mesaSteeler
12-17-2009, 06:00 AM
Steelers' Mendenhall nears 1,000-yard mark
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_658118.html#
By Mark Kaboly
Daily News Sports Editor
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Rashard Mendenhall could be the comeback player of the year — for last year and also this year.
Mendenhall's rookie season was cut short a year ago when a Ray Lewis' tackle broke his shoulder during a Week 4 game. This year, the first month of the season saw Mendenhall touch the ball nine times, get benched, then get called out by coach Mike Tomlin for "not being on details" during practice during the week.
What a difference the past three months have made for the former first-round pick.
Mendenhall was inserted into the starting lineup after Willie Parker was injured in the Week 3 loss to Cincinnati, and hasn't looked back.
Mendenhall needs 60 yards against Green Bay on Sunday to surpass 1,000 yards.
It's an unlikely ending to what was a strange beginning to the season for Mendenhall.
"I have always had faith and confidence in myself if given a chance," Mendenhall said.
Mendenhall is ranked right among the league leaders in rushing if his numbers are projected over 13 games.
Mendenhall would be the seventh-leading rusher in the league just behind Adrian Peterson, DeAngelo Williams and Thomas Jones with 1,163 yards if he would've put up the same numbers in the first three games he didn't start than he did in the 10 he did.
It hasn't gone unnoticed.
"Rashard has played consistently well since the latter part of September or October," Tomlin said. "We'll increase his opportunities."
That's a far cry from where Mendenhall was at the beginning of the season when he fell out of favor with Tomlin.
But looking back, Mendenhall said that sitting down against the Bengals may have helped him out more than anything else in the long run.
"It helped to get an understanding of exactly what they wanted and what they were looking for," Mendenhall said. "It was little things they wanted to see, so they are more comfortable with me."
The coaching staff has gotten so comfortable with Mendenhall that they decided to use him in favor of respected veteran third-down back Mewelde Moore.
Mendenhall also has 17 catches for 158 yards and a touchdown this year.
"I feel good that they have confidence in me to do that," Mendenhall said. "The passing game is good in the NFL, so to be able to do that they have to have a great deal of trust in you."
Mendenhall has gained the trust of his teammates.
"I think he had to prove it to himself," tackle Max Starks said. "He went out there and earned a little more respect than we gave him."
Running with the best
Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall is among the league leaders in rushing despite not starting the first three games of the season. Here are the rankings of the top 10 rushers in the league, with projected totals if they had started all 13 games this year:
Player: Yards
Chris Johnson, Tennessee: 1,626
Steven Jackson, St. Louis: 1,279
Cedric Benson, Cincinnati: 1,258*
Adrian Peterson, Minnesota: 1,200
DeAngelo Williams, Carolina: 1,196*
Thomas Jones, N.Y. Jets: 1,167
Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers: 1,163*
Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville: 1,136
Ryan Grant, Green Bay: 1,068
Ray Rice, Baltimore: 1,041
*—Projected if started 13 games
Mark Kaboly can be reached at mkaboly@dailynewsemail.com or 412-664-9161.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_658118.html#
By Mark Kaboly
Daily News Sports Editor
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Rashard Mendenhall could be the comeback player of the year — for last year and also this year.
Mendenhall's rookie season was cut short a year ago when a Ray Lewis' tackle broke his shoulder during a Week 4 game. This year, the first month of the season saw Mendenhall touch the ball nine times, get benched, then get called out by coach Mike Tomlin for "not being on details" during practice during the week.
What a difference the past three months have made for the former first-round pick.
Mendenhall was inserted into the starting lineup after Willie Parker was injured in the Week 3 loss to Cincinnati, and hasn't looked back.
Mendenhall needs 60 yards against Green Bay on Sunday to surpass 1,000 yards.
It's an unlikely ending to what was a strange beginning to the season for Mendenhall.
"I have always had faith and confidence in myself if given a chance," Mendenhall said.
Mendenhall is ranked right among the league leaders in rushing if his numbers are projected over 13 games.
Mendenhall would be the seventh-leading rusher in the league just behind Adrian Peterson, DeAngelo Williams and Thomas Jones with 1,163 yards if he would've put up the same numbers in the first three games he didn't start than he did in the 10 he did.
It hasn't gone unnoticed.
"Rashard has played consistently well since the latter part of September or October," Tomlin said. "We'll increase his opportunities."
That's a far cry from where Mendenhall was at the beginning of the season when he fell out of favor with Tomlin.
But looking back, Mendenhall said that sitting down against the Bengals may have helped him out more than anything else in the long run.
"It helped to get an understanding of exactly what they wanted and what they were looking for," Mendenhall said. "It was little things they wanted to see, so they are more comfortable with me."
The coaching staff has gotten so comfortable with Mendenhall that they decided to use him in favor of respected veteran third-down back Mewelde Moore.
Mendenhall also has 17 catches for 158 yards and a touchdown this year.
"I feel good that they have confidence in me to do that," Mendenhall said. "The passing game is good in the NFL, so to be able to do that they have to have a great deal of trust in you."
Mendenhall has gained the trust of his teammates.
"I think he had to prove it to himself," tackle Max Starks said. "He went out there and earned a little more respect than we gave him."
Running with the best
Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall is among the league leaders in rushing despite not starting the first three games of the season. Here are the rankings of the top 10 rushers in the league, with projected totals if they had started all 13 games this year:
Player: Yards
Chris Johnson, Tennessee: 1,626
Steven Jackson, St. Louis: 1,279
Cedric Benson, Cincinnati: 1,258*
Adrian Peterson, Minnesota: 1,200
DeAngelo Williams, Carolina: 1,196*
Thomas Jones, N.Y. Jets: 1,167
Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers: 1,163*
Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville: 1,136
Ryan Grant, Green Bay: 1,068
Ray Rice, Baltimore: 1,041
*—Projected if started 13 games
Mark Kaboly can be reached at mkaboly@dailynewsemail.com or 412-664-9161.