Mendenshall & Sweed; Polamalu Not Mini-Campin'

I promised I would get to these stories following draft weekend. Here we are, now looking at the newest additions to the Pittsburgh Steelers team. The Steelers surprised everyone by NOT taking an offensive lineman to replace Alan Faneca, but by taking a speedy, powerful tailback out of....Illinois? Yes, Rashard Mendenhall out of Illinois is everything his stats play out. If we can try to look back for a second on January 1st when the Fighting Illini got the Orange knocked out of them by USC. There was one guy, who seemingly had a great game. Mendenhall on that night carried the ball 17 times for 155 yards on the ground and added a touchdown. Rashard also had a breakout year at Illinois during the '07 season, gaining over 1,600 yards on the ground and adding 17 touchdowns. Making him the Big 10 Offensive Player of the Year. What does this mean for Fast Willie Parker? Well, Parker seems to have a smile on his face about the situation. He's been reported to have said that by adding another stable and talented back allows him to rest more on the sidelines, allowing him to be fresher for the late season runs. There's even been talk of pairing the two in the same back field on certain offensive schemes. Mendenhall has been comapared to that of Edgerrin James, yet, with more power. That's scary folks. He's just under 5'10" but at an astounding 224 lbs. making him strong enough to pound it between the tackles, yet possess the quick speed that enables him to break some runs off for long touchdown scores. Mendenhall also entails a great reputation as a great pass blocking, blowing up blitzes and also as a double threat out of the back field as a very skilled receiver. Everyone on the Steelers draft board couldn't believe their eyes when Mendenhall dropped all the way to #23. They didn't hesitate, can you blame them?

In the second round the Steelers seemed to have listened to some of the off-field talk of Ben Roethlisberger. There was talk of Roelthlisberger making a comment that he would like the Steelers to invest in a taller wide out for him come this next season. Hines Ward to somewhat of offense o that, stating "Peyton Manning doesn't need tall recievers". Well, apparently the feud has settled and the Steelers grabbed 6'5" wide reciever Limas Sweeed out of Texas with the 53rd overall pick in the 2nd round. I only have one bad thought of Limas Sweed. Ohio State and Texas, at the Horse Shoe in 2005. Vince Young threw the ball to the back of the end zone in a tight game and Limas Sweed made a great catch falling backwards (see picture right) to pull it in which was the inevitable game winner. Sweed had a solid career at Texas which included a national title in 2006. Sweed however spent half of the year in '07 injured. The Steelers however took a gamble and Hines Ward has been supportive every step of the way. With Ward having off season surgery, he's been a spectator mostly at mini camp, yet that hasn't stopped him from playing coach for Sweed.

In other Steeler news, Troy Polamalu has decided not to train with the Steelers during mini camp. Troy has made it known that with the injuries to his knee, oblique, and calf last season we felt in result of him going away from his normal training habits. He will be doing his off season training with the methods of non conformist guru Marv Marinovich on the west coast. Let's hope Troy returns to his pro-bowler figure and his on the field presence is restored.