The Dilemma...

[Jman]

So I was browsing Steelers.com today and although there have been no new stories or anything else about it...I couldn't help but notice Dan Krieder still being on the second team...

Does anyone have any insight to why Carey Davis is still above Dan Krieder?

Anyone expect to see more of Dan this weekend? This season?

[HometownGal]

Originally Posted by Jman

So I was browsing Steelers.com today and although there have been no new stories or anything else about it...I couldn't help but notice Dan Krieder still being on the second team...

Does anyone have any insight to why Carey Davis is still above Dan Krieder?

Anyone expect to see more of Dan this weekend? This season?

I have no idea, Jman. I agree with 99.9% of everything Tomlin has done thus far, but that one still befuddles me. Davis has played fairly well, in his defense, but I'd still rather have the experienced vet in the bouncer role.

[SCSTILLER]

Originally Posted by HometownGal

I have no idea, Jman. I agree with 99.9% of everything Tomlin has done thus far, but that one still befuddles me. Davis has played fairly well, in his defense, but I'd still rather have the experienced vet in the bouncer role.

I agree also! Plus, Fast Willie came out in the preseason and says that he likes Kreider being in front of him.

[GeneralRobinson]

Coach Tomlin addressed this issue in his September 11th press conference:

Specifically on Carey, he did exactly what we anticipated him doing. He’s a very athletic guy from a fullback standpoint. He can get hats on people in space. He’s a great perimeter lead blocker. He showed up big time for us in the special teams game. He emerged in that area before he emerged as a runner and as a fullback specifically. He made a big play for us in the kicking game. What we do offensively in terms of who starts, I think, at times that can be overblown. It depends on how we want to attack people. We can start in two tight ends; we can start in three wides; we can start out with Carey or we can start out with Dan (Kreider). Dan is still a great isolation, short-yardage blocker. When we had some time consuming drives in the second half, it was because Dan was playing fullback. We just want to be multiple. We have what we believe to be a lot of weapons. We want to use them all. Of course we can’t use them all at the same time. Last week’s game plan dictated that Carey got the start. Maybe next week’s game plan dictates that (Matt) Spaeth gets the start, or maybe Dan gets the start. We’re not worried about who starts. Everybody has got to be ready to contribute and that’s our mentality in regards to those men.

[Rhee Rhee]

i heard that kreider got a concussion too against the ravens.... idk i feel dan kreider is the premier blocking FB in the league but maybe arians wants like a more athletic and younger FB that can catch and run with the ball... not just knock the living crap out of a brownie

[steelwolf21]

I was under the impression that Carey had the better hands and thus could make catches out of the backfield and then run better than kreider with the ball in the hand, which brings up a question i had about the game with the ratbirds. That goaline series after Ben went out, they did the play-action pass to the FB, good play call, but why was Krieder in there instead of Davis? We know Krieder isn't exactly the greatest hands on the team, that's all right he's a living bulldozer, but like I said I thought we had Davis for exactly that situation. Any ideas?

[revefsreleets]

Davis had some spectacular blocks protecting Ben last week.

[Dino 6 Rings]

The dropped pass on the Full back in the flat play at the goal line is exactly the type of thing that put and keeps Dan on the 2nd team now. He's great for blocking, but the idea is to have the full back be able to run with the ball or catch it, so this way the defense isn't keying on his lead blocking and identifying run. Davis would have most likely caught that ball. I guess they were giving Dan a chance to prove himself...and he dropped the ball.

He's a great lead blocker, the rest is average. We need better from our fullback than just blocking. That is why Davis is getting more looks and time in the offense.

[GeneralRobinson]

Originally Posted by Dino 5 Rings

The dropped pass on the Full back in the flat play at the goal line is exactly the type of thing that put and keeps Dan on the 2nd team now.

Agreed that Dan's forte is not receiving. However, to be fair, Batch's pass was behind him. Charlie's got to know that there's no margin for error with a pass to Kreider

[Dino 6 Rings]

To be fair to Charlie, he didn't get sacked, he made the correct reads, the ball was on target and it hit his man in the hands. That ball must be caught. Bottom line.