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They need to get McFarland involved

steel dino said:
Im with you Hoot...

So why not a guy who has NFL tape on him ....Smallwood?
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no idea. maybe Smallwood did not do well in camp during backs on backers or he doesn't give them ST capability that someone else does. And, again, maybe the Oline injuries are causing them to make different decisions.Roster is a bit of a jigsaw puzzle. Would love to see someone with some homerun speed get a go though.
 
Cope said:
They had 2 weeks to prep for the Giants.
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I was trying to give the guy an out other than "He's not ready". Which, if they thought he was ready, they'd play him (I hope)
 
Tomlin will activate McFarland just in time to be eliminated from postseason play.
 
Hoot said:
no idea. maybe Smallwood did not do well in camp during backs on backers or he doesn't give them ST capability that someone else does. And, again, maybe the Oline injuries are causing them to make different decisions.Roster is a bit of a jigsaw puzzle. Would love to see someone with some homerun speed get a go though.
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You could easily replace Jaysam with him IMO but they probably like his pass catch ability.

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Atlsteelers said:
The guy gives us something we really lack out of the backfield and that’s speed. Even if look at the big run by Connor the guy is slow. I think he would help to change things up. We have done just enough to run the ball but outside of a couple long runs by Snell and Connor the running game is pretty sad.
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Co signed.
 
Hoot said:
Why McFarland does not play:
- He isn't ready to pick up blitzes.
- The offensive line situation is causing us some game day rostering challenges.

speculation by Hoot?
of course. I like tossing spaghetti a'gin a wall as much as anyone.
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That is a theory. We don't know it. As a starting back in college, I bet he has experience in pass blocking. The likelihood is Tomlin is a little slow to promote talent and it often takes an injury to find out the guy replacing him is better than the guy he thinks should start.


To use a recent and impactful example, many including myself wanted M. Bryant to get a hat. Tomlin was tardy, but once he id Bryant added a lot to the offense. I'm not saying McFarland will be a pro bowl level back, but I am saying Conner is broken down and slow, and Snell quickly lost his luster with that fumble.


Randy Fichtner's run, run, pass, or draw on 2nd and long offensive play calls are not working with Conner or Snell, they are too slow to hit the hole and can't run outside. Defenses know this and bottle them up. But with McFarland, he hits the hole much quicker and can take it outside to beat a player to the sticks.


Suddenly the offense is harder to defend. Like I've been saying for years, Tomlin holds us back. He picks the starters. I think Chucks by the way is a way better pass blocker than Banner was and should have started over him. We'll see if Tomlin misjudged that one.
 
slashsteel said:
You could easily replace Jaysam with him IMO but they probably like his pass catch ability.

Sent from my moto g(7) power using Steeler Nation mobile app
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JaySam converted half of the Steelers first downs on 3rd down. We were 2 for 13. That is not good enough, but we don't score without JSam extending that drive.
 
Coach said:
That is a theory. We don't know it. As a starting back in college, I bet he has experience in pass blocking. The likelihood is Tomlin is a little slow to promote talent and it often takes an injury to find out the guy replacing him is better than the guy he thinks should start.


To use a recent and impactful example, many including myself wanted M. Bryant to get a hat. Tomlin was tardy, but once he id Bryant added a lot to the offense. I'm not saying McFarland will be a pro bowl level back, but I am saying Conner is broken down and slow, and Snell quickly lost his luster with that fumble.


Randy Fichtner's run, run, pass, or draw on 2nd and long offensive play calls are not working with Conner or Snell, they are too slow to hit the hole and can't run outside. Defenses know this and bottle them up. But with McFarland, he hits the hole much quicker and can take it outside to beat a player to the sticks.


Suddenly the offense is harder to defend. Like I've been saying for years, Tomlin holds us back. He picks the starters. I think Chucks by the way is a way better pass blocker than Banner was and should have started over him. We'll see if Tomlin misjudged that one.
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Yes, it is just my theory. I said as much with my reference to throwing pasta against the wall and seeing what sticks. That said, his college blocking schemes are not likely to be the same as Steeler blocking schemes, NFL blitzes are better disguised and NFL defenses are bigger and faster than what he saw in college. There is a leap from college to the NFL in both scheme and talent. That said, I agree it will take a while before HCMT trusts him and gives him a hat. No doubt that is an HCMT trait.

The team's run scheme doesn't take advantage of what Snell and Conner do best and often tries to get them to do things they are not as good at. In short, these two are north south runners - gut runs and power football for these two. Yet, we still seem to try to run end arounds and stretch (read and hit) plays with them which gets them going east and west. Neither of these guys will catch the corner. I have not seen McFarland play, but given what I have read and his reported speed, he should be able to get there. But, it isn't Connor or Snell's job that McFarland would take, it is JSam. I've been rooting for JSam since day one simply because he is from NCSU (local to me). But, I have agreed with you several times I want to see McFarland.

As to the Oline. The problem with Zach is we have no real fair body of work to look at. He got a partial game and no preseason games. You are quicker to draw conclusions from one game than I am (not a criticism, an observation). I'd like to see Zach play some more but we won't unitl next year. I do think Zach shocked some by coming to camp down in pounds and lighter on his feet than expected. I had Chucks written down to start based on athleticism. Said as much in the OT prediction thread. Zach sure proved a lot of people wrong that said he couldn't earn a starting spot in the NFL. I like the kid and hope he comes back strong as ever next year. I am sure the team can find a place for both he and Chucks.
 
He's explosive, but I'm not sure how skilled he is overall.

He definitely needs to get at least a few touches a game.
 
Not impressed. Looked like a turtle and he went down like a ho on Saturday night.
 
SteelerFan448 said:
He had 7 touches for 49 yards and a 20-yard run. Not bad for his first game.
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I'd say that's good for his first game. 7 yards per rush. Not to take much away from Conner who had a good game too, but if McFarland had some of Conner's blocking...he might have taken one to the house.
 
Really good 2nd 1/2! The D got off the field a lot on 3rd down. Unlike in the first half. Conner way more effective now that he has 2 other guys to spell him. Next week a big test. They are stopping the run. Derrick Henry next.
 
I haven't seen that quick of a burst of speed in the PGH backfield since, wait for it.....

Fast Willie Parker
 
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