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Thursday, December 05, 2013

Mid-week news, notes

Steelers rookie running back Le'Veon Bell has been cleared by doctors to return to action Sunday against Miami.

Bell went through full practices on both Wednesday and Thursday and has had no ill effects from the concussion he suffered last Thursday night in Baltimore.

Bell said the initial hit at the goal line wasn't the main cause of the concussion. After that blow, his helmet came off and his head bounced off the turf. Bell said he believes that was the blow that was the serious one.

@ This is just a feeling on my part, but if LaMarr Woodley plays on Sunday, which is a possibility after he was a full participant in practice Thursday, he could line up quite a bit on the right side of the defense, allowing Jason Worilds to continue on the left side.

@ Cornerback Ike Taylor called Miami's receiving  group the best the Steelers have faced to this point.

Some might scoff at that, but the numbers say Taylor might be right.

Brian Hartline has 62 receptions for 804 yards and three scores. Mike Wallace is at 56-743-3. Tight end Charles Clay has 53 catches for 581 yards and four scores.

The Dolphins have five players with at least 30 receptions and seven different players have scored touchdowns.

Young quarterback Ryan Tannehill is spreading the ball around in Miami's West Coast offense, though Hartline, Wallace and Clay are the main cogs.

Because of that, I look for the Steelers to play the Dolphins straight up, with Taylor staying on the right side and William Gay playing at left corner. The Steelers could also use Cortez Allen a lot on the outside and move Gay inside to cover Clay.

It will be an interesting chess match.

@ An interesting note: The Dolphins have given up one TD pass to a wide receiver all season. But they have also given up eight to opposing tight ends.

Could be a big game for Heath Miller.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I would give Bell a week off. RB's will get hit in the head, so skip a week.

Zac in Tempe

Anonymous said...

"Brian Hartline has 62 receptions for 804 yards and three scores. Mike Wallace is at 56-743-3. Tight end Charles Clay has 53 catches for 581 yards and four scores."

The Bears receivers are miles better.