DL Steve McLendon - the Pittsburgh Steeler RFA the Pats should target

[FoxboroFlyer]

6'4 325lbs. 27 years old.
Played backup NT to Hampton in Pitt. The last few years.
He is the heir apparent, and he has looked real good in limited duty.
Low tendered at 1.3, and no comp. If signed by another team.
Steelers are planning on using him at NT in 4-3 fronts, and moving him to DE in the 3-4.
This could be the gem the Pats steal out of Pittsburgh.

 

[Sciz]

The guy played 136 defensive snaps and had seven tackles last season. What has he done to show that he's better than Deaderick or Love?

 

[FoxboroFlyer]

The guy played 136 defensive snaps and had seven tackles last season. What has he done to show that he's better than Deaderick or Love?

From what i saw he took away the middle, and forced all the runs to the outside.
He also generated plenty of pressure on the qb.
Stats may not be there, but he is better than deaderick, and Love.
They really like this guy in pittsburgh, and i can see why.
He should have seen more reps over Hampton last year.

 

[PittPatriot]

The guy played 136 defensive snaps and had seven tackles last season. What has he done to show that he's better than Deaderick or Love?

Aren't D-lineman stats at the mercy of whatever scheme a team plays? For instance, I always understood that Richard Seymour's value could not be assessed by sacks or tackles but more but his role in ruling the gaps.

 

[Sciz]

Aren't D-lineman stats at the mercy of whatever scheme a team plays? For instance, I always understood that Richard Seymour's value could not be assessed by sacks or tackles but more but his role in ruling the gaps.

To an extent, yes. But if the guy were as good as claimed, then he'd be making some plays on his own. Three of his tackles were sacks (one full and two assisted), meaning he literally had four tackles against the run all season. Even Wilfork, the perfect example of a player who does the dirty work to make other players' jobs easier rather than getting the stats himself, had four tackles in six individual games last season.

 

[Sciz]

From what i saw he took away the middle, and forced all the runs to the outside.

Define "from what i saw." Did you make a concerted effort to watch the Pittsburgh defense, check whether McLendon was on the field, and then evaluate his performance? That sounds like a ridiculous thing to attempt to do, considering he was on the field roughly 1/2 as much as Sterling Moore or Trevor Scott, and around 1/3 as much as Brandon Deaderick.

 

[FoxboroFlyer]

To an extent, yes. But if the guy were as good as claimed, then he'd be making some plays on his own. Three of his tackles were sacks (one full and two assisted), meaning he literally had four tackles against the run all season. Even Wilfork, the perfect example of a player who does the dirty work to make other players' jobs easier rather than getting the stats himself, had four tackles in six individual games last season.

The guy was playing behind Hampton...you're going to fault him on that?

 

[FoxboroFlyer]

Define "from what i saw." Did you make a concerted effort to watch the Pittsburgh defense, check whether McLendon was on the field, and then evaluate his performance? That sounds like a ridiculous thing to attempt to do, considering he was on the field roughly 1/2 as much as Sterling Moore or Trevor Scott, and around 1/3 as much as Brandon Deaderick.

Basically the local pittsburgh play by play commentators breaking down the play in slow mo. Is what i "define" as what i saw.

And what they said, and what i saw was very comprehensive.

You obviously do not understand how anal the pitt. Media is, when breaking down plays.
They beat it through your head...to death. Sometimes it makes sense though.

 

[Brady6]

DL- Steve mcLendon...the Pitt. RFA the Pats should target

The guy played 136 defensive snaps and had seven tackles last season. What has he done to show that he's better than Deaderick or Love?

Stats could be misleading as a NT in the Steelers scheme. Hampton who for many years was considered a top NT in the NFL never had more than 27 tackles in a season.

FULL CAREER STATS

SEASON TEAM TACKLES SACKS FF INT
2012 ___ PIT ___ 26 ____ 0.0 _ 0 _ 0
2012 ___ PIT ___ 11 ____ 0.0 _ 0 _ --
2011 ___ PIT ___ 17 ____ 0.0 _ 0 _ --
2010 ___ PIT ___ 10 ____ 1.0 _ 1 _ --
2009 ___ PIT ___ 23 ____ 2.5 _ 0 _ --
2008 ___ PIT ___ 13 ____ 1.0 _ 0 _ --
2007 ___ PIT ___ 17 ____ 0.5 _ 0 _ --
2006 ___ PIT ___ 25 ____ 0.0 _ 1 _ --
2005 ___ PIT ___ 25 ____ 0.0 _ 0 _ --
2004 ___ PIT ___ 8 _____ 0.0 _ 0 _ --
2003 ___ PIT ___ 27 ____ 1.0 _ 0 _ --
2002 ___ PIT ___ 23 ____ 2.0 _ 2 _ --
2001 ___ PIT ___ 9 _____ 1.0 _ 0 _ --

 

[FoxboroFlyer]

If it's all about "stats" I can not fathom how any sane individual can clamor, for emmanuel sanders, for a 3rd round pick, and a meaty contract.

That is laughable.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

FWIW, Mike Vrabel wasn't Mike Vrabel when he was in Pittsburgh, either.

Not saying he's worth it, merely that there could be potential there.

 

[FoxboroFlyer]

Idk. I was simply trying to point out a guy who has great potential.

Position flexibility.

Oh, and supposedly the DL, was BB first priority...until he missed on Bryant.

I hope this is plan B.

 

[Ring 6]

Basically the local pittsburgh play by play commentators breaking down the play in slow mo. Is what i "define" as what i saw.

And what they said, and what i saw was very comprehensive.

You obviously do not understand how anal the pitt. Media is, when breaking down plays.
They beat it through your head...to death. Sometimes it makes sense though.

You are talking about a guy who played 9 snaps a game. You can't really expect us to believe that commentators spoke enough about the guy to give a clear assessment, if they even noticed him.
Not to mention all NFL games are announcer by network commentators, so there really aren't 'local Pittsburgh play by play commentators'. Now you may be speaking about some kind of local TV show, but I know of none in any city that are deep enough to devote any time to a 9 snap a game player.

 

[Ring 6]

Idk. I was simply trying to point out a guy who has great potential.

Position flexibility.

Oh, and supposedly the DL, was BB first priority...until he missed on Bryant.

I hope this is plan B.

What tells you DL was BBs first priority?

I'm not sure where you are getting 325lbs, he is listed at 280,
Steve McLendon NFL Football Statistics - Pro-Football-Reference.com
which is way to small to play on the nose.


If Pitt was as high on him as you think they wouldn't have no comp tendered him.

 

[FoxboroFlyer]

What tells you DL was BBs first priority?

I'm not sure where you are getting 325lbs, he is listed at 280,
Steve McLendon NFL Football Statistics - Pro-Football-Reference.com
which is way to small to play on the nose.


If Pitt was as high on him as you think they wouldn't have no comp tendered him.

He didn't play "9 snaps a game".

He started and played in several games. It's not like it was spot duty at "9 snaps a game".

I mean if you're gonna criticize get your **** straight.

You're right though andy johnson. You see, and know everything.

I beg your forgiveness my lord.

 

[FoxboroFlyer]

What tells you DL was BBs first priority?

I'm not sure where you are getting 325lbs, he is listed at 280,
Steve McLendon NFL Football Statistics - Pro-Football-Reference.com
which is way to small to play on the nose.


If Pitt was as high on him as you think they wouldn't have no comp tendered him.

Maybe cause they've already restructured every contract under the sun, and they have no cap room to work with...maybe that has something to do with it.

Just prior to FA there was an actual link up top stating the pats were looking at DL as priority one.

And he is 325.

 

[Lamanai]

Maybe cause they've already restructured every contract under the sun, and they have no cap room to work with...maybe that has something to do with it.

Just prior to FA there was an actual link up top stating the pats were looking at DL as priority one.

And he is 325.

perhaps the reason he is not getting interest in FA is because of the 45lbs he mysteriously added since the end of last season. Might not be good weight.

 

[Brady'sButtBoy]

He didn't play "9 snaps a game".

He started and played in several games. It's not like it was spot duty at "9 snaps a game".

I mean if you're gonna criticize get your **** straight.

You're right though andy johnson. You see, and know everything.

I beg your forgiveness my lord.

Hey, FoxboroFlyer, you don't even have 5,000 posts! How dare you try to act like you know more than some of the real vets around here! Frankly, I dig threads like the one you started. Love to hear insightful comment from someone who's paying attention - I'm not kidding.

But hey man, play nice, because even from your limited playing time I can see you have talent and play hard - you're better than that last cheap dig. The whole team suffers from one player's fouls, you should know that!

 

[patfanken]

I think in an effort, some people have missed the point of the OP. The Pats are acknowledged as looking for more DT depth. The OP was just suggesting a player that he thought flashed at that position. What's the problem?

"Steelers extended an original-pick tender to restricted free agent NT Steve McLendon.
McLendon is believed to be the heir apparent to Casey Hampton at nose tackle, but there's also chatter that he could move to defensive end in the 3-4. He has ideal height at 6-foot-4 while also showing the ability to push the pocket in limited opportunities. The low tender will pay McLendon $1.323 million. Mar 9 - 3:58 PM".

BTW- Rotoworld had him at 325, while Yahoo Sports had him at 280. That's a significant difference. But that's not the point really. While there are some suggestions that come on this board that ARE ludicrous, this one wasn't.

If the Rotoworld blurb is to be believed, then why not McClendon. A 6'4 325lb guy with 4 years experience playing behind a perennial all pro, SHOULD be looked closely at.

 

[FoxboroFlyer]

perhaps the reason he is not getting interest in FA is because of the 45lbs he mysteriously added since the end of last season. Might not be good weight.

Even at 280 he is more than capable of playing DT in 4 man fronts, and DE in the 3-4.

He looks a heck of alot bigger than 280 to me, though.

I'll go with rotoworlds measurement on this one.