Ranking The Steelers

Everybody has their list of team rankings, but this week I'll be starting a weekly ranking of the Steelers based on their importance to the team.  Numerous factors will be taken into account, including how they played in the previous game, splash plays, toughness, and how they fit the "Steeler Way."


I'd like to hear everyone's opinion on this and how you view the rankings.  Maybe you can influence me.
So, here's the inaugural list.  Check it out.  Who's in your top 5.  You can check out each week's ranking in a page to be created.

11-7-12

Last	Current		Uniform
Week	Rank	Player	Number	Position
1	1	Ben Roethlisberger	7	QB
The most important player on the field. That was not a fumble.
2	2	Max Starks	78	T
He's got Ben's back, great decision to bring him back.
4	3	Heath Miller	83	TE
Haley has realized Heeeeeaaaaath's worth.  Should continue to be number 1 red zone option.
6	4	Ike Taylor	24	CB
Set up first TD with INT.  Yes, he caught a pass.  Defensive player of the week.
7	5	Maurkice Pouncey	53	C/G
Back from injury.  Centerpiece of improving Oline.
8	6	LaMarr Woodley	56	LB
Had to wait til fourth quarter, but he made the big plays when needed.
5	7	Antonio Brown	84	WR
Went down with ankle sprain.
3	8	Jonathan Dwyer	27	RB
Hmm.  Is the running backs or the improving O-Line.
9	9	James Harrison	92	LB
Not much pressure on Eli, but solid run stopping.
11	10	Casey Hampton	98	NT
May be here longer if Mario Andretti is released.  Many other teams would like to have a nose tackle like the "Big Snack"
13	11	Ryan Clark	25	FS
Ryan is a big reason for why the Steelers have improved against the run.
10	12	Willie Colon	74	T
Colon will get better and better with line.  The enforcer.
14	13	Keenan Lewis	23	CB
1 of 2 interference penalties was a joke.
15	14	Emmanuel Sanders	88	WR
Big time plays to maintain possession on last drive and replacement punt returner.
16	15	Mike Wallace	17	WR
If they won't throw to him long, he'll take the short ones to the house.  Note to dbs: no angle is good enough to get to this guy.  Possibly the fastest man in the NFL.  Why no deep shots.  Should be minimum 1 a game Mr. Haley.
41	16	Isaac Redman	33	RB
Next man in line is as good as the others before him.
17	17	Shaun Suisham	6	K
No worries when we need a FG.
18	18	Lawrence Timmons	94	LB
Helped to seal the game in 4th quarter with sack and run stopping.
12	19	Brett Keisel	99	DE
The beard, solid run support.  Nice stop in the backfield on Paulsen.
19	20	Mike Adams	76	OT
Blocking on the second level.  Pass pro needs work, but run blocking helped produce another 100 yarder.  Running game will keep reaping benefits from this guy.
20	21	Larry Foote	50	LB
Only sack of the game.
21	22	Troy Polamalu	43	SS
Secondary holds up, waiting for healthy return. Importance dwindles as he doesn't play.  Possible return in 2 weeks against the Ravens.
23	23	Ramon Foster	73	G
Quiet, but running yards speak volumes.
28	24	Will Allen	26	S
Quality backup.  Stock rising without Troy.
22	25	Chris Rainey	22	RB
Rib injury, will probably not play this week.
24	26	Ziggy Hood	96	DE
Don't even know if he played.
25	27	Curtis Brown	31	DB
Didn't notice any plays this week.
26	28	Marcus Gilbert	77	T
Looks like a change of sides may be in future if Adams keeps growing in position.
27	29	Leonard Pope	45	TE
No Pope sitings this week.
29	30	Will Johnson	46	FB
Crushing blocking.
30	31	David Paulson	81	TE
Targeted a few times.  Mostly missing in action this week.
31	32	Drew Butler	9	P
No news is good news.
32	33	Jerricho Cotchery	89	WR
Stepped in for AB and played well
33	34	Ryan Mundy	29	FS
Will Allen has locked up the backup job for Troy and been valuable
34	35	Baron Batch	20	RB
Quiet
35	36	Cameron Heyward	97	DE
Waiting for a splash play.
36	37	Jason Worilds	93	LB
Average.  Won't find field without injury.
37	38	Rashard Mendenhall	34	RB
Inconsistent. Back on practice field Wednesday.
38	39	Doug Legursky	64	G
Is there when needed.
39	40	Steve McLendon	90	DT
Getting valuable learning time, will be ready when needed.
40	41	Cortez Allen	28	CB
Solid play
46	42	Greg Warren	60	LS
No news is good news.
42	43	Robert Golden	21	S
Waiting for opportunity
43	44	Chris Carter	54	LB
Harrison and Woodley healthy
44	45	Stevenson Sylvester	55	LB
Still healing
45	46	Adrian Robinson	57	LB
Harrison and Woodley healthy.
47	47	John Malecki	62	OG
Waiting for opportunity
48	48	DeMarcus Van Dyke	30	CB
No siting this week.
49	49	Al Woods	65	DE
Waiting for opportunity
50	50	Kelvin Beachum	68	OG
Waiting for opportunity
51	51	Brandon Johnson	91	LB
Waiting for opportunity
52	52	Byron Leftwich	4	QB
Necessary
53	53	Charlie Batch	16	QB
Necessary
		Injured List
		Sean Spence	51	LB
		David DeCastro	66	OG
		Practice Squad
		Jacques McClendon		OL
		Toney Clemons	11	WR
		David Gilreath	18	WR
		Josh Victorian	35	DB
		Marshall McFadden	40	LB
		Da'Mon Cromartie-Smith	42	S
		Ryan Lee	69	C/G
		Suspended
		Alameda Ta'amu	95	DT

 

		Uniform
Rank	Player	Number	Position
1	Ben Roethlisberger	7	QB
	The most important player on the field.  Sorry Antonio.
2	Max Starks	78	T
	He's got Ben's back, great decision to bring him back.
3	Antonio Brown	84	WR
	Mr Do it All.  Should have been 1 for 1 passing.
4	Jonathan Dwyer	27	RB
	Outstanding performance.  T.O.P.
5	LaMarr Woodley	56	LB
	Int. changed mo.
6	James Harrison	92	LB
	Need to provide more pressure.
7	Heath Miller	83	TE
	Mr. Dependable.  Should be option 1 in red zone every time.
8	Ike Taylor	24	CB
	Shut down AJ Green….for the most part.
9	Maurkice Pouncey	53	C/G
	Over the long haul, a necessary piece, but he needs to stay healthy.
10	Willie Colon	74	T
	Wants to be the bad guy, was a bulldozer in this game.
11	Casey Hampton	98	NT
	Stopped up the middle, kept the running game quiet after first drive.
12	Brett Keisel	99	DE
	The beard, always solid run support.
13	Troy Polamalu	43	SS
	Secondary holds up, waiting for healthy return.
14	Ryan Clark	25	FS
	Quiet, but part of secondary that shut down Bengals receivers.
15	Doug Legursky	64	G
	What an insurance policy at Center.
16	Mike Wallace	17	WR
	Dropped passes could have cost the game.
17	Shaun Suisham	6	K
	Split the uprights every kick.
18	Lawrence Timmons	94	LB
	Silent.  Where are you Mr. Timmons
19	Mike Adams	76	OT
	Needs help, but learning on the job and improving.
20	Larry Foote	50	LB
	Missed Int cost a TD
21	Chris Rainey	22	RB
	First of many TD in career.  Found a hole and hit it.
22	Keenan Lewis	23	CB
	Saved a TD, helped Ike look good.
23	Emmanuel Sanders	88	WR
	Big reception at the end of game to maintain possession.
24	Ziggy Hood	96	DE
	Knocked down some passes, otherwise silent.
25	Ramon Foster	73	G
	Quiet, but running yards speak volumes.
26	Rashard Mendenhall	34	RB
	Inconsistent.
27	Curtis Brown	31	DB
	Quiet, but part of secondary that shut down Bengals receivers.
28	Marcus Gilbert	77	T
	Line played well in absence.
29	Jason Worilds	93	LB
	Average
30	David Paulson	81	TE
	Future of the TE position in the Burgh.
31	Drew Butler	9	P
	No news is good news.
32	Jerricho Cotchery	89	WR
	Comes through when needed
33	Ryan Mundy	29	FS
	Quiet, but part of secondary that shut down Bengals receivers.
34	Baron Batch	20	RB
	Lack of concentration costs another 6.  One of many contributors to flags on kicks.
35	Cameron Heyward	97	DE
	Waiting for a splash play.
36	Steve McLendon	90	DT
	Getting valuable learning time, will be ready when needed.
37	Cortez Allen	28	CB
	Solid play
38	Isaac Redman	33	RB
	Dwyer may take away some pt.
39	Leonard Pope	45	TE
	Paulson gaining attention at his expense.
40	Will Allen	26	S
	Quality backup.
41	Will Johnson	46	FB
	Value
42	Robert Golden	21	S
	Unnoticed.
43	Chris Carter	54	LB
	Harrison and Woodley healthy
44	Stevenson Sylvester	55	LB
	Harrison and Woodley healthy
45	Adrian Robinson	57	LB
	Harrison and Woodley healthy
46	Greg Warren	60	LS
	Unnoticed.
47	John Malecki	62	OG
	Waiting for opportunity
48	DeMarcus Van Dyke	30	CB
	Holding cost a nice return, not made a big play since first week.
49	Al Woods	65	DE
	Waiting for opportunity
50	Kelvin Beachum	68	OG
	Waiting for opportunity
51	Brandon Johnson	91	LB
	Waiting for opportunity
52	Byron Leftwich	4	QB
	Necessary
53	Charlie Batch	16	QB
	Necessary