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Thursday, August 19, 2010

Tomlin's thoughts on game against Giants

Mike Tomlin said Thursday that not only will rookie Maurkice Pouncey share some first-team time at center with Justin Hartwig, but that Jonathan Scott will split time at right tackle with Flozell Adams.

It's a sign that the Steelers want to push Adams to play a little harder than he did last Saturday against the Lions.

There's practicing like a veteran, but when you carry that over to a game, it can get the quarterback killed.

© Rookie Antonio Brown will handle the majority of the punt and kickoff returns against the Giants.

© Daniel Sepulveda will be kicking off instead of Jeff Reed. Sepulveda will win that job.

© Finally, Ben Roethlisberger will play, but Tomlin would not say how much.

Judging by how they split the first-team snaps this week, I expect Roethlisberger to start and play at least two series before giving way to Byron Leftwich.

25 comments:

datruth4life said...

Dale, what do you think of this final 53?

QB: Big Ben, Leftwich, Dixon (3)

RB: Mendy, M. Moore, Redman, Summers (4)

WR: Ward, Wallace, Randle-El, A. Battle, Sanders, A. Brown (6)

TE: Miller, Spaeth, D. Johnson (3)

OL: Starks, Kemo, Pouncey, Essex, F. Adams, R. Foster, Legursky, J. Scott, T. Hills (9)

DL: A. Smith, Big Snack, B. Keisel, Ziggy Hood, C. Hoke, Sunny Harris, D. Worthington (7)

LB: Deebo, Woodley, Farrior, Timmons, K. Fox, L. Foote, T. Gibson, J. Worilds, S. Sylvester (9)

CB: Ike, BMac, OTA Willie Gay, K. Lewis, C. Butler, A. Madison (6)

S: Troy P., Clark, W. Allen, R. Mundy (4)

Specialists: J. Reed, Warren, D. Sepulvada (3)

Ben is suspended first 4 games so don’t count against 53-man roster; OT Chris Scott begins season on PUP list.

Practice Squad: RB J. Dwyer, OL D. Brooks, LB R. Williams, WR B. London, NT S. McLendon, WR T. Grisham, FS J. Thornton, SS D. Cromartie-Smith.

I know you have said there is no way that Burnett will get cut for A. Madison & that they cut Madison this past year, so why not do it again? If they cut their best special teams player again this year, then they deserve to get 10 ran back on them this year.

Vaflyer said...

I like your 53 with some changes.

QB - Add Batch

DL - Subtract one of Worthington/Harris

CB - Add Burnett
Subract one of Butler/Madison

Otherwise I think your roster is probably pretty close.

Dale Lolley said...

Batch won't make this team. Even if they cut him, he won't sign anywhere else. If they need him because of injuries, he'll be available. I wouldn't cut Burnett.

Basically, I think it will come down to taking two of three, Worthington/Burnett/Madison.

datruth4life said...

Can't cut 3-4 DE's with potential (though they did it with Sonny Harris this past year) and A. Madison over Burnett. Let's see what happens over these next 3 games.

adamg said...

Dale, really what is the fascination with Burnett? He has done little to nothing on ST either on returns or punts/kick offs. He hasn't shown me much as a CB either.

datruth4life said...

Maybe Burnett has some compromising photos of Tomlin & K. Colbert. I don't get all of this love for Burnett either. He made a nice play against Calvin Johnson this past week in the endzone, but that was also a terrible throw from Stafford.

Let's see who separates themselves over the 3 next 3 games. I think A. Madison is going to rack up a bunch of special teams tackles, which is what he does anyway. Made quite a few nice tackles in the base D this past week.

If D. Worthington continues to show a pulse, that should be enough to send Eason home. The last time Eason was on the street, during the season and as a free agent, he didn't even get a sniff from the other clubs. If they cut him, chances are he'll be around if they ever would need him.

Anonymous said...

Why does Frank Summers deserve to make the team? Johnson and Legursky are your FBs, and I've seen nothing from Summers to indicate that his roster spot wouldn't be better used elsewhere.

v said...

I honestly don't see how Batch doesn't make this team, that is until Ben comes back. Yeah, you can keep another guy for 4 weeks...yippee. You still will eventually cut him and that guy isn't going to get a helmet on Sundays...Batch even if he doesn't play will still dress and stand on the sidelines on Sunday. No other position can do this except the 3rd QB.

With Leftwich's injury history and the style that Dixon plays, you either have to feel really comfortable with Hines or ARE at the QB spot or you take advantage of the 3rd QB and keep Batch in the roster slot that eventually will be filled by Ben.

The "get a helmet" on Sunday is another factor for Madison. He may not be high enough up the depth chart to actually get one even if he makes the team. If that happens, then you have to keep Burnett AND Worthington AND Butler over him.

Anonymous said...

"Why does Frank Summers deserve to make the team? Johnson and Legursky are your FBs, and I've seen nothing from Summers to indicate that his roster spot wouldn't be better used elsewhere.""

Totally agree

at least carey davis was good on special teams

that said, he was three games to show potential. From what I've seen in his college career there is a lot of potential in him. Now show it!

Anonymous said...

*has

Darren said...

Having Sepulveda on kickoffs also gives you another player who will actually tackle somebody on kickoff coverage. I'm looking for at least one big hit out of him this year. Hopefully it's against Cribbs.

adamg said...

The kicker should not be making tackles on returns. If Reed or Sepulvada are making tackles, the other 10 STers aren't doing their jobs.

Anonymous said...

he shouldn't have to make tackles but there will be a few times throughout the season where he will be in position to do it. Darren is right, it can only help to have someone of his abilities out there.

Darren said...

adamg - Your statement makes no logical sense. Look up the Percy Harvin return from last year. Just google "Jeff Reed misses tackle" and go to the video tab.

Tell me it wouldn't have made a difference.

adamg said...

Sorry, but the point is the first 10 men down the field SHOULD be containing the returner regardless of who it is. That's why the Steelers have a new ST coach. Just becasue Sepulveda made a youtube sensation tackle once in college, that doesn't mean he'll be any better or more successful at stopping a run back than Jeff Reed or any other kicker.

Further, if memory serves me correctly, the Steelers won the game against Minnesota.

Anonymous said...

however, fact remains that the kicker is the last line of defense. at the very least, the kicker is expected to slow the runner down or make him change direction. reed either cannot or will not do that.

sepulveda will not be expected to tackle anybody on kick returns. but, he is bigger and faster and has better instincts than reed. therefore, he will provide a better last line of defense.

Patrick said...

agree with adamg and marc here. He might be better at it, but its just a bonus. Hopefully he isn't even in that position.

the other thing about Sep and tackling is I hope he isn't too aggresive. He might be in the best shape of any punter in the league, but hes not going to youtube hit guys in the NFL and walk away unscathed. We can't have our punter head hunting guys and lose him for the rest of the game.

Not saying he's def going to do that and he doesn't appear to be aggresive after he punts, just saying he has to be careful.

Anonymous said...

"its just a bonus."

exactly

Patrick said...

Dear Mr. Lolley:

I believe Patrick is dying to ask this, but is preciously ashamed to do so: How is Limas Sweed doing? What is the over-under on his making the roster next season (if there is one)?

Yours in Stillers Faith,

Patrick

Anonymous said...

QB: Big Ben, Leftwich, Dixon (3)

RB: Mendy, M. Moore, Redman, Summers (4)

WR: Ward, Wallace, Randle-El, A. Battle, Sanders, A. Brown (6)

TE: Miller, Spaeth, S.MCHUGH (3)

OL: Starks, Kemo, Pouncey, Essex, J.SCOTT, R. Foster, Legursky, URBIK, T. Hills (URBIK/HILLS FILLER UNTIL C.SCOTT RETURN)(9)

DL: A. Smith, Big Snack, B. Keisel, Ziggy Hood, C. Hoke, EASON/HARRIS/WOTHINGTON (7)

LB: Deebo, Woodley, Farrior, Timmons, K. Fox, L. Foote, T. Gibson, J. Worilds, S. Sylvester (9)

CB: Ike, BMac, OTA Willie Gay, K. Lewis, C. Butler, J.BURNETT (6)

S: Troy P., Clark, W. Allen, R. Mundy (4)

Specialists: J. Reed, Warren, D. Sepulveda (3)

**CHANGES IN CAPS** McHugh was steller as H-Back before injury, and Johnson as been subpar- so much so as hes been beat out by Summers at FB. Adams is also far below expectations thus far, and with no guaranteed money in contract, J. Scott will take over RT spot. Eason is the only vet backup DE, so as much as Id like Harris and Worthington, if Eason's bowels dont explode itll be him and either Harris/Worthington (I hope the latter). Lastly, with Battle AND Allen making the 53, there is no need for Madison- he also does not have ANY other use- VERY POOR CB. Final note- the Adams, Hills, Urbik, Hartwig situation is going to depend on what other ROG/ROT guys come available from 31 other cuts. I think we might make 1 more vet oline addition.

Dale Lolley said...

Rose, I think I might have a better shot of making this team than Urbik - no joke. And I think Chris Scott will eventually go on IR. He's done nothing in this training camp other than walk around and ride a bike.

other_patrick said...

Dale,

Any thoughts on K. Lewis being able to play FS? I'm curious if he ever gets practice at Safety.

If he's not able to beat BMac to be the #2 corner, wouldn't that flexibility help his cause?

adamg said...

Marc, I think it's unfair and, frankly, dishonest, to say Reed can't or won't make tackles. I know I've seen him push returners out of bounds or otherwise stop them on long returns.

The problems last year on STs went much deeper than the kicker.
Tomlin chose not to keep guys who were ST aces from a squad that was one of the best in the NFL the year before. It was a mistake and Tomlin's actions of re-signing Carey Davis and Anthony Madison last year show he knew it. This year Colbert went out and targeted guys like Allen and Battle who excel on STs to sign as FAs.

Anonymous said...

"I think I might have a better shot of making this team than Urbik - no joke"

wow, there go my hopes for urbik helping this team....

has he been THAT bad. Gonna have to pay more attention to him tomorrow

Anonymous said...

Wisconsin's running game emphasizes straight power. I don't think their linemen need to be very quick, just strong. That doesn't translate well to the NFL.