Steelers Player Rankings 7-30-12

Last Current Uniform Week Rank Player Number Position 1 1 Ben Roethlisberger 7 QB The most important player on the field.  2 2 Max Starks 78 T He's got Ben's back, great decision to bring him back. 4 3 Jonathan Dwyer 27 RB Outstanding performance again.  2 - 100 yard games in a row.T.O.P. 7 4 Heath Miller 83 TE Haley has realized Heeeeeaaaaath's worth.  Should continue to be number 1 red zone option. 3 5 Antonio Brown 84 WR Stellar play, but play the Steeler way, no showboating. 8 6 Ike Taylor 24 CB Didn't hear much from Ike.  A good thing. 9 7 Maurkice Pouncey 53 C/G Back from injury.  Centerpiece of improving Oline. 5 8 LaMarr Woodley 56 LB Need big plays from outside linebackers to beat the Giants.  Not much against the Skins.  May not play because of injury. 6 9 James Harrison 92 LB Need pressure against Eli. 10 10 Willie Colon 74 T Colon will get better and better with line.  The enforcer. 11 11 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" 12 12 Brett Keisel 99 DE The beard, solid run support.  Nice stop in the backfield on Paulsen. 14 13 Ryan Clark 25 FS Took his shot at RGIII, thanks to Mike Shanahan and his play calling.  Suffered concussion, questionable for Giants. 22 14 Keenan Lewis 23 CB Saved a couple TDs.  A recurring theme.  Next on agenda, start intercepting passes. 23 15 Emmanuel Sanders 88 WR Key third down receptions.  Finally staying healthy. 16 16 Mike Wallace 17 WR No dropsies this week.  Possibly the fastest man in the NFL.  Why no deep shots.  Should be minimum 1 a game Mr. Haley. 17 17 Shaun Suisham 6 K No worries when we need a FG. 18 18 Lawrence Timmons 94 LB Still silent.  Where are you Mr. Timmons? 19 19 Mike Adams 76 OT Blocking on the second level.  Coming on faster than expected.  Running game will keep reaping benefits from this guy. 20 20 Larry Foote 50 LB Only sack of the game.  13 21 Troy Polamalu 43 SS Secondary holds up, waiting for healthy return. Importance dwindles as he doesn't play. 21 22 Chris Rainey 22 RB Beautiful play on third down. 25 23 Ramon Foster 73 G Quiet, but running yards speak volumes. 24 24 Ziggy Hood 96 DE Don't even know if he played. 27 25 Curtis Brown 31 DB Nice special teams job before the half. 28 26 Marcus Gilbert 77 T Looks like a change of sides may be in future if Adams keeps growing in position. 39 27 Leonard Pope 45 TE Pope siting in endzone 40 28 Will Allen 26 S Quality backup.  Stock rising without Troy. 41 29 Will Johnson 46 FB Value, TD 30 30 David Paulson 81 TE Future of the TE position in the Burgh.  Missing person this week. 31 31 Drew Butler 9 P No news is good news. 32 32 Jerricho Cotchery 89 WR Is there when needed. 33 33 Ryan Mundy 29 FS Quiet, will need to play big if Clark can't go. 34 34 Baron Batch 20 RB Quiet 35 35 Cameron Heyward 97 DE Waiting for a splash play. 29 36 Jason Worilds 93 LB Average.  Won't find field without injury. 26 37 Rashard Mendenhall 34 RB Inconsistent. Back on practice field Wednesday. 15 38 Doug Legursky 64 G Is there when needed. 36 39 Steve McLendon 90 DT Getting valuable learning time, will be ready when needed. 37 40 Cortez Allen 28 CB Solid play 38 41 Isaac Redman 33 RB Missed opportunity because of injury.  Dwyer will take away p.t. 42 42 Robert Golden 21 S Waiting for opportunity 43 43 Chris Carter 54 LB Harrison and Woodley healthy 44 44 Stevenson Sylvester 55 LB Still healing 45 45 Adrian Robinson 57 LB Harrison and Woodley healthy. 46 46 Greg Warren 60 LS No news is good news. 47 47 John Malecki 62 OG Waiting for opportunity 48 48 DeMarcus Van Dyke 30 CB Holding cost him a game check this week.  INA 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

This is what Mike Tomlin means when he says there will be consequences to repeated penalties on special teams. 

Think about it DeMarcus.  Speed kills, but penalties will keep you from getting a game check.

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.

 

		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

The Good Rashard Shows Up

When the Steelers drafted Rashard Mendenhall, I wasn't overly enthused.  The Steelers were thrilled though so I deferred to the brilliance of Kevin Colbert's drafting expertise.  Still, Mendenhall came from Illinois, a program that has struggled for many, many years to get respect.  He had an outstanding year there his final college year with almost 1,700 rushing yards, but still I was not all that familiar with him..  Who was the last Steeler that did anything from Illinois.  You know who, it was, oh, it was.........  Well, I can't find one.  I don't know any Illinois player that had been a contributor for the Steelers.  But still, I saw a story that said Mendenhall was the Illini's best running back since Red Grange.  Maybe that's why I couldn't find an Illini player that had contributed, because the only ones that existed played decades ago.

So, I was a little cautious about this Mendenhall guy that the Steelers took that year.  His premiere was delayed by his fumbling issues and his lack of familiarity with the playbook. He was talented and fast, but fumbling doesn't get any rewards.  Then, he got his first chance to play by default when Fast Willie couldn't against the Baltimore Ravens.  The Ravens wanted a piece of the rookie and that was the extent of his first season.  30 yards and finished with a broken collarbone.  But still, you can't judge a player by that short of an audition.  But, still he treated the team like they had the plague for the rest of the year.  He stayed away while the team marched to the Super Bowl.  He rejoined the team and made appearances at the end of the seasong, but the time away from the team made an unfavorable impression.

He then began his steady climb to be a respectable running back in the league. He has had a couple 1,000 yard seasons and a near thousand yarder last year, which was actually a pretty good feat with the Steelers offensive line last year.  But then, he made regrettable comments after the military caught up with Bin Laden.  He was put under a magnifying glass and became very well known, but not for good reasons.
The point is that Mendenhall has had his ups and downs in his time with the Steelers, but yesterday was definitely one of the ups.  He had a victorious return on Sunday and he looked like he wanted to run hard to prove something.  At the beginning of the year I was looking forward to seeing what Isaac Redman could do.  After the lack of production the first 3 games I was hoping to see the good Rashard Mendenhall, and that's what I saw.  I saw a running back that helped the franchise quarterback drive the team down the field to set up a Shaun Suisham game winning field goal.  I saw a man on a mission to prove his knee rehab was done and he was ready to see some action.  Let's hope we continue to see the good Rashard this season.  Let's hope we only hear the good Rashard too.

Steelers vs Eagles