Just looking through the Steelers' depth chart in their official season-opening press release and found a couple of interesting notes:
© Tight end David Johnson is listed as a starter at fullback.
Now, everyone knew that Johnson would be used as a lead blocker quite a bit, but a starter? I guess.
© The team lists both Byron Leftwich and Dennis Dixon as its starting quarterback.
© Antonio Brown is listed as the starting punt and kick return man. Mewelde Moore is listed second on KR. Antwaan Randle El is listed second at PR. Emmanuel Sanders is No. 3 at both spots.
© Jonathan Scott is listed as the backup long snapper. James Harrison is No. 3.
© This may be in name only, but Keenan Lewis is listed at third on the depth chart at LCB behind Ike Taylor and Anthony Madison.
Dale,
ReplyDeleteWith Jonathon Scott listed as the backup long snapper and with Warren's ongoing knee woes, do you think being able to long snap in a pinch will give Scott that 7th swing lineman spot on game day instead of Ramon Foster? I know Foster can play both guard spots and both tackle spots as well.
You heard it hear first, R. Foster will beat out Trai Essex for that starting RG spot before the year is out. Then, Essex will be the swing lineman on gameday.
I guess Tomlin wants to send a message to Lewis. He'll get his reps with the defense. When we'll need him really is next year. So he better be ready. Though I am more excited about Butler and where/when he gets some playing time. I'd guess he's inactive at first for a while though
ReplyDeleteGay is the nickleback right? Hopefully they can come close to the corners we had in 08. Troy's back afterall
"You heard it hear first, R. Foster will beat out Trai Essex for that starting RG spot before the year is out"
I hope so
I would be very surprised if that happened with Essex, datruth. They don't make changes unless they are absolutely needed and I don't see that happening.
ReplyDeleteAs for Scott being active, that's a given.
if it does happen for foster, it will be coming off the bye week.
ReplyDeletewait, Madison made the team?
ReplyDeletewow
Dale, was the team unhappy with Lewis in the pre-season? Why would he not jump over Madison at this point?
ReplyDeleteDale,
ReplyDeletedo the players like Dixon? he comes across as unjustifiably cocky to me. Sure Big Ben may have been a jerk, but he was a winner from day one.
Dixon hasn't done anything yet.
Dixon cocky? Really? Seems extremely humble to me.
ReplyDeleteI think the depth chart often reflects the player's seniority. That's probably why Madison is listed behind McFadden and ahead of Lewis.
ReplyDeleteor maybe it has to do with Lewis' shitfit?
ReplyDeletePlease watch the language, patty.
ReplyDeleteTomlin wasn't happy with Lewis to be sure.
ReplyDeleteLewis did immediately own up to breaking the sign, but the damage was done.
And I have heard members of the coaching staff describe Dixon as cocky.
I doubt you can be a QB in the NFL without being some degree of cocky.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what Dixon has to be cocky about, he started one game and lost it. Then the coaches showed no faith in him all offseason. He started one preseason game and looked aweful.
ReplyDeleteI will take a cocky QB over a QB lacking confidence in himself...remember Kordell?
ReplyDelete"Be cocky and arrogant even when you're getting beat. That's the secret.
ReplyDeleteYou gotta play this game with fear and arrogance."
remember what Crash told Newt, "You need fear and arrogance."
ReplyDelete"fear and ignorance"
ReplyDeleteWhen Newt was threatened by the Alien queen, Ripley said, "Get away from her, you bitch!"
ReplyDeleteCrash said something very different to Nuke.
In any case, we'll have to see whether Dixon has a positive attitude to inspire his teammates, or an overconfidence that will lead him to a fall.
Both Ben and Dixon are cocky, but for some reason, i just get a different vibe from Dixon.
ReplyDeleteWith Ben, his arrogance seems to be based on the fact that he wins (regardless of what his stats are). he knows that no matter what happens in the first three quarters, he can win it in the fourth.
with Dixon, his ego seems to be based solely on his own athletic ability.
another note on Ben. i've always felt he's one of the best at answering another team's score. even when the Steelers lose, they rarely get beat by more than one score, and they usually never trail by more than 10 points in any game.
it might have something to do with the other 10 guys on offense as well...or 11 guys on defense that keep the team in the game...or lebeau making adjustments...
ReplyDeleteAh yes - Gentle Ben was o so humble before winning the super bowl.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm not buying the Dixon/cocky thing. That's not a description anywhere in his bio dating back to HS. He's always been a coaches dream, even when he was hurt. Took the role of mentor/coach to his understudies. Great student athlete, very involved in whatever community. Top VIII winner. Never once heard cocky until now.
ReplyDeleteWhat is apparent is that he's the antithesis of Arian's kind of QB. And that Arian's fate is entirely dependent on the amount of suction he can apply to Ben's taint. So it would be no surprise to me if the source of this scumbaggery is the ever loquacious/anonymous Arians hisself.
I'm sure you've interacted with Dixon. Does you're personal experience with him match that of this/these nameless coaching staff member(s)?
LOL. You're right, anytime a reporter claims to have heard something from "a member of the coaching staff," we should just automatically assume it's from Blabbermouth Arians.
ReplyDeleteNo, that did not come from Arians. I'm not going to sell out who it was, but I can tell you that it was not Arians.
ReplyDeleteIs Ron Cook the only local honk Arians didn't tell he was about to be fired?
ReplyDeleteYeah, there's a fine example of stalwartness. Afraid for your job, immediate validation doesn't come, run around sobbing that you're about to be canned. A modern day Davey Crockett. Remember the, er... Cleveland Browns Stadium!!!!