With Wallace out, Sanders catching up

With Wallace out, Sanders catching up
By Alan Robinson
Published: Thursday, August 9, 2012
Updated 9 hours ago

Receiver Emmanuel Sanders still has some catching up to do.

He’d like to get a jump on it when the Steelers open their preseason schedule Thursday in Philadelphia. It will be one of those blink-and-they’re gone nights for the starters, but Sanders said every second on the field is important.

If only because, with the unsigned Mike Wallace still not in camp, Sanders is starting at the “X” position, which usually is manned by the top downfield threat. He also has moved up to No. 2 on quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s checkdown list, behind the newly rich Antonio Brown.

Be it only an exhibition game, but Sanders is replacing Wallace as a starter for the first time since Wallace’s contract dispute began.

“Unfortunately Mike isn’t here, and we want him here because I feel he’s a great asset to this receiving corps,” Sanders said. “But if he’s not here, it’s an opportunity for me to gain chemistry with Ben and prove that I can make plays out there.”

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I'm really pulling for Sanders to stay healthy and turn it on this year, especially if Wallace continues holding out. I'd like to see Sanders make Wallace expendable and take his game to a whole new level. I've grown tired of the Wallace drama and would just like to see someone else at this point. Sanders has shown flashes in his limited playing time and I think he can be the answer to the holdout if he can just stay healthy.

I'm excited for Sanders this year as much as I was for Brown last year. It's his time to shine, and let's see what he can make of it.

bayz101 wrote:

I'm excited for Sanders this year as much as I was for Brown last year. It's his time to shine, and let's see what he can make of it.

He's a restricted free agent after this season, so I'd figure he'll be balls to the wall trying to showcase himself this year for a new contract. I have high expectations for him.

Curious......what exactly is the problem with Sander's feet? The nurse in me wants to know.

I googled it yesterday and couldn't find anything.

Gingerchip wrote:

Curious......what exactly is the problem with Sander's feet? The nurse in me wants to know.

I googled it yesterday and couldn't find anything.

He ran into Rex Ryan.

Sanders broke his right foot in our loss to Green Bay in the Super Bowl, and never really let it heal correctly and fully.

I tried to google specifically what the injury was, but about 5 minutes of searching didn't really turn up much. I know it was a fracture of some kind, and he had some kind of injection during training camp last year to try to speed up the healing process. I believe he had 3 separate operations done on his feet. He had issues with both of his feet, and he also dealt with some swelling and fluid on his knee mid-season last year.

Thanks Dodens! I thought it was something like tendonitis or some type of chronic problem with his arches or something along those lines.

bayz101 wrote:

He ran into Rex Ryan.

DOH!!

Gingerchip wrote:

Thanks Dodens! I thought it was something like tendonitis or some type of chronic problem with his arches or something along those lines.

Luckily not, he had no injury history of note prior to the Super Bowl injury.

I'm on record as saying that when healthy, Sanders might actually be a better receiver than A. Brown. They were drafted together, and Sanders was ahead of Brown on the depth chart for two straight seasons before his injuries. But Brown is probably further along in his development now because of experience. If Wallace doesn't come back, I'm predicting that Sanders has a bigger year than Brown (not just because I think he's a better receiver, but because as the No. 1 target, Brown will be getting more attention from opposing defenses).

And speaking of Wallace:

Quote :

Mark Kaboly ‏@MarkKaboly_Trib

Wanna know what Mike Wallace is thinking about by holding out? Well, just ask David Johnson.

Wallace108 wrote:

I'm on record as saying that when healthy, Sanders might actually be a better receiver than A. Brown. They were drafted together, and Sanders was ahead of Brown on the depth chart for two straight seasons before his injuries. But Brown is probably further along in his development now because of experience. If Wallace doesn't come back, I'm predicting that Sanders has a bigger year than Brown (not just because I think he's a better receiver, but because as the No. 1 target, Brown will be getting more attention from opposing defenses).

And speaking of Wallace:

Quote :

Mark Kaboly ‏@MarkKaboly_Trib

Wanna know what Mike Wallace is thinking about by holding out? Well, just ask David Johnson.

I'm not sure if he'll have a better year, but it's certainly possible that he'll have a great one. Not commenting on Wallace. Sign your tender, dumb-ass.