On The Steelers: Will the team's run of success change Mendenhall's role?
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Troy Polamalu, left, poses next to "Legendaryous Troy," his wax likeness, unveiled Tuesday at Madame Tussauds in New York. The wax figure required twice the amount of hair of any other creation in the history of the famed attraction, the wax museum said in a statement.
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Rashard Mendenhall will return to practice this week, but will head coach Mike Tomlin return him to his starting job at halfback?
The question was put to Tomlin Tuesday and he sidestepped it, giving a noncommittal response after the Steelers' best ground game production of the season Sunday using two backup runners.
"We expect him to participate this week, and we will see where that participation leads us," Tomlin said.
Mendenhall was off to a slow start through four games and a hamstring injury knocked him out of the fifth game. He has 173 yards and an average of 3.0 yards per carry.
Isaac Redman started against Tennessee and ran 15 times for 49 yards. Jonathan Dwyer, suiting up for just his second game in two seasons with the Steelers, ran 11 times for 107 yards, getting 76 yards on his first carry to set up the Steelers' third touchdown for a 21-3 lead.
PG VIDEOThat puts Dwyer in a unique situation with the "chance" to become the first Steelers back since Willie Parker in 2008 to have consecutive 100-yard games. He won't get that chance unless he dresses for the game, but with Mewelde Moore recuperating from a high ankle sprain that kept him out of the Titans game, Dwyer could set his personal high by playing in his second consecutive game.
But what of Mendenhall? The team's first-round draft choice in 2008, Mendenhall responded with good seasons in '09 and '10 after his rookie season was cut short by a broken shoulder. He has rushed for 2,381 yards over the past two seasons. Surely, Tomlin would not bench him after a slow four-game start to this one.
However, the coach was more expansive when he spoke about the performances of his other two backs.
On Redman:
"I thought he did a nice job but that is kind of what we expected. Isaac is not an unknown commodity in terms of what he is capable of doing with the ball in his hands, as a blitz pick-up guy and all of the things that encompass being a running back for us. So we were pleased but not surprised."
First Published October 12, 2011 12:00 am
