Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison and nose tackle Casey Hampton have been selected to the 2010 AFC Pro Bowl team announced today by the NFL. Harrison was named the team’s only starter in the NFL’s annual All-Star game.
Harrison was named a starter on the AFC Pro Bowl squad for the third consecutive season, in as many seasons as a starter for the Steelers. The 2008 NFL Defensive Player of the Year posted another outstanding season in 2009 with 70 tackles, 10 sacks, five forced fumbles and 20 quarterback pressures.
Harrison was named AFC Defensive Player of the Month of October in 2009 when he registered seven sacks and 21 tackles. He recorded a season-high three quarterback sacks in Week 5 at Detroit, earning him AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Hampton will make his fifth Pro Bowl appearance in nine NFL seasons. The anchor of the NFL’s third-ranked rushing defense, Hampton has recorded 40 tackles and a career-high 2.5 quarterback sacks this season. Hampton was also a member of the 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008 AFC Pro Bowl squads. His five Pro Bowl appearances rank fourth in Steelers’ history among defensive linemen behind only Joe Greene (10), Ernie Stautner (nine) and L.C. Greenwood (six).
Some great stats there, very informative
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Franchise Hampton. Draft a corner first round and Hampton future replacement in Second. I was at the game sunday. Hampton is still a beast!! Gay was picked on non-stop. Gay was in position most plays but I think he lacks height or jumping ability to make plays on bigger receivers or tight ends. Ike gets a bad rap. He can cover very well(but not catch).
ReplyDeletechas steel
Big Red, the blog you posted is inaccurate:
ReplyDelete"My personal prediction for the AFC is that the Broncos, Ravens and Steelers will all go 9-7. The Patriots and Bengals will beat the Texans and Jets respectively to leave the two with even records and push on their own pursuit for the AFC Conference Title. This will put the Broncos and Ravens into the Wildcard round I believe as the 5th and 6th seeds."
In that scenario, the Ravens and Steelers would take the 5th and 6th seeds, respectively. Before you advertise your blog on a credible website, you should at least be sure that your information is correct.
The Steelers have two thousand yard wide receivers, a thousand yard running back, a franchise record catching tight end, and a quarterback who broke the franchise record for passing yards and we get zip for the pro bowl on offense. And the much maligned defense gets the only two pro bowl berths. What a strange year it's been!
ReplyDeleteI guess if they measure your record by wins and losses and then factor in who you actually lost to, it's a wonder we even had two guys go to the pro bowl. But it really pisses me off that Ben get's slighted. This franchise has more wins during his tenure as quarterback than the previous 5 quarterbacks combined. It just ain't right.
Hampton has played well this season, better in fact, than last year. I would agree that franchising him and trying to get one more season out of him playing for a contract would be prudent. It would also allow them to draft a little more freely.
ReplyDeleteFranchising Hampton is a very long shot and you have to question even if its a good idea. He's already making 5 million that would go up probably close to 7 million if they franchise him. Steelers already at the salary cap, so if you do this, you'd be able to sign draft picks but no more. SO you are talking about going into next year with basically the same line up. At some point this team needs to reload, particularly on Defense.
ReplyDeleteI'd rather see them move to a 4-3, which they have the personnel for, use Hampton's money to snag a FA safety or corner and also use their first round on the same.
They need to get the secondary straightened out - didn't we just get our butts handed to us this year because of the same issue?
Farmer Fran
Fran,
ReplyDeleteYou must have forgotten that next year is an uncapped year.
If the Steelers change to a 4-3 and become a Tampa Tomlin Cover 2 team I might stop watching them. That said, I don't see it happening, who are the rushing ends? You're going to ask Woodley to change positions after he already did so out of college and has become probably the best young 3-4 OLB in the league (Not including Ware, Harrison, as young obviously)? Why? Smith probably the best 3-4 DE in the game becomes a DT at his age? I don't see it.
ReplyDeleteNext year COULD be uncapped, most likely won't be. They'll reach a new deal at the 11th hour.
Hampton said prior to the season that they wouldn't franchise him and he seemed confident in that statement. I think franchising him is the best option too though, for all the reasons already discussed. You know if that happens he won't be in camp. That is a given.
The Steelers do not have the 4-3 personnel. Switching away from the 3-4 would take away what strengths we already have. You want to switch and make Harrison and Woodley less effective? That's exactly what would happen.
ReplyDeleteWhy would they switch to a system that the rest of the NFL has been moving away from, and has been extremely successful for them, and for which they have been drafting personnel for many years?
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, Tomlin and LeBeau have said many times that they use a 4-3 alignment a significant part of the time anyway, so the focus 3-4 vs. 4-3 doesn't much matter.
I've been taking a break from making fun of Patrick. This is too much fun.
ReplyDeletePatrick said..."Hampton said prior to the season that they wouldn't franchise him and he seemed confident in that statement. I think franchising him is the best option too though, for all the reasons already discussed. You know if that happens he won't be in camp. That is a given."
So, Hampton thinks they won't franchise him, Patrick thinks it is the best option AND Patrick thinks Hampton will sit out if he is franchised. This is exactly the type of nonsense that inspires the Patrick sockpuppets.
sit out of camp you moron, not the season. You think Casey "I hate training camp" Hampton is going to report if he doesn't have to? Which he wouldn't if franchised.
ReplyDeleteSo um, once again, you're wrong.
Dale,
ReplyDeleteDid you ever hear what might have been wrong with Sweed that caused him to be placed on IR. Tomlin made it sound personal at the presser last week. Thanks for your time and this blog, Dale. It's appreciated.
To bad Ben didn't make It.
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Ben didn't deserve it.
ReplyDeleteyou're right robert, one of the best seasons ever by a Steelers QB doesn't deserve it. he was also so undeserving that he is currently the first alternate. give me a break.
ReplyDeleteDale,
ReplyDeleteIn talking to the players, any more info about who on the team may be alternates for the Pro Bowl? I know the team doesn't release the info, but the players know.
I'm assuming Ben is 1st alt. at QB & should end up in since the QB who'll be in the Super Bowl won't play & all 3 QBs in front of Ben are on highly seeded playoff teams.
Roethlisberger, Woodley and Heath Miller are first alternates.
ReplyDeleteI think the Steelers have the personnel to do a 4-3, easily and for the comment that Woodley wouldn't be effective as a DE in a 4-3, bullsh#%^##, he's the prototype for the position - he'd excel at it.
ReplyDeleteIt then allows them to move Timmons back outside where he belongs and move Fox to start in the middle (or Farrior - better IMO to cut him).
I think if you look at this year, picking up Harris and Hood, two more conventional 4-3 DT's and us slimming down on LB's, I think it's highly likely they go 4-3.
I also think its highly likely LeB retires after Sunday also if we get knocked out of the playoffs. opening the door wider to using the 4-3.
Farmer Fran
You need a thumper at ILB if you're going to play the 4-3 and the Steelers don't have one - period.
ReplyDeleteI agree the Steelers don't have 4-3 personnel (and, in fact, that move would take away their greatest strength on defense: Harrison & Woodley coming off the edges), but I'd respectively disagree and say that Fox is a thumper. He's played very well when he's gotten in.
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