Staley says that Parker is the Starter

[black_hawk8888]

Steelers: Staley says Parker is the starter

by Fanball Staff - Fanball.com
Thursday, September 15, 2005

News
Running back Duce Staley took more snaps during Wednesday's practice as he comes back from arthroscopic knee surgery in early August, but even once he's healthy he acknowledges he may not get his job back from Willie Parker. "If he's out there running and doing what he's doing and putting up great numbers and we're winning, without a doubt, leave him in there," Staley told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "We went through the same thing last year. I was out there, I got hurt, Jerome went in and we didn't miss a beat. Here we go again: Willie comes in and we don't miss a beat."

Views
Staley is listed as questionable for this week's game against the Texans, while Jerome Bettis is listed as doubtful with a calf injury. Steelers coach Bill Cowher indicated that Staley may become the team's third-down back when he gets healthy, leaving Parker as the feature back and Bettis, once he's healthy, as the short-yardage guy.


http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=f ... &type=lgns

[saundman2000]

Oh Yeeaahh,

More props for FWP. Hope he keeps it up.

[manzan]

Now that's what I like to hear!

[Flux]

wow, thats an oddity. I hope it happens, but we'll see what happens when Staley can actually play

[benm3218]

well, i hope it lasts. I just traded plummer and lelie for harrington and parker.... scary, but could be great upside.

[Sixxgunn]

Views
Staley is listed as questionable for this week's game against the Texans, while Jerome Bettis is listed as doubtful with a calf injury. Steelers coach Bill Cowher indicated that Staley may become the team's third-down back when he gets healthy, leaving Parker as the feature back and Bettis, once he's healthy, as the short-yardage guy.

I don't like the sound of this at all! You have a guy stealing third downs, and a guy stealing short yardage AKA TOUCHDOWNS....this sounds bad. The Steelers can't just sit Bettis and Staley and let this guy run. Something has to give.

[Heavyg25]

Views
Staley is listed as questionable for this week's game against the Texans, while Jerome Bettis is listed as doubtful with a calf injury. Steelers coach Bill Cowher indicated that Staley may become the team's third-down back when he gets healthy, leaving Parker as the feature back and Bettis, once he's healthy, as the short-yardage guy.

I don't like the sound of this at all! You have a guy stealing third downs, and a guy stealing short yardage AKA TOUCHDOWNS....this sounds bad. The Steelers can't just sit Bettis and Staley and let this guy run. Something has to give.

Something is going to give...... probably Bettis's or Staley's knee.

[Hugh M. Griz]

Lotta love being spread in that locker room. Wonder how often they bust out into 'Kumbaya'?

That said, Heavyg makes a valid point. Unless you can return serious value in a sell-high trade for Willie, he may be the safest bet of that whole crew.

[Free Bagel]

There's another longer thread about this in the injuries & player updates forum, but I'll say the same thing here that I said there.

I don't like the sound of this at all! You have a guy stealing third downs, and a guy stealing short yardage AKA TOUCHDOWNS....this sounds bad. The Steelers can't just sit Bettis and Staley and let this guy run. Something has to give.

In other offenses that may be an issue, but Pitt runs so much it's still plenty.

A measely 60% of Pitt's carries last year would've been more than 300, and put that RB right up near the tops in the league in attempts.

[Keyser_WV]

I get the feeling that Bettis wouldn't mind if his role was reduced some.

It's no secret he is there for one more run at a ring.

This scenario was in another Parker post and I agree that this is what may happen.

Parker - Primary RB, 25 touches a game

Staley - Spell Parker when needed and increased goaline work

Bettis - Split goaline work with Staley.


Parker looks like the real deal but it's early. We need to see how he handles a couple bad games in a row.

There is really no risk in giving Parker the job. If he takes a step back Duce is right there ready to go.