"RushHard" Mendenhall

[SteelCrazy]

How bout that kid from Illinois....Yes, RushHard is his new name. Yeah, the line did a helluva job blocking, but that kid rushed hard and got yards Willie wouldn't have got. I just hope Tomlin gives him at least 15 carries a game when Willie does come back.

Myself, I'd sit Willie and let him hit free agency in good health and I'm a big Willie supporter.

[snarky]

Re: "RushHard" Mendenhall

Not sure what happens to Parker next year. But a productive Mendenhall might mean a more productive Parker for the rest of 2009 as well. Yes he is not as fast as he used to be but I think he would still be decent as a change of pace guy.

Just as I wasn't jumping off any bridges after the last two weeks, I'm not going to get too high on RM just yet. But I liked the way he ran last night. Poor run defense or not he hit the holes well and broke some tackles. And seriously 160+ yards is good against any D in this league.

[ikestops85]

Re: "RushHard" Mendenhall

How bout that kid from Illinois....Yes, RushHard is his new name. Yeah, the line did a helluva job blocking, but that kid rushed hard and got yards Willie wouldn't have got. I just hope Tomlin gives him at least 15 carries a game when Willie does come back.

Myself, I'd sit Willie and let him hit free agency in good health and I'm a big Willie supporter.

I've been pretty neutral on Mendy ... until now. I think the guy had a monster game and now I am very optimistic about his future. He ran hard and squeezed every last yard out of each carry. He made some great cutbacks that chewed up large pieces of real estate.

Here's to the resurgence of the steeler running attack and the hope San Diego's defense wasn't that bad.

[Jooser]

Re: "RushHard" Mendenhall

I thought Mendy looked fantastic last night. He certainly took advantage of his opportunity. He ran hard and pushed the pile, made moves and made people miss, and his speed is as impressive as Willie's at this point.

[JTP53609]

Re: "RushHard" Mendenhall

crazy what happens when you get the rock and run HARD, no dancing or happy feet, even if there is a little daylight he saw it and hit it hard, even the runs that looked to be nothing ended with 3.....

[Oviedo]

Re: "RushHard" Mendenhall

Don't send FWP packing yet. You need at least two top RBs to successfully get through the season.

If FWP is looking for a big payday he will leave. However if he is willing to take a discount I could see him here for another couple of years.

[Sugar]

Re: "RushHard" Mendenhall

Don't send FWP packing yet. You need at least two top RBs to successfully get through the season.

If FWP is looking for a big payday he will leave. However if he is willing to take a discount I could see him here for another couple of years.

He is a Bettis disciple, so you never know.

[steelblood]

Re: "RushHard" Mendenhall

Mendenhall was great. But, Willie Parker ran for big numbers against San Diego in the playoff game last year (140 or so?). I think our o-line just matches up well against SD.

I like the way Mendenhall hits the hole. He has better burst than Parker. He does hold the ball precariously sometimes. I worry that he'll fumble.

[Oviedo]

Re: "RushHard" Mendenhall

Mendenhall was great. But, Willie Parker ran for big numbers against San Diego in the playoff game last year (140 or so?). I think our o-line just matches up well against SD.

I like the way Mendenhall hits the hole. He has better burst than Parker. He does hold the ball precariously sometimes. I worry that he'll fumble.

I also worry about how he holds the ball because of the way he is always spinning after contact. That is a sure way to get someone to rip at the ball.

[Doogie36]

Re: "RushHard" Mendenhall

YOU GUYS KILL ME....the NONMENDENHALL supporters anyway. I dont give a crap how bad the chargers run defense is........THE BOY hit the freakin PILE and kept his legs MOVING!!!!!!! Willie Dances and trys to wait......

I'll take a 2 yard gain from MENDY against the RAVENS or anyone else this year.....3rd and 6 is better than 3rd and 10.............

On one of his big runs the hole was SMALL and he broke a tackle to bust that run...NO WAY WILLIE DOES THAT....NO WAY!!!!!!!!

TOMLIN is a great coach....loved his facial expressions ALL NIGHT....NO LAUGHING OR JOKING....HE MEANT BUSINESS and he sent his message to Mendenhall and this team. Plus don't you think the OLINE will play harder as well for a guy like MENDENHALL??? You could tell they were FIRED UP as well..............

I'm telling you right now just like I told you that REDMAN would get called up.......(I dont care if we used him but obviously the coaching staff identified a problem and did the right thing by calling him up......) MENDENHALL is going to give our offense a hell of a lot better shot at putting points on the board than PARKER.........

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Did you see Mendenhall in the passing game??? He actually caught the ball and broke some more tackles............

I love WILLIE but Willie's days are numbered in PITTSBURGH!!!!!!!!!!! Mendenhall and Moore are the 1-2 combo this team needs to win OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GOOO STEELERS!!!!!!!! I'm so pumped!!!!!!!!!!!!

[proudpittsburgher]

Re: "RushHard" Mendenhall

Not sure what happens to Parker next year. But a productive Mendenhall might mean a more productive Parker for the rest of 2009 as well. Yes he is not as fast as he used to be but I think he would still be decent as a change of pace guy.

Just as I wasn't jumping off any bridges after the last two weeks, I'm not going to get too high on RM just yet. But I liked the way he ran last night. Poor run defense or not he hit the holes well and broke some tackles. And seriously 160+ yards is good against any D in this league.

I agree with you, I think this makes Parker better. And as far as next season goes, we'll see. If mendenhall can hold on to the ball, as he showed last night, he's the future.

[proudpittsburgher]

Re: "RushHard" Mendenhall

Key stat for Mendenhall and the Steelers offensive line . . . 19 carries for 103 yards on first down carries. Over five yards a carry with this offense on first down, that's game over right there.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Re: "RushHard" Mendenhall

Key stat for Mendenhall and the Steelers offensive line . . . 19 carries for 103 yards on first down carries. Over five yards a carry with this offense on first down, that's game over right there.

Yep. If I'm Tomlin, I look seriously at making Mendy the feature back, and using Parker for a change-of-pace.

[steelblood]

Re: "RushHard" Mendenhall

YOU GUYS KILL ME....the NONMENDENHALL supporters anyway. I dont give a crap how bad the chargers run defense is........THE BOY hit the freakin PILE and kept his legs MOVING!!!!!!! Willie Dances and trys to wait......

I'll take a 2 yard gain from MENDY against the RAVENS or anyone else this year.....3rd and 6 is better than 3rd and 10.............

On one of his big runs the hole was SMALL and he broke a tackle to bust that run...NO WAY WILLIE DOES THAT....NO WAY!!!!!!!!

TOMLIN is a great coach....loved his facial expressions ALL NIGHT....NO LAUGHING OR JOKING....HE MEANT BUSINESS and he sent his message to Mendenhall and this team. Plus don't you think the OLINE will play harder as well for a guy like MENDENHALL??? You could tell they were FIRED UP as well..............

I'm telling you right now just like I told you that REDMAN would get called up.......(I dont care if we used him but obviously the coaching staff identified a problem and did the right thing by calling him up......) MENDENHALL is going to give our offense a hell of a lot better shot at putting points on the board than PARKER.........

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Did you see Mendenhall in the passing game??? He actually caught the ball and broke some more tackles............

I love WILLIE but Willie's days are numbered in PITTSBURGH!!!!!!!!!!! Mendenhall and Moore are the 1-2 combo this team needs to win OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GOOO STEELERS!!!!!!!! I'm so pumped!!!!!!!!!!!!

I assume you are referring to my comments among others. I said that Mendenhall was "great". I'm very excited to see him get more carries. But, I tempered that with the point that we've had great success running against the same D in the recent past. That is a pretty valid point.

Further, if Mendenhall continues to carry the ball the way he is, he will have fumbling issues.

Maybe, you'd respect my opinion If I TYPED IN ALL CAPS AND LAID DOWN A TON OF EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[frankthetank1]

Re: "RushHard" Mendenhall

why hasnt tomlin used mendenhall and fwp when fwp is healthy? i cant figure that one out. why should fwp get every carry when he is healthy? we all saw what mendenhall can do when the blocking is there and we know moore is a very solid rb, why not have a rotation? also that block mendenhall had on that LB that came on a blitz was beautiful. man he killed that LB!!!!