Tim Hightower

[lloydroid]

I am not usually one of those "Claim we should sign every single free agent that gets cut" and I find those dudes kind of annoying, always saying we should pick up every free agent ever mentioned, even when they are obviously not a fit. Like, "Let's sign TO" when Pgh is the most anti-TO type of team of all time.

But, in this case, I SEE a fit. Skins just cut Hightower. He's a decent, pretty solid back. We are thin at back, being that we have NO ONE healthy who has EVER proven they can play a full load week to week. As discussed, ad nauseum, Redman is a weekly injury waiting to happen, and JD seems to "tap out" very quickly up to this point. That leaves us with a 3rd down back with Rainey, and a total unproven Batch. Hightower would be excellent insurance at running back. No, he is not a future hall of famer, but he is solid. He will never be a top 5 or 10 back, but he would do plenty good enough if we needed him, and he is pretty proven to stay healthy from what I recall.

Pick up Hightower. He would come cheap. Other wise, if we rely on IR and JD only, we could be in deep trouble. I love JD's skill, but I admit he is unproven, as far as being able to touch the rock 25 times a game. I have no idea if he will hold up. I know Hightower can. He runs pretty hard and has some quicks to him. A lot more than IR, any how.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Mendenhall is going to be in the mix sooner rather than later. If the team foresaw that he would be out for another 6 week, then he would still be on PUP but he's not...he was actually in uniform last night. I expect Mendenhall to return at some point in September, at which point our depth at RB suddenly looks pretty solid overall.

[lloydroid]

Mendenhall is going to be in the mix sooner rather than later. If the team foresaw that he would be out for another 6 week, then he would still be on PUP but he's not...he was actually in uniform last night. I expect Mendenhall to return at some point in September, at which point our depth at RB suddenly looks pretty solid overall.

I would be fairly surprised if RM was productive by Sept. That seems pretty quick to recover from an ACL. Maybe there have been advances in technology or something. RM ran like a wussy before his injury. What can we expect of him after a serious knee injury? Maybe I will be pleasantly surprised, but I have a hard time believing RM will be productive so soon.

[Slapstick]

Hightower is also coming back from ACL repair surgery...

[Slapstick]

Dale Lolley thinks that Dwyer may get the start in Denver, giving 3rd down and short yardage roles to Redman...

[lloydroid]

Dale Lolley thinks that Dwyer may get the start in Denver, giving 3rd down and short yardage roles to Redman...

Then we have a chance. Still don't know if we can pull off a W, but if JD gets enough touches, we have a shot

[Slapstick]

Then we have a chance. Still don't know if we can pull off a W, but if JD gets enough touches, we have a shot

Redman tore them up for 120 yards...

If the Steelers play defense, we have a shot...

[Steel Life]

Hightower is not an option, he just isn't fully recovered.

As for Dwyer taking over...really? Redman proved himself in games to get his shot & JD will get more playing time than he deserved before - this is wishful thinking by Lolley.

[Shawn]

Redman tore them up for 120 yards...

If the Steelers play defense, we have a shot...

Exactly...we will score. This is going to be about stopping Manning.

[Djfan]

I also think that denver's d line went backwards this year. Let's hope Redman and Dwyer tear them up.

[RuthlessBurgher]

I would be fairly surprised if RM was productive by Sept. That seems pretty quick to recover from an ACL. Maybe there have been advances in technology or something. RM ran like a wussy before his injury. What can we expect of him after a serious knee injury? Maybe I will be pleasantly surprised, but I have a hard time believing RM will be productive so soon.

Adrian Peterson tore his ACL a week before Mendenhall (Mendenhall's injury was on New Year's Day, and Peterson's injury was on Christmas Eve). Right now, Peterson is 50-50 to start week one. Judging by the fact that Mendenhall was in uniform last night, I figure that Mendenhall isn't too far behind Peterson in terms of their rehab.

As for Mendenhall running like a "wussy" and Dwyer being the best RB we have...you do realize that Mendenhall has nearly 4000 yards of total offense and 30 touchdowns on his resume, right? Dwyer's has 151 rushing yards in his entire career, while Mendenhall has 3 single games with at least that many rushing yards (151 against Buffalo on 11-28-10, 155 against Denver on 11-9-09, and 165 against San Diego on 10-4-09).

[Oviedo]

Adrian Peterson tore his ACL a week before Mendenhall (Mendenhall's injury was on New Year's Day, and Peterson's injury was on Christmas Eve). Right now, Peterson is 50-50 to start week one. Judging by the fact that Mendenhall was in uniform last night, I figure that Mendenhall isn't too far behind Peterson in terms of their rehab.

As for Mendenhall running like a "wussy" and Dwyer being the best RB we have...you do realize that Mendenhall has nearly 4000 yards of total offense and 30 touchdowns on his resume, right? Dwyer's has 151 rushing yards in his entire career, while Mendenhall has 3 single games with at least that many rushing yards (151 against Buffalo on 11-28-10, 155 against Denver on 11-9-09, and 165 against San Diego on 10-4-09).

Mendenhall is far better than many give him credit for. Fortunately the organization sees that and that is what matters.

[Oviedo]

Dale Lolley thinks that Dwyer may get the start in Denver, giving 3rd down and short yardage roles to Redman...

Dwyer earned it and is the more complete RB

[AngryAsian]

Adrian Peterson tore his ACL a week before Mendenhall (Mendenhall's injury was on New Year's Day, and Peterson's injury was on Christmas Eve). Right now, Peterson is 50-50 to start week one. Judging by the fact that Mendenhall was in uniform last night, I figure that Mendenhall isn't too far behind Peterson in terms of their rehab.

As for Mendenhall running like a "wussy" and Dwyer being the best RB we have...you do realize that Mendenhall has nearly 4000 yards of total offense and 30 touchdowns on his resume, right? Dwyer's has 151 rushing yards in his entire career, while Mendenhall has 3 single games with at least that many rushing yards (151 against Buffalo on 11-28-10, 155 against Denver on 11-9-09, and 165 against San Diego on 10-4-09).

I know the numbers do not lie, but I just cringe when Mendy is in the backfield. I would surmise that this is how it is with most Steeler fans who are so acclimated to our historic style of smashmouth football. Though Mendy's dimensions surely dictate that he can wrap his mitts around the rock, protect it and run north/south. But seems to enjoy spinning, dancing, and cradling the ball low and in one hand tucked only in his forearm, thus very prone to being stripped. Opposing defenses know this and are ready to assist Mendy in continuing his fumbling ways. That being said, I wish the RB coach really work with him on this particular weakness so he can be asset once more.

[DukieBoy]

I know the numbers do not lie, but I just cringe when Mendy is in the backfield. I would surmise that this is how it is with most Steeler fans who are so acclimated to our historic style of smashmouth football. Though Mendy's dimensions surely dictate that he can wrap his mitts around the rock, protect it and run north/south. But seems to enjoy spinning, dancing, and cradling the ball low and in one hand tucked only in his forearm, thus very prone to being stripped. Opposing defenses know this and are ready to assist Mendy in continuing his fumbling ways. That being said, I wish the RB coach really work with him on this particular weakness so he can be asset once more.

Not to argue with GG (his observations of Mendy's running style ring true with me), but ...
I have cringed when our RB's, Mendy or anyone, has had to run behind an Offensive Line that mostly only offended Steeler tradition and fans and professional-level play, and had to run in an offense managed by a coordinator who de-emphasized practicing the run game which helped to make it even less effective than it could have been. In that context, I think Mendy has been a very effective RB and is under-appreciated. BTW, I remember criticisms of Franco Harris for avoiding hits, running out-of-bounds instead of fighting for the extra yard, etc. Last I knew, Franco had a reasonably long and effective career and is in the HOF.