Mike Tomlin didn't hedge on this one: Ryan Clark will not play when the Steelers travel to Denver Sunday for the opening round of the NFL playoffs.
Clark will miss his second consecutive game in Denver after suffering through an episode of illness following playing there in 2007.
Clark carries the gene for sickle cell anemia and the high altitude there coupled with the physical strain of playing there that year forced him to miss the final 10 games of the season after he lost 30 pounds and had to have his gall bladder and spleen removed.
Ryan Mundy will get the start at free safety.
© In other news, Tomlin said the hamstring injury suffered by Keenan Lewis does not appear to be serious and he should play against the Broncos.
In fact, the only players Tomlin said were questionable were cornerback Cortez Allen (forearm) and running back Mewelde Moore.
© Doug Legursky is expected to return and start at left guard.
© If the Steelers add a running back because Moore is unable to play, it would be Chad Spann, a rookie from Northern Illinois who is on the practice squad.
Figured Tomlin wouldn't allow Clark to play. Even if it's less than a 1% chance he could get sick again, it's just not worth the risk.
ReplyDeleteThought Tomlin said it was a shoulder injury to C Allen.
Dale, what do you know about Chad Spann?
Great news about Lewis's & Allen's injuries not being too bad, if true.
ReplyDeleteDale
ReplyDeletedo we get the jets @ Home or Here in NY. That would be cool two trips to see the Steelers play in my backyard at met life
Excellent news about Lewis!
ReplyDeletein fact, even against Tebow they could rest him so he's healthier next week haha
my goodness, if you take a look at denver's games since tebow has started, their offense is terrible.
ReplyDeletewhile i like the idea of a balanced offense, this is one of those games where the steelers may benefit from going to the air early and trying to jump out to a 2 score lead. especially at denver to try and take the crowd out of the game as well.
Dale,
ReplyDeleteDo you think Tomlin will rest Lewis and keep Allen out if he is even able to play so that they can be ready for the spread O of Baltimore or New England? It seems odd to rest players for the next week that might not even happen, but Denver's pass O isn't the prime concern...on paper, anyway.
One thing the Steelers will have going for them are up close and personal scouting reports on Tebow from Pouncey and Gilbert.
ReplyDeleteHe listed as 5'8 but did put up some big #'s @ N Ill.
ReplyDeleteNo way you rest guys in the playoffs who could help us survive and advance (exception, Clark). If it's true that the Broncos are as bad as we expect them to be then the guys that need rest can get it in the 2nd half if we can put them away early.
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed your appearance on Terrible Towel Talk. I liked what you had to say about the New England Patriots and who they've defeated this year to get to their 13-3 record. I think the Steelers can get by Denver this week with little to no trouble. I see it being close in the first half before Pittsburgh pulls away in the 3rd quarter.
ReplyDeletethere's not much to put in a scouting report of tebow:
ReplyDeleteRB that throws the ball from time to time. tough player, will fight to the finish. prone to running backwards when pressure comes from the outside. susceptible to significant yards lost on sacks.
marc, two words: Bobby Douglas.
ReplyDeleteSpann should start over Redman
ReplyDeleteI told u guys all yer Redman does not impress me. I was prooved right last game
I'll know more today about what they plan to do with Lewis. If he's good enough to practice by Friday, he'll play.
ReplyDeleteDon't know much about Spann other than he put up good numbers in college. He's only been here a couple of weeks.
Yes, the Jets are in Pittsburgh.
Pouncey and Gilbert should be able to provide some insight into Tebow. But I'm not sure the Steelers need anything at this point. It's not like he just began starting. There's plenty of tape on the kid.
we should rest Ben
ReplyDeleteI posted last week that Mendenhall would be out of here by this week. I was right. Ha!
ReplyDeletePatrick
adamg,
ReplyDeleteagreed. and the bears sucked while he was their QB.
I'm sure many younger fans don't remember Douglas, but he was "Tebow" before Tebow was.
ReplyDeleteonly part of tebws game i am worried about is his running. i think he racks up some big yards on his feet, but we intercept him him twice.
ReplyDeleteben's history with injury, i figure the "setback" is no big deal
yeh i said all those things. especially about redman. After all those carries last year.
ReplyDelete"He listed as 5'8 but did put up some big #'s @ N Ill."
ReplyDeleteThe first time I read that I thought he was censoring his own swear word.