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It seems like the Steelers have been looking for a short-yardage specialist ever since Jerome Bettis retired. Najeh Davenport, Verron Haynes, Carey Davis. Even starter Rashard Mendenhall was a candidate at one point, when Willie Parker was still with the team.
Mendenhall owners hope he'll be the guy this year, but apparently that's far from certain. According to this story in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Mike Tomlin sees rookie Jonathan Dwyer and second-year back Isaac Redman as potential candidates for the job. Both are only a few pounds heavier than the 5-foot-10, 225-pound Mendenhall, but it's at least possible that the Steelers will look to spell him in those situations.
"It is interesting; we've got some young guys in the backfield who might have a degree of pedigree that is geared towards those things," says Tomlin.
For now, it's just talk. Our early expectation is that Mendenhall will get those opportunities, and that Dwyer won't contribute much as a rookie. Redman may not even make the team; Pittsburgh also has Mewelde Moore to play in passing situations.
Still, it's something to keep an eye on in the preseason. A goal-line specialist, if the Steelers go that route, would cost Mendenhall a few 1- and 2-yard touchdowns over the course of the season, and make Dwyer (if he wins the job) an option in TD-only leagues.
--Andy Richardson
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Posted by Glenn Murawski | Jun. 13 at 02:06 AM
even though tomlin is calling the shots i think upper managment wants to get back to steeler football and if mendenhall continues to work out i think he'll get the bulk of the work.