Every year in preseason, there’s the “Rust vs Rest” debate heading into the season. Should veterans practice and risk tweaking a leg muscle that could keep them out of an important game? If you rest them, will they have a hard time adjusting to the speed of the game again when the season rolls around?
I’m in the former camp. Some players have nothing to prove in preseason football, and some of our happen to be injury-prone. Aside from the third game (the dress-rehearsal) I do not want to see any of these guys playing before opening day in Baltimore.
Aaron Smith
We’re almost to the point where Aaron Smith can only be expected to start 5 or 6 games before he injures something else. The veteran DE has established his role in the Steelers’ defense, and any playing time allocated to him would be better spent getting Hood and Heyward more live-game experience (particularly Hood, since he’ll be taking all Smith’s injured time anyway.)
Hines Ward
Hines has clearly lost a step. His hands are as good as they’ve always been, but his legs [knees] are beginning to worry me. There are plenty of young receivers in the organization that would benefit from a little bit of time around starters. Emmanuel Sanders, should he be healed completely from a lingering foot injury, should get those snaps in Ward’s place. From his rookie year, Sanders looks like the quick, sure-handed possession receiver in line to take Ward’s spot. When the regular season comes around, we all know Hines will be just a foot ro two behind the first-down marker or the goal line, ready to get a football in his gut. No need to do it in August.
Casey Hampton
Hampton is one or two seasons away from collapsing in on himself. A man of his figure has a shelf life in the NFL, and I’m concerned he’s approaching it too quickly. Let Doug Worthington or Hood/Heyward get some time in alongside Brett Keisel and start to solidify the young guys behind the DL.
James Harrison
If Harrison isn’t playing, he isn’t getting fined. Let’s start with that. I don’t know if he has any lower gears, but if he plays his regular season style of football then he is going to hurt somebody and it is going to cost the Steelers. He’s got nothing to prove to the coaching staff. Just take it easy and it’s time to see what Jason Worilds can do.
Troy Polamalu
Don’t look now, but Troy is 30. He’s been in the league a long time now, and he doesn’t often play a full season. He’s not going to be needed in the preseason. Ryan Mundy can handle the starting time and will benefit more from it than Troy will. If Polamalu is in, he’s going to play Polamaluball and that all too often ends with a significant knee injury. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather save a big play from #43 with a minute left in Week 1 to preserve a win.
