The Forgotten "Elephant In The Room"

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Might be a good time to discuss the forgotten elephant in the room...

Many might have forgotten, but Le'Veon is still facing a possible 2-game suspension from the Steelers for his DUI last year.

A February 6th hearing will formalize Bell's admittance into the ARD (Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition) program. Once admitted he enters a 15-month probation, which includes: periodic drug/alcohol tests, 2-day highway safety course, and DUI group therapy. He also pays $2k in court fees and loses his license for 60 days. Even with all that the team is still likely to suspend him for a game or 2.

In the event of his suspension they will be leaning on the likes of Dri Archer & Josh Harris once again. Art Rooney II has already stated that the team is interested in bringing in a more suitable backup for Bell. That doesn't bode well for those in the Josh Harris camp (myself included). I think Harris could resort to a Baron Batch style of backup relief while a more stout & physical presence of a new RB2 will provide better insurance. But whoever they bring in, draft or FA, will likely be leaned on heavily during the suspension.

Expect to start seeing reports surfacing within the next week that will touch on all of this...

 

[Psych-Ward]

I was just thinking about this the other day!!!

Really does suck for Harris, I think he could hold his own for two weeks!!!

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

I was just thinking about this the other day!!!

Really does suck for Harris, I think he could hold his own for two weeks!!!

Definitely could. He'll get his shot at competing for the spot regardless. I hope he wins it and makes all the doubters eat crow... I just hope the team doesn't invest a high pick in a supposed RB2. Doesn't look too good for Archer. If Archer doesn't win his kick returner duties back then he'll struggle to make the 53 next season. I just don't see him making much of an impact in the WR group either. Not with the LOADS of talent they already have there.

 

[Psych-Ward]

Definitely could. He'll get his shot at competing for the spot regardless. I hope he wins it and makes all the doubters eat crow... I just hope the team doesn't invest a high pick in a supposed RB2. Doesn't look too good for Archer. If Archer doesn't win his kick returner duties back then he'll struggle to make the 53 next season. I just don't see him making much of an impact in the WR group either. Not with the LOADS of talent they already have there.

They had high hopes for Archer, I don't understand why, yes he is fast, but there is nothing to him. Even as a WR one good shot and this guy looks so fraile it would be the end of him!!!!

Trade Archer for something while we can!!!!

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

They had high hopes for Archer, I don't understand why, yes he is fast, but there is nothing to him. Even as a WR one good shot and this guy looks so fraile it would be the end of him!!!!

Trade Archer for something while we can!!!!

I think Haley got a boner reminiscing about his days in KC when he used Dexter McCluster. And Danny Smith (ST coach) was obviously on board because it would have killed 2 birds with 1 stone if he could handle Kick/Punt returner duties.

But I think its a bit premature to cut ties with him. He could definitely still provide that spark they brought him in for, if Haley figures out how to use him. Definitely frail... I think they'll give him another shot this offseason but he is far from a guarantee to make the final 53.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Bell...yeah...that suspension is looming...shouldn't be a huge deal...they have Harris and he should be the next man up I'm guessing.

Archer...I think he will get opportunities to in preseason to prove he belongs on an NFL field so it will be in his hands I think.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Bell...yeah...that suspension is looming...shouldn't be a huge deal...they have Harris and he should be the next man up I'm guessing.

Archer...I think he will get opportunities to in preseason to prove he belongs on an NFL field so it will be in his hands I think.

Direct quote from Art Rooney II:

"Obviously we don't want to have those kind things happen in the middle of the season but it is what it is and I think we made the decision [to release Blount] for the right reasons," Rooney said. "Not going to worry about it too much. We just have to make sure that we make a better decision this year and fill that position with someone we're comfortable with and who will be a good fit."

Doesn't sound like they think Harris is their guy

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Direct quote from Art Rooney II:


Doesn't sound like they think Harris is their guy

The Rooneys never used to have a lot of public comments on players aside from stuff like...we want this guy to retire a Steeler, etc....interesting to hear that angle on the RB...maybe we'll see a draft pick spent on a RB.

I think Blount was probably told he would be a bigger pc of the pie and when Bell's performance went to another level it was easy to keep riding the big horse and Blount's opportunities didn't materialize as he expected and he couldn't handle it.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

The Rooneys never used to have a lot of public comments on players aside from stuff like...we want this guy to retire a Steeler, etc....interesting to hear that angle on the RB...maybe we'll see a draft pick spent on a RB.

I think Blount was probably told he would be a bigger pc of the pie and when Bell's performance went to another level it was easy to keep riding the big horse and Blount's opportunities didn't materialize as he expected and he couldn't handle it.

Yea Blount was probably feeling pretty good about himself after the Carolina game. 118 yds rushing on 10 carries. Obviously he knew he still had the goods so it wasn't unreasonable to think he should get about 10 carries per game. They tried to keep it that way for 5-6 games straight but he never gained more than 30 yards off of 7-10 carries so they started to phase him out. He hit rock bottom against Houston (7 carries for 9 yds). Or also in the Jets game where he had 0 yards off of 5 carries.

Can't blame the coaches for riding the hot hand after that.

 

[Muddler]

I'm not defending Blount - I'm glad he was cut and I hope he gets smashed in the SB. However, I do think Tomlin/Colbert et.al. mismanaged the RB situation this year.

They brought in a guy who is a young but established NFL RB. His well known resume (from college thru the pros) was "talented but troubled". Steelers brought him in as a backup in case Bell went down and to spell the starter and keep him fresh. They built up Blount's carries early and then shut him down completely as Bell was running great and Tomlin's self-professed philosophy is to "run them till the wheels come off".

And then they cut him due to attitudinal problems (which they knew he had) and then Bell's "wheels came off" and they were left with an untested rookie and a gadget guy that couldn't block your mother on a blitz. Certainly contributed to the final season result = one and done in the playoffs.

That's just bad management in my view.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

I'm not defending Blount - I'm glad he was cut and I hope he gets smashed in the SB. However, I do think Tomlin/Colbert et.al. mismanaged the RB situation this year.

They brought in a guy who is a young but established NFL RB. His well known resume (from college thru the pros) was "talented but troubled". Steelers brought him in as a backup in case Bell went down and to spell the starter and keep him fresh. They built up Blount's carries early and then shut him down completely as Bell was running great and Tomlin's self-professed philosophy is to "run them till the wheels come off".

And then they cut him due to attitudinal problems (which they knew he had) and then Bell's "wheels came off" and they were left with an untested rookie and a gadget guy that couldn't block your mother on a blitz. Certainly contributed to the final season result = one and done in the playoffs.

That's just bad management in my view.

Lot I agree with there...the biggest mismanagement was no true backup plan in place once they made the decision to release Blount. On the snap count...I tend to agree with Face...one guy is giving you 4 yds a pop and the back up less than 3 in some games...made the decision easy to ride the hot hand because they really needed every game down the stretch.

On the 1 and done...yes, it was a factor, but if Ben was going to play that poorly, and Haley was going to call that predictable game plan vs a well known foe...it would not have mattered imo.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Yea it could go either way... I do sort of feel like the team mismanaged the RBs. But its pretty easy to say that after Bell got hurt. If he hadn't been injured, then this wouldn't be a discussion. But on the other hand, as I stated above, they gave Blount plenty of opportunities but his ypc were rapidly declining. In that sense I completely agree with the coaches thinning his workload. But to phase him out completely? No I don't agree with that. Bell was hotter than a whore house on nickel night against Tennessee... Blount should have understood the situation. Not just that Bell was on fire, but also they had just lost to the Jets so team moral was low. Also they needed a solid AFC win before their bye week to put them in good position for the home stretch... A lot was riding on that Tennessee game and the score was too damn close in the 4th. The decision not to play Blount looked like desperation on the coaches part.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Yea it could go either way... I do sort of feel like the team mismanaged the RBs. But its pretty easy to say that after Bell got hurt. If he hadn't been injured, then this wouldn't be a discussion. But on the other hand, as I stated above, they gave Blount plenty of opportunities but his ypc were rapidly declining. In that sense I completely agree with the coaches thinning his workload. But to phase him out completely? No I don't agree with that. Bell was hotter than a whore house on nickel night against Tennessee... Blount should have understood the situation. Not just that Bell was on fire, but also they had just lost to the Jets so team moral was low. Also they needed a solid AFC win before their bye week to put them in good position for the home stretch... A lot was riding on that Tennessee game and the score was too damn close in the 4th. The decision not to play Blount looked like desperation on the coaches part.

Blount...I think watching Bell kind of made him think he could do some things that he really couldn't...I forget the game, but not the moment...goal line situation and Blount had a tight hole inside that wouldn't have gained much yardage, so he bounced it outside trying to make a big play, and compounded a bad play into a 10+ yard loss...I know that didn't sit too well with Haley/Tomlin. That may have been the time to pull him aside and say...hey man, you're most effective when you going north and south...hit the hole hard and quit trying to dance.

Release...I supported the move then so I'm not going to back peddle on it now...the only thing I would've like to have seen was Tate coming in the same week...they tried the next man up thing and they realized that it wasn't going to work so they were in scramble mode and brought Tate in on too short of notice imo...the whole situation was kinda knee-jerk.

Coaching desperate...definitely, but I can't blame Tomlin on that end...2 straight years of .500 seasons is not the "standard" in Pittsburgh so he had to be feeling some heat.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

I remember more than a few situations where Blount was brought in for short yardage situations and he ended up going negative... I definitely still support the release. Tate wouldn't have been available at that time though because I believe he was still with Minnesota? Could be wrong...

 

[ATL96Steeler]

I remember more than a few situations where Blount was brought in for short yardage situations and he ended up going negative... I definitely still support the release. Tate wouldn't have been available at that time though because I believe he was still with Minnesota? Could be wrong...

Tate...probably...I used him as a name more than anything...I really meant they needed to address a replacement sooner.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Tate...probably...I used him as a name more than anything...I really meant they needed to address a replacement sooner.

Yea I agree. They flirted with disaster and ended up paying the price in the end (debatable). It will be interesting to see how they fill the spot. My bet is through the draft, unless they go after someone in FA. Spiller maybe? He's going to be 28 next season so his value isn't as high, so its a possibility.

 

[Psych-Ward]

Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell Given 15 Months Probation For DUI Arrest

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Up to two game suspension looms over Le'''Veon Bell, and the Steelers, who are 0-4 without him - Behind the Steel Curtain

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Kevin Colbert Still Unsure If Le'Veon Bell Will Be Suspended

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

I'm sure you've all heard by now, but one of the by-laws of the league's substance abuse policy states that Bell faces a suspension of "up to" 4 games.

Le'Veon Bell faces a maximum suspension of four games.
Early last month, Bell essentially pled guilty to driving under the influence of marijuana. Under the league's new substance-abuse policy, first-offense DUIs get a two-game suspension. But the policy also says violations of law involving "other substances" exposes the player to a ban of "up to four" games. Marijuana is illegal in the state of Pennsylvania, while alcohol is obviously legal.

Got a kick out of the last sentence... "while alcohol is obviously legal" lol