Steelers you've grown appreciative of

[WindyCitySteel]

A counter to the other thread, who are some guys you think have earned their stripes despite not necessarily having the highest expectations?

- Arthur Maulet - Love his toughness and attitude and yes, leadership...old school

- Alex Highsmith - Nuff said, he (like TJ) gets his results through hard work and hustle

- Miles Boykin - Watch him run down a punt

- Chuks Okorafor - Steady presence at RT who just gets better every season. His 71.3 PFF grade would be a career high.

- Larry Ogunjobi - Tracking at respectable PFF 64.8 after three years of decline down to the low 50's, making his presence felt against run and pass.

- Myles Jack - Rebounded nicely from a terrible year last year, could be a longer term piece.

[Oviedo]

I like your list, except for Boykin who given his talent is a disappointment he can't help offensively. I'd add:

Norwood--always seems to do something right

Edmunds--proving to be a solid, dependable player many knew he always was. Always available and steady. Maybe never great but never a liability, but some are so committed to their dislike of him they can't see it

Bush--gets better as the season goes on, but like Tomlin, some are so committed to their hate of him they won't notice

Mason--has quietly solidified the Center position

[Djfan]

Ben Roethlisberger - It wasn't his fault

[SteelerOfDeVille]

Ben Roethlisberger - It wasn't his fault

I knew this last year - lol

to the thread:

• From C to RG to RT, the right 3/5 of this offensive line seems to be respectable. I'm hoping to see moves on the left side this upcoming offseason
• While I'd still like to see a moose at NT, the depth on the d-line in general is solid
• I have to say the same about the secondary depth, it's solid. The team is in need of a stud CB, but has all the "backup/reserve" pieces a team could ask for. The problem is that some of the start
• Jack, yes. Bush, not yet, but trending up.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

I'll add Pre-Season James Daniels. He is playing like the guy we expected when he was signed, but not like the guy he looked like after that.

Other than that I like your list. WRT Highsmith, I would not have expected him to do much at all with Watt out.

[SidSmythe]

Terrell Edmunds ... I was a hater.
Now I only hate his 1 on 1 open field tackling.

Zach Gentry - haven't had a stable #2 TE since Matt Spaeth. He's an upgrade over Jesse James who was viable.

[whisper]

Muth - if he can stop getting concussed every few games and gets more balls throw to him in the middle of the field on deeper seam passes.
Larry O - started off slow but has really come on last game to be what I thought he would be.
Pickens - a star in the making, just needs enough balls thrown his way.
Jack - what more does he need to do to prove he was a worthy signing? Leads team in tackles, which is better than a S.

NOT appreciative of: Derek Watt. What's this guy do for $2.5 million a season? Oh, he's a "cutsie brother." A Tomlin creation that provides worthless production to the team.

[Joel Buchsbaum]

I like your list, except for Boykin who given his talent is a disappointment he can't help offensively. I'd add:

Norwood--always seems to do something right

Edmunds--proving to be a solid, dependable player many knew he always was. Always available and steady. Maybe never great but never a liability, but some are so committed to their dislike of him they can't see it

Bush--gets better as the season goes on, but like Tomlin, some are so committed to their hate of him they won't notice

Mason--has quietly solidified the Center position

Good picks but Bush has flat out sucked in some game as is case you didn't notice isn't on the field as much. For what we gave up to get him, and what we could have had I am pissed at him too and find his effort to be substandard often just running behind to players who is about to be tackled when Bush comes into the picture. Sometimes he takes and gives players but them too much real estate. By the way despite missing guys 3/4 of the stating DB's the coaching staff activated Robinson for the last game.

Norwood's effort combined with what we are paying him on the cap, and he's play in packages is most welcome. I like him. Also Genty's play in 'Muth absence is something that has grown on me. We need more role players like this and of course I appreciate Rookie Warren! I say start him.

[WindyCitySteel]

Muth - if he can stop getting concussed every few games and gets more balls throw to him in the middle of the field on deeper seam passes.
Larry O - started off slow but has really come on last game to be what I thought he would be.
Pickens - a star in the making, just needs enough balls thrown his way.
Jack - what more does he need to do to prove he was a worthy signing? Leads team in tackles, which is better than a S.

NOT appreciative of: Derek Watt. What's this guy do for $2.5 million a season? Oh, he's a "cutsie brother." A Tomlin creation that provides worthless production to the team.

Can you maybe hold your bladder in a positive thread for once?

[whisper]

Can you maybe hold your bladder in a positive thread for once?

Can you bite me for once? It was 80% positive. Go fly your bitcong and fall off the pier.

[feltdizz]

I like your list, except for Boykin who given his talent is a disappointment he can't help offensively. I'd add:

Norwood--always seems to do something right

Edmunds--proving to be a solid, dependable player many knew he always was. Always available and steady. Maybe never great but never a liability, but some are so committed to their dislike of him they can't see it

Bush--gets better as the season goes on, but like Tomlin, some are so committed to their hate of him they won't notice

Mason--has quietly solidified the Center position

People keep trying to throw a wet blanket on Bush but he has been improving all year. I wad hard on him early on but he turned the corner.

Hope his game saving play gives him confidence and he comes up with a TO this week.

[feltdizz]

Can you maybe hold your bladder in a positive thread for once?

impossible. Some people are just doomers. Even in a positive post the usually suspects came in dooming peoples lists.

[TheRealTazz864]

Muth - if he can stop getting concussed every few games and gets more balls throw to him in the middle of the field on deeper seam passes.
Larry O - started off slow but has really come on last game to be what I thought he would be.
Pickens - a star in the making, just needs enough balls thrown his way.
Jack - what more does he need to do to prove he was a worthy signing? Leads team in tackles, which is better than a S.

NOT appreciative of: Derek Watt. What's this guy do for $2.5 million a season? Oh, he's a "cutsie brother." A Tomlin creation that provides worthless production to the team.

Wow, way to backhand compliment those guys:

Muth-IF...
Larry O.... WAS bad....
Pickens... IF the Steelers use him more...
Jack... Had to prove it...

Thank the divines for cutesy brother crap...
Derek Watt does the $hit-blocking so another back can be lauded... It isn't sexy... but some people appreciate it... And Conner Heyward contributes a lot, even though he's considered by some to be too small for TE... I remember a RB, I think for the Giants, who everybody said was too small, but on Sundays they just said, "Look at that little Meggett go..."

[WindyCitySteel]

People keep trying to throw a wet blanket on Bush but he has been improving all year. I wad hard on him early on but he turned the corner.

Hope his game saving play gives him confidence and he comes up with a TO this week.

He's barely a poor man's Larry Foote right now, how far do we need to lower the bar for a guy they they traded into the top ten for?

I think people better get used to the idea that he's playing his last season in Pittsburgh.

OK, now I'm pissing negativity in my own thread.

[Northern_Blitz]

People keep trying to throw a wet blanket on Bush but he has been improving all year. I wad hard on him early on but he turned the corner.

Hope his game saving play gives him confidence and he comes up with a TO this week.

He's been better than I thought he would be.

Not living up to the expectations of his pedigree. But exceeding the expectations based on last season.