Sweed was our worst pick... Mendenhall isnt anywhere near the worst but he is a disappointment IMO. He has shown flashes but aloof is a good word to describe his career.
While Chadman can understand that Mendenhall wasn't what people hoped for- is that Mendenhall's fault, or are we too busy trying to find another Bettis?
Mendenhall had 5 seasons in Pittsburgh. We can write off 2008 due to the broken collarbone, and we can write off 2012 due to the knee issue & what seems to be disenchantment with his place in Pittsburgh's roster this season.
2009 gave us 1100+ yards at 4.6 ypc & 7 TD's, while adding 25 catches for 260 yards & another TD. That's a pretty good year right there.
2010 we got 1270+ yards at 3.9 ypc & 13 TD's, while adding 23 catches for 167 yards. That's pretty good too.
2011 we got 928 yards at 4.1 (remembering he missed the last game with his injured knee) & 9 TD's along with 18 catches for 150+ yards.
That's 3 productive seasons there. And while we can often forgive Ben for his sacks due to the OL's ineptness, can't we attribute some blame to them for some of Mendenhall's failings?
One last thing on Mendenhall, why was he the one that had to sit a game due to the fumble-a-thon in Cleveland when Rainey, Brown, Sanders, Dwyer & Redman got to play the next week? They ALL fumbled that game away, yet Mendenhall takes the fall?
While it was unprofessional to miss standing around the sidelines that next week, one does have to wonder if there was an element of victimisation going on there too.
The people that are trying to make the world worse never take a day off, why should I?
Light up the darkness.
2024 Draft
1. Kool-Aid McKinstry CB
2. Sedrick Van Pran-Grainger OC
3. Devontez Walker WR
3. Maason Smith DT
4. Matt Goncalves OT
6. Trevin Wallace ILB
7. AJ Barner TE
Thank you. He was also a main reason for our success during the Ben suspension, basically carrying the team through those games. Mendenhall behind a cohesive offensive line has the ability to be the tailback the fan base wants in Pittsburgh. Despite all the stuff that happened this year they're still supposedly talking to him about a contract extension. He has break away speed, quick feet and size. He's played behind arguably one of the least consistent lines in all of football, add in the injuries and it only gets worse. I 100% agree that Ben gets a pass because he's had success behind porous o-lines but it's much more difficult for a RB to have success behind a porous line therefore Mendenhall should get a pass too. All of which assumes people continue to ignore the 3 productive seasons he did have and how he came out against Philly this year before getting dinged, then coming back and fumbling and promptly going to the dog house. I just hope we resign him because he's not going to cost a ton and has a lot of potential if our line can stay healthy and continue to improve. People calling the dude a bust is ridiculous....busts don't have 3 1000 yard seasons with solid td totals (the 3rd season being stopped short of 1000 because of injury which Chadman pointed out).
Mendy was probably in Tomlins dog house because he is aloof at times. lol
When you review the FA RBs available, all of them have some kind of issue. They either have too much time in the league or they have never been a workhorse type back themself. I guess people think there is some pristine back who will do everything well without an issue. Those types are once in 10 year kinds of players that don't often come around. Mendenhall really is about the best FA back there, for the Steelers. He is still relatively young at 25-26. He has been a workhorse type of player. He has good speed and is well conditioned.
If they draft someone who is well regarded and they feel confident in, I'm fine with parting ways with Mendenhall, but coming back only with Dwyer, Redman and a question mark? I'm not too sure about. If Dwyer would get in top condition, he could maybe assume the role, but I can't expect him to. He can't be Bettis and play great with a pot belly.
Good points, Chadman, but remember, in 2009, Mendenhall did not open the season as the starter. He started on the bench and I'm pretty sure he had one game where he got no carries after a poor week of preparation. He finished strong, and 2010 was a generally good year. In 2011, his overall numbers look ok, but that is an average of just under 62 yards a game - not very impressive.
I never wanted him to be another Bettis - I wanted to see a combination of speed and power. He still has the best natural physical abilities of any of the Steelers backs, but he has never been elite or even close to it. At his best, he was above average, and he was not at his best for a significant portion of his tenure.
I would prefer to see Lewis return so that corner does not become a need early in the draft. The CBs may actually be an area of strength, after years of us hoping that the Steelers would find a corner. I would rather they keep the guys that they have then start from scratch.
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