Why is Randle El our PR?

[DoubleYoi]

Originally Posted by Lady Steel

Sure Sanders fumbled the opening kick yesterday, but I respectively disagree that it was that play and that play only that almost cost us the game. Sanders more than made up for his fumble throughout the remainder of the game, in my opinion.

Agreed. Sanders played well throughout the day but we dodged a huge bullet by holding Miami to a FG after he fumbled the opening kickoff. If they score a TD on that ensuing drive, we lose the game.

[#1LambertFan]

Sanders gave us a little special teams boost yesterday.... well a huge boost, but a kickoff is easier to field than a punt because you have more blockers and a longer distance between you and the opposing players so you have more time to catch the ball get set and run. Randle-El is a sure punt returner and he will probably show a little flash when given some room to run. I think its more on the other 10 guys on the fiel than it is him accounting for our bad return average.

[ricardisimo]

And yet he does not, in fact, have "sure hands" as all of you are suggesting. The stats are quite clear: he is tied for the league lead in fumbles by punt returns.

Mind you, he's tied with folks like Josh Cribbs and Stefan Logan, but hopefully everyone sees that at least with those two there is a definite risk/reward calculus. There is no reward with Antwaan, only risk. If all that is needed is someone with "sure hands" to fair catch on every punt, put Troy back there, or Hines.

Put playmakers on the field. How is the risk of Brown fumbling a few times (but meanwhile getting experience under his belt, so that he doesn't continue to fumble) any worse than perpetually starting behind our own 10-yard line?

[ricardisimo]

Originally Posted by #1LambertFan

I think its more on the other 10 guys on the fiel than it is him accounting for our bad return average.

So then why does Brown have a 21-yard average? Did he get a different 10 guys to block for him?

Sanders, despite the fumble, is going to continue to return kicks, but at least we can see the why of it. Randle El, despite his fumbles, is for some completely unknown reason also going to continue to return punts.

I ask again: what pictures does ARE have of Tomlin? [This is your cue, MoP]

[MasterOfPuppets]

while most others here were giddy with glee over getting randal el back, here was my reply...

can't say i'm overly thrilled about it. the way i see it, if your adding average to below average vets who have clearly already hit thier ceiling , a low ceiling at that, then your not moving forward, your standing still... i mean these guys like el and battle are clearly not starter material and NEVER will be an offer zero upside. tomlin said before,"we don't have backups...we have starters in waiting ".... that actually SHOULD be the philosophy for adding depth, but as long as you got guys on the roster who have no upside or future, then your lessening the chances of finding the guy who does...
if you want a perfect example of this, chucky okolbi would be it... he took up a roster spot for 5 freakin years, then when it came time to start, adios chucky... so instead of staying pro active in search for the next great center, they stood pat on a bum who couldn't make ANYONES roster after the steelers canned him.

http://forums.steelersfever.com/show...=randal&page=4

[ricardisimo]

Originally Posted by MasterOfPuppets

while most others here were giddy with glee over getting randal el back, here was my reply...


http://forums.steelersfever.com/show...=randal&page=4

And you have also stated on several occasions that the FO clearly overreacted to the Holmes trade, not only drafting two wide receivers, but also way overpaying Battle and signing Randle El. I agree 100% on all counts.

Even with as little as ARE is doing, you'd think he and everyone else on the team would be pissed about how much Battle is getting, and for what? He doesn't even hold a clipboard, or hold up those canvas shade boards they're using on the sidelines.

And to think we could have given Urbik another year, just like Hills got, or Doug Worthington, a DE that could be providing a bit of depth right now with Smith gone. No, Battle and ARE are simply indispensable.

[smheart78]

We are a vastly improved ST unit. We were ranked 30th last year and now we are ranked 8 by the Football Outsiders DVOA. This includes the missed feild goals by REED this year. Saying that, the Punt return has the least upside to address. The entire NFL averages 9 yds/punt return. That's it, with all the other improvements, I'm ok for having a sure vet returning punts for now. To put it in perspective, the NFL averages 25 yds/kickoff return.

I hate that the steelers are dead last in this stat but it's not that huge, considering the rest of the ST has greatly improved.
Last years punt return averages were lower than this year for the entire league. Last year we averaged about 8 yards/ punt return, with the league leader at 13.5 yds/return. That's 4 to 5 yards for about 3-5 punts a game.

[lionslicer]

I still say no one knows what they are talking about..

I've heard numerous times that Brown/Sanders have done punt return in practice to win the job from ARE...

Al Everest isn't just some smuck who's like "well put El back there because he's old and stupid" He must show in practice that he can protect the ball better than both Brown and Sanders, which is why they are on kick off returns... And as we say yesterday, Sanders isn't really that great at protecting the ball.

But what do coaches know...

Teams should be run by the fans in the city, because that obviously will lead to more champtionships

[ricardisimo]

Originally Posted by lionslicer

I still say no one knows what they are talking about..

I've heard numerous times that Brown/Sanders have done punt return in practice to win the job from ARE...

Al Everest isn't just some smuck who's like "well put El back there because he's old and stupid" He must show in practice that he can protect the ball better than both Brown and Sanders, which is why they are on kick off returns... And as we say yesterday, Sanders isn't really that great at protecting the ball.

But what do coaches know...

Teams should be run by the fans in the city, because that obviously will lead to more champtionships

But neither is Randle El, and yet both of them will be returning for us next week. Or rather, one of them will be returning for us, while the other fair catches. At least one of them shows something for the risk.

As far as this theory that the coaches know best, and would never put a bad plan in place, or put anyone other than their best players on the field... You clearly have not been paying attention to Steelers' special teams over the past 10-12 years, and especially over the previous three.

[hammy36]

I'm frustrated with ARE's returns as well but please realize there are ten other fellas on the field at the time who have a responsibility to get in front of someone and at least create somewhat of a lane for the return man...this isn't tecmo bowl :)

That being said, I'm not sure ARE is the man to be back there either...just saying I don't see a lot of room for him most of the time.