Can Rainey Play in the NFL?

[AndyWitmyer]

Originally Posted by steeltheone

He has already proved he can't take the beating you get in the NFL....

He's young, a 5th round draft, and a rookie. There are plenty of veterans that get injured enough to miss entire games, or even seasons (Tom Brady, Payton Manning, Ben, Troy, Mendy, Brown, etc) and you're willing to boldly disavow him over a bad game and an injury? Hell, half our team is injured - it's become such a problem that fans here are now asking themselves if we have a serious player conditioning problem.

If you're going to call out Rainey on his injury as some kind of evidence that Rainey isn't ready for the big leagues, well...then I guess half of our team should probably pack up their bags and quit while the gettin's good. Ben should just stay home and spend time with his wife and child - I mean, he it's obvious that he's proven that he can't take the kind of "beating you get in the NFL". Give me a break (no pun intended)

[AndyWitmyer]

And...one more thing... I alluded to this in another comment, but I'd like to add a little more to my thoughts on Mr. Rainey: He's getting a lot of shit (some perhaps deserved), but of the all the bumbling and fumbling running backs that are paid a lot of money to win, it was the "wimpy little rookie running back" (who's "obviously not-ready-for-the-NFL") who fought tooth and nail for a much needed TD. And I'm honestly not convinced our other backs would have scored had they been handed the same play. In an attempt to impose their will on the Brown's D, it seems as though Rainey was tasked with running straight up the middle and, you know, hope for the best.

This wasn't going to work - the Browns weren't budging - at all. Rainey probably should have been tackled far short of the goal...but he wasn't. Evidently sensing the doomed nature of the route he was given, Rainey basically said "Uh, yeah...screw this..." and instead of getting tackled, he seemingly retreated from the line - a move which must have confounded the Browns linemen (it certainly confounded me!). Rainey showed his potential when he capitalized on this confusion, and against all odds, there was a mad dash to the left...and the next thing I knew, we had a touchdown. He literally made something from what should have been absolutely squat: proof that the kid has definitely been blessed with, if nothing else, a natural ability to think very quickly on his feet.

Not bad for an undersized rookie. I say give him time to grow. Let's see what the kid is made of - where his strengths lie. Rainey appears to be very sharp, mentally...he's reasonably fast...and is capable of improvising: all attributes that could (if properly developed and used in the right context) make him a legitimate threat.

[steelersfan77]

Rainey is a third down back/kick return specialist. Our so called battering rams couldn't get it done on early downs. At least rainey found a way to get the ball across the goal line. This teams first pick or free agent needs to be a top running back.

[mikegrimey]

Originally Posted by steelersfan77

Rainey is a third down back/kick return specialist. Our so called battering rams couldn't get it done on early downs. At least rainey found a way to get the ball across the goal line. This teams first pick or free agent needs to be a top running back.

I think we need an upgrade at RB, but 1st round? Why? There's no end of dynamic RBs outside of the 1st round. Unless there's the next Adrian Peterson just hanging around waiting to get drafted...

[TRH]

Originally Posted by AndyWitmyer

And...one more thing... I alluded to this in another comment, but I'd like to add a little more to my thoughts on Mr. Rainey: He's getting a lot of shit (some perhaps deserved), but of the all the bumbling and fumbling running backs that are paid a lot of money to win, it was the "wimpy little rookie running back" (who's "obviously not-ready-for-the-NFL") who fought tooth and nail for a much needed TD. And I'm honestly not convinced our other backs would have scored had they been handed the same play. In an attempt to impose their will on the Brown's D, it seems as though Rainey was tasked with running straight up the middle and, you know, hope for the best.

This wasn't going to work - the Bears weren't budging - at all. Rainey probably should have been tackled far short of the goal...but he wasn't. Evidently sensing the doomed nature of the route he was given, Rainey basically said "Uh, yeah...screw this..." and instead of getting tackled, he seemingly retreated from the line - a move which must have confounded the Bears linemen (it certainly confounded me!). Rainey showed his potential when he capitalized on this confusion, and against all odds, there was a mad dash to the left...and the next thing I knew, we had a touchdown. He literally made something from what should have been absolutely squat: proof that the kid has definitely been blessed with, if nothing else, a natural ability to think very quickly on his feet.

Not bad for an undersized rookie. I say give him time to grow. Let's see what the kid is made of - where his strengths lie. Rainey appears to be very sharp, mentally...he's reasonably fast...and is capable of improvising: all attributes that could (if properly developed and used in the right context) make him a legitimate threat.

i absolutely don't question his desire and attitude. It's phenomenal. But the question was - is he too small? And i think thats clear. Crystal clear. Yes, unfortunately. The guy's going to get broken in half.
I can only see him as a return man in this league. He could possibly make a career out of that.