Mendy's running style

[Jooser]

Re: Mendy's running style

Thurman Thomas maybe?

[anger 82&95]

Re: Mendy's running style

Barry Foster

[url="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08118/877061-66.stm"]http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08118/877061-66.stm[/url]

The 23rd overall selection ... First running back drafted by the team in the first or second round since 1989 (Tim Worley). ... He's a power back who should compliment Willie Parker perfectly and has speed to boot. ... Runs a 4.41 in the 40. ... Averaged 6.4 yards a carry last season when he had 1,681 yards rushing. ... Ran for 155 yards on 17 carries against Southern California in the Rose Bowl. ... A good receiver as well with 34 receptions for 318 yards last season. ... Played for former Steelers special teams coach Ron Zook, head coach at Illinois. ... Has low center of gravity, the way Barry Foster, who holds team's single-season rushing record, ran, which is conducive to getting the tough yards.
Read more: [url="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08118/877061-66.stm#ixzz0Tuwi6rNo"]http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08118/87 ... z0Tuwi6rNo[/url]

[RuthlessBurgher]

Re: Mendy's running style

Sorry if you covered this but the Oline and Mendy seem to be on the same page and synchronized well the past couple games. The reps in practice seem to be showing up on game day. Is this alot due to the lead blocker HB/FB or Kemo's lead blocks or both?

Its nice to see the pile move and fall forward with Mendy's running. My only concern is that he is hitting the hole so hard upright that a strip will occur that will F his confidence all over again.

I am predicting a long 30+ yd gain from a screen play with Mendy. Moore has been awesome for us but the DB's will not be looking forward to tackling this guy once he reaches full throttle past the 1st line of defense. OK so its wishful thinking.

The up right running style never seemed to bother Eric Dickerson. The key is he is hitting the hole hard. He is not stutterstepping and choosing like Willie has been doing recently. It's one step trust the line, find the seam, off to the races. The only time I worry about him fumbling is when he spins fighting for extra yards. It also seems like defenses this year are really trying to strip runners moreso than in the past IMO.

Yeah, Dickerson looked like a gazelle running out there. Others who had an upright running style include Marcus Allen, Eddie George, Roger Craig, etc.

[RussBII]

Re: Mendy's running style

The up right running style never seemed to bother Eric Dickerson. The key is he is hitting the hole hard. He is not stutterstepping and choosing like Willie has been doing recently. It's one step trust the line, find the seam, off to the races. The only time I worry about him fumbling is when he spins fighting for extra yards. It also seems like defenses this year are really trying to strip runners moreso than in the past IMO.

He seems pretty eager to break out that spin. I worry about where he does it. He seems to spin in the hole a lot. Eventually someone's going to drill him right in the back.

[Oviedo]

Re: Mendy's running style

The up right running style never seemed to bother Eric Dickerson. The key is he is hitting the hole hard. He is not stutterstepping and choosing like Willie has been doing recently. It's one step trust the line, find the seam, off to the races. The only time I worry about him fumbling is when he spins fighting for extra yards. It also seems like defenses this year are really trying to strip runners moreso than in the past IMO.

He seems pretty eager to break out that spin. I worry about where he does it. He seems to spin in the hole a lot. Eventually someone's going to drill him right in the back.

I'm more concerend about a helmet hitting the ball or a player ripping out the ball when he is spinning and we end up with a fumble.

[stlrz d]

Re: Mendy's running style

Barry Foster

Franco Harris. Watch some old film of Franco and see that they have a very similar build and style of running.

Yeah, but Franco is 6' 2". Mendy is much more compact, like Foster.

So he's built like Foster but his running style is like Franco...on that we can agree!

(btw Lemming, for posting the name Foster after I posted a pic...thereby stealing my observation)

[Shoe]

Re: Mendy's running style

My opinion is that our Offensive Line and Mendenhall's success has had more to do with who we've played (Detroit and a beaten up San Diego Defense) than anything else.

Let's not get crazy with this... yet. I'm happy to see it too, but it's hard to believe that a guy who looked so indecisive, can just turn it on at a whim.

I'm gonna say it's a combination of both though too, cuz I want him to succeed!

[steelsnis]

Re: Mendy's running style

but it's hard to believe that a guy who looked so indecisive, can just turn it on at a whim.

I'd have a hard time calling Mendenhall "indecisive." Especially since the Chargers game was the first time in his short career that he's ever had a bunch of meaningful carries.

I could never have judged the guy based on the few opportunities he had up to that point.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Re: Mendy's running style

but it's hard to believe that a guy who looked so indecisive, can just turn it on at a whim.

I'd have a hard time calling Mendenhall "indecisive." Especially since the Chargers game was the first time in his short career that he's ever had a bunch of meaningful carries.

I could never have judged the guy based on the few opportunities he had up to that point.

People seem to have no problem at all judging Sweed based on the few opportunities he has received up to this point, though.

[flippy]

Re: Mendy's running style

My opinion is that our Offensive Line and Mendenhall's success has had more to do with who we've played (Detroit and a beaten up San Diego Defense) than anything else.

Had Willie Parker been healthy and running against these same teams - I believe the output would've been pretty much the same.

I'm certainly glad that Mendenhall is getting the reps - and especially glad that he's making the most of it. But I don't think his running style has been the key to success - I think our Offensive Line being able to dominate has had a lot more to do with it.

I will add though that I was very impressed with Mendenhall's pass blocking against S.D.

Wow!

L..B.

Agreed

[Steelerphile]

Re: Mendy's running style

This year, I don't think there is any way Parker's output would have been the same as Mendenhall's was against SD and Detroit.

Parker has had his opportunities and he is averaging 3.1 a carry and Mendenhall is over 5 yrds. Mendenhall looks much better this year than Parker. It isn't attributable solely to the defenses he has run against or the OL blocking well only when he is running,

And all this stuff about how he runs high! I don't see that at all. He is only 5' 11" if that, so how can he be running so high. If he were over 6", I think that might make a bit more sense.

[sd steel]

Re: Mendy's running style

This year, I don't think there is any way Parker's output would have been the same as Mendenhall's was against SD and Detroit.

Parker has had his opportunities and he is averaging 3.1 a carry and Mendenhall is over 5 yrds. Mendenhall looks much better this year than Parker. It isn't attributable solely to the defenses he has run against or the OL blocking well only when he is running,

And all this stuff about how he runs high! I don't see that at all. He is only 5' 11" if that, so how can he be running so high. If he were over 6", I think that might make a bit more sense.

????? Running high has nothing to do with your height, it's about bending at your waist and running with your shoulders down.

[SidSmythe]

Re: Mendy's running style

You guys can't be serious ....
Mendy does NOT run like Barry Foster.
Barry Foster was a North/South runner like Bettis w/out the fat.

Mendy is more like a Fred Taylor or a Corey Dillon.
If you don't agree w me, then take the full

[stlrz d]

Re: Mendy's running style

This year, I don't think there is any way Parker's output would have been the same as Mendenhall's was against SD and Detroit.

Parker has had his opportunities and he is averaging 3.1 a carry and Mendenhall is over 5 yrds. Mendenhall looks much better this year than Parker. It isn't attributable solely to the defenses he has run against or the OL blocking well only when he is running,

And all this stuff about how he runs high! I don't see that at all. He is only 5' 11" if that, so how can he be running so high. If he were over 6", I think that might make a bit more sense.

I disagree. Mendy has had some nice holes to run though. He may have broken some tackles Parker wouldn't have, but Parker is still faster and may have taken some of those runs through gaping holes for more yardage.

You guys can't be serious ....
Mendy does NOT run like Barry Foster.
Barry Foster was a North/South runner like Bettis w/out the fat.

Mendy is more like a Fred Taylor or a Corey Dillon.
If you don't agree w me, then take the full

I agree with those comparisons too, but I also recall us running off tackle quite a bit with Foster. And I recall him bouncing a lot of those outside if there was no hole...but usually there was...damn we had some good lines in his day!

So I guess it's a half moon for me....

[Steelerphile]

Re: Mendy's running style

This year, I don't think there is any way Parker's output would have been the same as Mendenhall's was against SD and Detroit.

Parker has had his opportunities and he is averaging 3.1 a carry and Mendenhall is over 5 yrds. Mendenhall looks much better this year than Parker. It isn't attributable solely to the defenses he has run against or the OL blocking well only when he is running,

And all this stuff about how he runs high! I don't see that at all. He is only 5' 11" if that, so how can he be running so high. If he were over 6", I think that might make a bit more sense.

????? Running high has nothing to do with your height, it's about bending at your waist and running with your shoulders down.

I think it may have something to do with your height. A 5' 8" running back would never be accused of running high. But even with that I don't see anything unusually "high" about how Mendenhall runs. I think the announcer said that during the telecast and other people heard and are regurgitating that remark. I just disagree.