Antwan Peek has Surgery

Will miss the rest of training camp and hopefully back for Week 1

over 3 years ago Roger Dorn 14 comments 0 recs |

Comments

Not great news, but at least Alex Hall has been receiving good reviews and can be considered a candidate to replace him.

I promoted your fanshot to the front page; will discuss Peek and OLB situation a little more in my training camp report later on.

Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.

by Chris Pokorny on Jul 31, 2008 6:45 PM EDT reply actions

Dammit

I really don’t think Hall is ready. Hope he learns fast.

Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.

by BringBackKosar on Jul 31, 2008 6:58 PM EDT reply actions

My belief about the NFL is that experience is not nearly as valuable as people believe it is. Alex Hall doesn’t need to be a complete player, just a pass rusher. They can play McGinest on first and second down, bring Hall in on obvious passing downs.

Honestly, if we have to have an early camp injury, this is a good position. We’ve got lots of depth.

by NickFantana on Jul 31, 2008 9:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Alex Hall is a rookie from a D-II college…he will not be ready to play at all. The competition level is far above what he has ever seen, the schemes are infinitely more complicated, and his talent level isn’t great to begin with. There is simply no way he will be ready to contribute at all early in the season.

by gahnki on Jul 31, 2008 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions

I’ll bet you a six pack.

by NickFantana on Aug 1, 2008 12:00 AM EDT up reply actions

There are exceptions that can always occur, but I think I understand where you’re coming from. While he has received a lot of attention from the media and the coaches, most of the talk has been centered around potential.

However, if he proves to be a quick learned over the next couple of weeks and shows he can contribute on special teams, there could be a spot for him. If Peek remains out longer than Week 1, a roster spot could be decided between McMillan and Hall. Definitely one of the highlights in terms of competitions to look forward to during the preseason games now…

Dawgs By Nature - Find out why Pittsburgh still sucks.

by Chris Pokorny on Aug 1, 2008 12:07 AM EDT up reply actions

DeMarcus Ware. Marques Colston

by Roger Dorn on Aug 1, 2008 8:32 AM EDT up reply actions

Right on Dawg!

by NickFantana on Aug 1, 2008 9:13 AM EDT up reply actions

Brian Westbrook

by Roger Dorn on Aug 1, 2008 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions

I guess I am mixing I-AA and II now

by Roger Dorn on Aug 1, 2008 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions

DeMarcus Ware came from D-1 Troy….he saw some solid competition. He was also drafted in the first round at 11 overall.

Besides, pointing out the exception is kind of futile other than showing it sometimes does happen. However, if I had a list of 7th round picks who didn’t contribute their first season it would fill up this entire page.

by gahnki on Aug 1, 2008 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions

I get that. Your comment above was saying that there was absolutely no way, which in my view is not true. I do agree that it is unlikely that he will be a major contributor this year

by Roger Dorn on Aug 1, 2008 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions

I may have used a bit of hyperbole before, but what was suggested just isn’t going to happen. Maybe by the end of the season he will receive meaningful time. In the first few games against quality opponents? Doubtful.

I would question the complexity of schemes he ran and faced at the D-2 level. Comparing the responsibility of a running back or wide receiver who largely have predefined responsibilities on a play to an outside linebackers is streching the theory.

He needs to be able to know what to do versus a three wide, four wide, jumbo, I form, etc. and then be good enough to execute his responsibilites quickly and on instinct.

Hall needs to make his mark on special teams before he will be given a shot on defense. Heck, he is just fighting for a roster spot right now.

by gahnki on Aug 1, 2008 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions

He certainly won’t be a complete OLB who can do 100% of the things we would like him to by Week 1.

But just getting after the QB is pretty much the same at every level. The players are bigger and faster, blocking schemes are different, but “there is the QB, go get him” is pretty much always the same. Obviously, if every time Hall is on the field he is rushing the QB, that will give the opposing offense a lot of info as to what we will do, and it will limit our scheme a lot.

If he can rush the passer and learn to cover either a specific zone or man to man, and the opposing offense still has to guess as to what he will do at least a little, he can be valuable as a situational guy in week 1. He’s got another month and then some to learn. It’s probably not likely, but don’t count him out.

by rufio on Aug 1, 2008 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions