-lite.

Very lite.

"I'm just doing my job,'' Allen said Wednesday. "I just want to be on my Ps and Qs and I want to be effective and have urgency. When I'm reading my keys and I'm helping this team, that's the main thing that I care about.''

The Steelers turned to Ryan Mundy to fill in when Polamalu initially hurt his calf in the season opener against Denver. Mundy, however, struggled in pass coverage and earned a couple of costly penalties at crucial times, most notably an unnecessary roughness penalty against Oakland that send wide receiver Darius Heyward-Bey to the hospital.

Polamalu returned against Philadelphia on Oct. 7, though his comeback lasted all of a quarter before he reinjured the calf, this time more seriously than the first. He hasn't stepped on the field since, though the secondary hasn't missed a beat.

Pittsburgh (5-3) leads the NFL in pass defense at the midway point, allowing 174 yards per game. That number is dropping every week and took a big plunge when Allen and company shut down Eli Manning and the defending Super Bowl-champion New York Giants last week in a season-turning 24-20 victory.

Manning completed 10 of 25 passes for 125 yards and an interception as the Steelers frustrated one of the league's most dynamic passing attacks.

Then again, it's becoming a habit.

Pittsburgh has beaten Andy Dalton, Robert Griffin III and Manning during its three-game winning streak, three very different quarterbacks with three very different ways of going about their business.

None of them were successful against a defense that has rediscovered its bite even without Polamalu and his flowing locks freelancing all over the field. The only place where the Steelers have really missed Polamalu is in splash plays.

There are few - if any - better than Polamalu when it comes to instinctively creating turnovers. With the four-time All-Pro standing on the sideline for the last month in grey sweats, Pittsburgh has taken the ball away just three times.

The Steelers hope those numbers will pick up against the woeful Chiefs (1-7), whose minus-21 turnover differential is by far the NFL's worst. Pittsburgh just doesn't need to get its hands on the ball to survive, though. The defense is just fine sending the opposition trudging off the field to punt, something happening with increasing regularity.

Pittsburgh is allowing teams to convert just 30 percent (11 of 37) of third down opportunities during its winning streak thanks to better execution on first and second down, and a sudden burst of chemistry in the secondary.

"We're starting to put the pieces together for where we need to be,'' cornerback Keenan Lewis said. "The (defensive) line, they're getting to the quarterback much faster. The linebackers are playing out of control. It's helping us out in the back end.''

Then again, Lewis and fellow corner Ike Taylor are doing their part. Victimized early in the season - particularly in road losses to Oakland and Tennessee - the duo have shut down the likes of A.J. Green and Victor Cruz in recent weeks.

Lewis sent a message on the first play against New York, swatting down a deep ball from Manning to Hakeem Nicks. It was Lewis' way of saying he wasn't going to be intimidated by the surroundings or the circumstances.

"I just wanted to let `em know that they can't catch us off guard,'' Lewis said.

The Giants never did. Taylor collected his first interception of the year late in the first quarter with a spectacular diving grab. It was a difficult catch, one that allowed him to laugh about the easy one that clanged off his chest in the end zone later in the game.

"I'm inconsistent,'' Taylor said. "You know my hands (are) suspect, that's just how it is.''

Taylor knows he can afford to joke about it when the Steelers win but he's only too aware the drop extended a New York drive the Giants eventually scored on.

"Is it something we can work on? Yes,'' Taylor said. "Does it help your team out? Yes, because it gives the offense more opportunities to make plays.''

Just don't expect the defense to take any unnecessary chances to make them happen. That's what Polamalu does. Until his familiar No. 43 is back in the lineup, Allen and the rest of his buddies are fine just sticking to the fundamentals.

Besides, in a way, Allen notes the only difference between a punt and a turnover is who gets to run around with the ball.

"The more and more we play together, the better we're getting,'' Allen said. "We've just got to continue executing and having a sense of urgency and attention to detail and playing fast and playing hard and I think that'll take us a long way.''
---
NOTES: The Steelers signed WR Derek Moye and put him on the practice squad while cutting TE Jamie McCoy from the practice squad. ... Pittsburgh is 3-0 at home.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/football/nfl/wires/11/07/2020.ap.fbn.steelers.revived.secondary.1st.ld.writ ethru.1199/index.html#ixzz2BbVHxCLZ

[skyhawk]

I still don't understand how REDMAN is not the clear starter for this game. WTF!

[fezziwig]

I say as long as we are winning without Troy then allow Troy to sit the bench to heal even further. The guy is older and needs the time to not only heal but to regenerate. Why not make sure he is 110% recoverd instead of like last time. The longer he sits the better chacne we have him for the pllayoff portion of the season. I could understand if ALlen was as ba as Mundy but, that is not the case.

As for Gilbert, he can collect pine until the cows come home. Adams seems to do well enough or just as well and he doesn't seem to get hurt as much like Gilbert. If DeCastro got the okay to start I would have him collecting pine too at ths time but, with some spot playing to allow him to get the game time speed and practice in. In other words, if it ain't broke don't fix it. I do want Mendenhall to be the starter because I still believe he has more to offer. Now, if Mendenhall shows he can't move the chains then, set his butt down and bring in Dwyer.

[Oviedo]

I still don't understand how REDMAN is not the clear starter for this game. WTF!

Because the only reason Redman started the last game was because Dwyer was injured. Remember, Dwyer had two consecutive 100 yard games and he was the player who lit a fire under the offense. Both players will play and that will be good because we can pound our opponents into submission then blitz them with the passing game.

Haley knows how to balance our attack to exploit the specific weaknesses of a game day opponent. It's a joy to see how he doesn't just throw a template out there no matter who we play and he actually tailors our attack for specific opponents.

[Oviedo]

I say as long as we are winning without Troy then allow Troy to sit the bench to heal even further. The guy is older and needs the time to not only heal but to regenerate. Why not make sure he is 110% recoverd instead of like last time. The longer he sits the better chacne we have him for the pllayoff portion of the season. I could understand if ALlen was as ba as Mundy but, that is not the case.

As for Gilbert, he can collect pine until the cows come home. Adams seems to do well enough or just as well and he doesn't seem to get hurt as much like Gilbert. If DeCastro got the okay to start I would have him collecting pine too at ths time but, with some spot playing to allow him to get the game time speed and practice in. In other words, if it ain't broke don't fix it. I do want Mendenhall to be the starter because I still believe he has more to offer. Now, if Mendenhall shows he can't move the chains then, set his butt down and bring in Dwyer.

If they aren't going to actually play DeCastro I would put him on season ending IR. No use wasting a roster spot on someone who isn't 100% healthy and won't be playing.

I know Gilbert has become this year's favorite "bashing boy" but he is the same person who started 13 games for us last year, did a solid job and was our Rookie of the Year. I would never discount him as part of the OL equation. Get him through this rough spot he is going through by coaching him up and he will be a future asset.

[Slapstick]

Because the only reason Redman started the last game was because Dwyer was injured. Remember, Dwyer had two consecutive 100 yard games and he was the player who lit a fire under the offense. Both players will play and that will be good because we can pound our opponents into submission then blitz them with the passing game.

Haley knows how to balance our attack to exploit the specific weaknesses of a game day opponent. It's a joy to see how he doesn't just throw a template out there no matter who we play and he actually tailors our attack for specific opponents.

What the last game showed me is that Redman and Dwyer can produce equally behind an O-Line that is performing better in recent weeks...

So far, in-between injuries, our top three RBs have produced:

Dwyer - Two 100 yard rushing games

Redman - One 100 yard rushing game, one 100 yard receiving game, 2 TDs

Mendenhall - One game with 100 scrimmage yards, 1 TD

In this offense, a variety of backs can produce at a good level...

[Oviedo]

What the last game showed me is that Redman and Dwyer can produce equally behind an O-Line that is performing better in recent weeks...

So far, in-between injuries, our top three RBs have produced:

Dwyer - Two 100 yard rushing games

Redman - One 100 yard rushing game, one 100 yard receiving game, 2 TDs

Mendenhall - One game with 100 scrimmage yards, 1 TD

In this offense, a variety of backs can produce at a good level...


That production all started after Haley reportedly simplified the run plays in the playbook and emphasized what we do best.

That is what a great coordinator should do. Adjust the scheme for the players not put a beloved template out there and force the players into it.

[lloydroid]

When Troy comes back, he will be fat and slow and the D will actually be worse with him in there. I am not excited to have him back; I will actually be depressed, as I know in his out-of-shape form, he will be a hindrance, and by the time he is getting back into playing shape, he is going to get hurt again, like always. I say don't even bring him back; we are the # ONE D in the NFL WITHOUT HIM. Why risk it?

1.) Fat and slow when he comes back
2.) Injured when he gets speed back.

No thanks

[fezziwig]

If they aren't going to actually play DeCastro I would put him on season ending IR. No use wasting a roster spot on someone who isn't 100% healthy and won't be playing.

I know Gilbert has become this year's favorite "bashing boy" but he is the same person who started 13 games for us last year, did a solid job and was our Rookie of the Year. I would never discount him as part of the OL equation. Get him through this rough spot he is going through by coaching him up and he will be a future asset.

I agree, if DeCastro isn't a part of the mix then, it's IR time. The thing about that is, I don't believe DeCastro gets any team time, no practice meetings, no anything with the team and doesn't even get to go to the games and be with the team. Probably using all this time for him to get familiar with everything despite being not able to play.

[Snatch98]

I agree, if DeCastro isn't a part of the mix then, it's IR time. The thing about that is, I don't believe DeCastro gets any team time, no practice meetings, no anything with the team and doesn't even get to go to the games and be with the team. Probably using all this time for him to get familiar with everything despite being not able to play.

You DON'T think he gets team time or you do? I've read on a few occasions he's doing EVERYTHING he would be doing if he were playing and that's straight from Kugler's mouth.

[Jigawatts]

When Troy comes back, he will be fat and slow and the D will actually be worse with him in there. I am not excited to have him back; I will actually be depressed, as I know in his out-of-shape form, he will be a hindrance, and by the time he is getting back into playing shape, he is going to get hurt again, like always. I say don't even bring him back; we are the # ONE D in the NFL WITHOUT HIM. Why risk it?

1.) Fat and slow when he comes back
2.) Injured when he gets speed back.

No thanks

I imagine he will look something like this

http://por-img.cimcontent.net/api/assets/bin-201207/6f779319186f0b870d94026985439f0e.jpg