It's Time to Shut Up About Dri Archer.

Could be a huge asset as a specialty weapon if he has the talent (besides speed) and is used correctly.
I'm not banking on it.
"Can run it between the tackles".........I don't think so.

De’Anthony Thomas Position Switch Might Not Be Model To Follow For Dri Archer

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2015/06/deanthony-thomas-position-switch-might-not-be-model-to-follow-for-dri-archer/

So are the days in Archer's life

Dri Archer is a versatile football player, and one fast human being. Archer continues to try and find his niche within the offense, and continues to bounce back and forth between running back and wide receiver. Today, Archer was seeing time at receiver and got an average review from Coach Mann:

Dri Archer has been bouncing around day to day from WR to RB. "Today,"WR coach Richard Mann said,"we had him. "He's gotten a little better."

http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/nfl-pittsburgh-steelers-news/2015/6/10/8763643/pittsburgh-steelers-news-day-9-otas-recap

IMO, Steeler Nation has NO clue what to expect out of Archer. For every one person that says he is gonna be money, there are 2 that say he is a bust and is just taking up a roster spot. If he does well, the nay sayers will be less than impressed and will probably shrug it off chalking it up to how Shazier got hot during the preseason then fizzled in the regular season. If he doesn't do well, the people that believed in him won't have too much invested in him (because I feel like they are the same people that believed in Rainey).

Face it, Dri Archer cant run inside the tackles, so its outside in space. Problem is that the guys outside in space run a 4.3 as well and they are 190-210LBS. Dri Archer will have less of an impact on the NFL than Dexter McCluster, Tavon Austin or Chris Rainey. I think any of those guys are more physical runners than Archer.

I would have rather had De Anthony Thomas or used the pick on Crockett Gilmore or Justin Ellis

The solution is simple. Work out with James Harrison til Dri gets that cyborg/GI Joe body-type James has got (relative to his size). He can't just be a speedster. Needs to be a speedster that can at least hurt somebody back.

seem a little over whelmed mentally in his rookie season a little hard work on his mental game this summer to go with his speed. should be a little stronger after his second camp.

i thought he didn't do that badly in the ravens game as a receiver, but he needs to line up in the slot instead of at RB, even if he gained 10-15 lbs i wouldnt have much faith in him to stay in the backfield and block if needed.

Good article about Archer. I completely forgot about him in the "O". If he can develop as a person who can get big yards in space, it's another dimension a D coordinator will have to account for.

http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/pittsburgh-steelers-nfl-features-news-blog-long-form/2015/7/1/8876091/2015-pittsburgh-steelers-to-go-from-rags-to-riches-dri-archer

jak341 wrote:

Good article about Archer. I completely forgot about him in the "O". If he can develop as a person who can get big yards in space, it's another dimension a D coordinator will have to account for.

http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/pittsburgh-steelers-nfl-features-news-blog-long-form/2015/7/1/8876091/2015-pittsburgh-steelers-to-go-from-rags-to-riches-dri-archer

Good article Jak. I agree with this line:

Quote :

The coaching staff needs to have more patience with Archer.

Seems I read somewhere (may have been an article earlier in this thread) that Archer admitted he needed to be more patient on kick return duties. In college he could catch the ball and turn on the jets. In the NFL, the blocking hadn't set up and he's flying up field, only to get tackled for minimal gain. Another thing I think Archer needs to learn is to set up his blocks on run plays ... something I give an 'A' to Bell. Instead of just getting the ball and trying to run to the sideline, he needs to dip inside, juke outside, etc. Finally, there was mention that Ben didn't really have confidence in him as a receiver. If Archer can show that he fully knows where to be and when, coupled with the things I mentioned above, he'll be one of those X-factor players that can drive d-coordinators nuts. It's tough enough to try to gameplan to stop Bell, but then try telling your players that on top of stopping one of football's best running backs, but, oh by the way, when #13 enters the game he's fast as sh!t and you need to adjust your angles.

PRE-CAMP ANALYSIS: RBs

Bob Labriola
Steelers.com

The Steelers like what they have as a 1-2 RB tandem heading into training camp.



RUNNING BACKS

Similar to quarterback, this is a position where the competition during training camp will focus on the bottom of the depth chart, because the current No. 1 is among the best in the NFL. Le’Veon Bell was voted first-team All-Pro last season, and Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk believes Bell soon will have a season in which he rushes for 1,000 yards and catches passes for 1,000 yards.

Such an achievement doesn’t figure to happen in 2015 because of Bell’s suspension, and how the Steelers plan to manage his suspension will begin to unfold at Saint Vincent College.

“I don’t think it will play out a whole lot different, just because in training camp we are splitting the reps, and we are trying to evaluate guys,” said offensive coordinator Todd Haley. “We have DeAngelo Williams, Josh Harris, and Dri Archer, and some other guys who are still competing for opportunities. We have to get everybody ready and make decisions on who the best guys are.”

Because Williams is a 10th year NFL player, it’s not a question of whether he’s capable because he has rushed for 6,846 yards and averaged 4.8 per carry along the way. With Williams, it figures to be more about health, and so Coach Mike Tomlin will balance the practice/preseason repetitions in an effort to prepare the player for the start of the season without leaving too much of him on the fields in Latrobe.

“Getting a seasoned veteran like DeAngelo in here is a good thing,” said Haley. “He has played a lot of snaps and a lot of football. You can see it in how he carries himself. He is showing leadership to some of the younger guys. But at the same time I like our young guys who are developing.”

The young guys to whom Haley was referring are Josh Harris and Dri Archer, both going into their second NFL seasons. But since Archer arrived as a third-round pick and Harris as an in-camp free agent signing, the expectation level is dramatically different as are the roles each player will try to fill.

For Harris, it’s to show himself capable of being a traditional No. 2 running back during the length of Bell’s suspension. Carry the football, catch the occasional pass, step up and deliver in pass protection. Because the Steelers figure to utilize more than one running back in every regular season game, Harris will have to convince the coaches he can be trusted to play on Sept. 10 in New England.

Archer’s chore is similar, but he’ll be competing for a less traditional role. It makes little sense to expect someone who’s 5-foot-8 and 173 pounds to run the ball between the tackles and take on blitzing linebackers, and so the Steelers are expected to look for ways to maximize his difference-making speed.

to read rest of article:

http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/PRE-CAMP-ANALYSIS-RBs/be264629-71c0-4375-93aa-8f56a5c00f6b

Ray Fittipaldo @rayfitt1 -

Not so subtle challenge from Pouncey to second year specialist Dri Archer to step up. "We need to get past the 15 on kickoff returns."

http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/nfl-pittsburgh-steelers-news/2015/7/25/9039461/maurkice-pouncey-to-dri-archer-and-steelers-return-teams-we-need-to

Dri Archer Just Wants The Ball In His Hands In 2015

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2015/07/dri-archer-just-wants-the-ball-in-hands-in-2015/?SportsRoadhouse.com%2FSteelers=

To counterpoint the Dri Archer article, from Peter King's Blog article today:

Quote :

The one name on the roster I’d forgotten about. Dri Archer, wideout/running back. Maybe Steeler Nation will forget about him, too, if he doesn’t start making some plays. At 5-8 and 173, Archer needs to be the kind of shake-and-bake player who makes defenders miss on multiple plays a game. He hasn’t been, and looked totally pedestrian in this practice.

seems like the Steelers never have any luck with the little fast guys. hope Archer makes a turn around.

Alex Kozora ‏@Alex_Kozora

Archer slippery, runs through Timmons on a draw. #Steelers

https://twitter.com/Alex_Kozora

Haley Hints That It Will Be Tough To Get Archer On The Field More In 2015

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2015/08/dri-archer-todd-haley-sirius-interview-2015-training-camp/

Mark Kaboly ‏@MarkKaboly_Trib

Danny Smith on Dri Archer: "I think he realizes fast isn’t good enough. A lot of fast guys work at McDonalds, but they can’t play this game"

https://twitter.com/MarkKaboly_Trib

Archer is Digest Player of the Week

Bob Labriola
Steelers.com

Dri Archer made plays as a runner, receiver, and a returner in the Steelers' 14-3 loss to the Vikings.

His numbers weren’t spectacular, but they were about the best anyone on the Steelers offense could muster, and throughout the game Dri Archerfinally looked like he belonged in the NFL.

Archer rushed for 24 yards on four carries, he caught six passes for 33 yards, and his only kickoff return went for 34 yards. Archer was not tentative with the ball in his hands, as he so often seemed to be as a rookie in 2014, and the way he was used in the preseason opening 14-3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings figures to be the way he’ll be used the rest of this season.

Archer is the Steelers Digest Player of the Week.

Also considered were Shakim Phillips, who caught two passes for 43 yards, including a one-handed grab while on a dead run deep down the seam for a 35-yard gain; Ryan Shazier, who had five tackles and almost came up with a dividing interception of an underthrown ball in a game in which his speed was evident against both the run and the pass; Kevin Fogg, who had one tackle on defense and another tackle on special teams in which he saved a touchdown on a 62-yard punt return by Stefon Diggs plus an interception for the Steelers’ only takeaway of the game; Ethan Hemer, who had the team’s only sack; and Stephon Tuitt, who had two tackles in somewhat limited playing time.

http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/Archer-is-Digest-Player-of-the-Week/e947dc98-b4d5-49bf-893e-2f477a65d08e

I wasn't overly impressed with the output of last night's game, but Archer was certainly a highlight of the night.

from Jim Wexell:

* Dri Archer still threatens defenses with his speed but still goes down too easily. My instinct is that he's not tough enough for this league, but too many people smarter than me disagree. So I'll watch more.

* At least he brought a kickoff out past the 15. That's a start.

http://www.scout.com/nfl/steelers/story/1572304-steelers-with-slow-start-to-long-season

Archer hopes to be an impact player Thursday night

http://burgh.us/thw

Hes fast but hes got no juke moves, he runs straight into tackles.

Hawaii 5-0 wrote:

Archer hopes to be an impact player Thursday night

http://burgh.us/thw

Nada, zilch, nothing, diddly, zero, zip, goose egg.