mesaSteeler
08-20-2009, 06:57 AM
Past History Shows Redman's in Good Shape to Make Roster
Posted Aug 19, 2009 9:11PM By JJ Cooper (RSS feed)
http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/08/19/past-history-shows-redmans-in-good-shape-to-make-roster/
Issac RedmanWhen Issac Redman scored the only touchdowns of the Steelers first goal line drill of the season, it was just an interesting tidbit. When he scored two touchdowns in the team's preseason opener, he at least made fans realize that #33 is no longer Gary Russell.
But when he followed that up by getting all seven carries in the Steelers' goal line drill this week (scoring on five of them), it became clear that the unknown undrafted free agent from Bowie State has a very good chance to make the Steelers' roster. After all, you don't waste that many significant snaps in preseason on a guy who's just training camp fodder.
Redman is battling fifth-round pick Tank Summers for the fifth and final running back slot on the Steelers 53-man roster. Even with Summers showing surprisingly strong blocking ability, Redman is in the lead right now thanks to his excellent goal line play. Summers' chances took another hit on Wednesday when he left practice with a hamstring injury, as reported by Jim Wexell.
If the 6-foot, 230-pound Redman makes the roster, it will be as a replacement for Gary Russell, the Steelers' goal line back last year. Three years ago, Russell made the team as an undrafted free agent out of Minnesota.
Redman's surprising success is just another in a long line of undrafted free agent running backs who find Pittsburgh a good place to play. Coming into this season, the Steelers have drafted five running backs this decade, but only three of those (Rashard Mendenhall and Verron Haynes) have managed have survived cutdown day, and one of those, Noah Herron lasted for all of two games before being waived.
During the same time, the Steelers have given carries to Russell, Willie Parker (the second-most successful undrafted tailback in NFL history), Dante Brown, John Kuhn, Dan Kreider, Carey Davis and R.J. Bowers--all of whom came into the league as undrafted free agents. Admittedly Kuhn, Bowers and Brown made only cameo appearances in Pittsburgh, but the fact remains that Pittsburgh has had more than twice as many undrafted free agent backs (7) make the roster this decade as drafted backs (3).
So if you're sizing up the Tank Summers/Isaac Redman roster battle and thinking that Summers has the advantage because he was drafted, do remember that it didn't do 2006 draftee Cedric Humes any good when he was battling Kuhn for a roster spot. And Brown made the Steelers' roster in 2003 while drafted fullback J.T. Wall didn't.
Posted Aug 19, 2009 9:11PM By JJ Cooper (RSS feed)
http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/08/19/past-history-shows-redmans-in-good-shape-to-make-roster/
Issac RedmanWhen Issac Redman scored the only touchdowns of the Steelers first goal line drill of the season, it was just an interesting tidbit. When he scored two touchdowns in the team's preseason opener, he at least made fans realize that #33 is no longer Gary Russell.
But when he followed that up by getting all seven carries in the Steelers' goal line drill this week (scoring on five of them), it became clear that the unknown undrafted free agent from Bowie State has a very good chance to make the Steelers' roster. After all, you don't waste that many significant snaps in preseason on a guy who's just training camp fodder.
Redman is battling fifth-round pick Tank Summers for the fifth and final running back slot on the Steelers 53-man roster. Even with Summers showing surprisingly strong blocking ability, Redman is in the lead right now thanks to his excellent goal line play. Summers' chances took another hit on Wednesday when he left practice with a hamstring injury, as reported by Jim Wexell.
If the 6-foot, 230-pound Redman makes the roster, it will be as a replacement for Gary Russell, the Steelers' goal line back last year. Three years ago, Russell made the team as an undrafted free agent out of Minnesota.
Redman's surprising success is just another in a long line of undrafted free agent running backs who find Pittsburgh a good place to play. Coming into this season, the Steelers have drafted five running backs this decade, but only three of those (Rashard Mendenhall and Verron Haynes) have managed have survived cutdown day, and one of those, Noah Herron lasted for all of two games before being waived.
During the same time, the Steelers have given carries to Russell, Willie Parker (the second-most successful undrafted tailback in NFL history), Dante Brown, John Kuhn, Dan Kreider, Carey Davis and R.J. Bowers--all of whom came into the league as undrafted free agents. Admittedly Kuhn, Bowers and Brown made only cameo appearances in Pittsburgh, but the fact remains that Pittsburgh has had more than twice as many undrafted free agent backs (7) make the roster this decade as drafted backs (3).
So if you're sizing up the Tank Summers/Isaac Redman roster battle and thinking that Summers has the advantage because he was drafted, do remember that it didn't do 2006 draftee Cedric Humes any good when he was battling Kuhn for a roster spot. And Brown made the Steelers' roster in 2003 while drafted fullback J.T. Wall didn't.