mesaSteeler
10-20-2009, 09:59 PM
View From The Press Box
http://blog.triblive.com/view-from-the-press-box/2009/10/20/changing-of-the-guard/
Changing of the guard
October 20th, 2009
Bruce Arians said recently that he would welcome the problem of finding enough carries to keep Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall both effective and happy.
Looks like the Steelers offensive coordinator got what he wanted.
Coach Mike Tomlin confirmed today what had become evident over the last couple of weeks: Mendenhall has supplanted Parker as the Steelers’ primary ball-carrier.
“Rashard has earned the right to continue to take the majority of the snaps as we proceed,” Tomlin said at his weekly news conference. “I think that’s how we approach a lot of what we do, who’s going to give us the best chance to win on a week to week basis.”
Mendenhall and Parker must not even be close in the eyes of the Steelers’ coaches. After all, Mendenhall would more readily accept a supporting role since his time as the Steelers’ feature back would have come no later than next season.
Now the Steelers have to hope that Parker, the third-leading rusher in franchise history, will willingly accept a reduced role — and at a time when the two-time Pro Bowler probably wants to showcase himself to other teams since he is in the final year of his contract.
If the Steelers coaches want Parker, who is still battling a case of turf toe, to fall into line all they have to is show him the tape.
He hasn’t been the same since breaking his leg near the end of the 2007 season, and Mendenhall is clearly the better back right now.
Parker should also keep in mind that a lot can still happen over the rest of the season, and Mendenhall has not put a stranglehold on the starting job.
At least not yet.
“Rashard has the hot hand,” Tomlin said, “so we’ll continue to do what we’ve done for the last couple of weeks.”
http://blog.triblive.com/view-from-the-press-box/2009/10/20/changing-of-the-guard/
Changing of the guard
October 20th, 2009
Bruce Arians said recently that he would welcome the problem of finding enough carries to keep Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall both effective and happy.
Looks like the Steelers offensive coordinator got what he wanted.
Coach Mike Tomlin confirmed today what had become evident over the last couple of weeks: Mendenhall has supplanted Parker as the Steelers’ primary ball-carrier.
“Rashard has earned the right to continue to take the majority of the snaps as we proceed,” Tomlin said at his weekly news conference. “I think that’s how we approach a lot of what we do, who’s going to give us the best chance to win on a week to week basis.”
Mendenhall and Parker must not even be close in the eyes of the Steelers’ coaches. After all, Mendenhall would more readily accept a supporting role since his time as the Steelers’ feature back would have come no later than next season.
Now the Steelers have to hope that Parker, the third-leading rusher in franchise history, will willingly accept a reduced role — and at a time when the two-time Pro Bowler probably wants to showcase himself to other teams since he is in the final year of his contract.
If the Steelers coaches want Parker, who is still battling a case of turf toe, to fall into line all they have to is show him the tape.
He hasn’t been the same since breaking his leg near the end of the 2007 season, and Mendenhall is clearly the better back right now.
Parker should also keep in mind that a lot can still happen over the rest of the season, and Mendenhall has not put a stranglehold on the starting job.
At least not yet.
“Rashard has the hot hand,” Tomlin said, “so we’ll continue to do what we’ve done for the last couple of weeks.”