Steelers Blog

Sanders ready to step up

Emmanuel Sanders shook his head, smiled and promised he won’t let it happen again.

“I got brought down by the punter, which is something I am not too happy about,” said Sanders. “But I get another opportunity this week.”

What Sanders was referring to was an electric fourth quarter 63-yard punt return against the New York Giants in the Steelers 24-20 win, that could have gone for a touchdown if he had not been stopped by punter Steve Weatherford.

His teammates have been teasing him about it, he has been getting on himself for it, and if that isn’t enough there is a large photo hanging in the hallway outside the Steelers locker room showing Weatherford getting ready to hit Sanders.

“I am giving myself heat,” said Sanders. “I have an alter ego telling me you got downed by a punter. I wish I would have scored. It is something next time I get the opportunity I will make the most of it and score. I have been getting heat all week. They aren’t going to let it go until I get another opportunity to take it the distance.”

Last week Sanders was forced into action after Antonio Brown suffered an ankle injury in the first half and Chris Rainey injured his ribs in the second half.

“Antonio went down in the first half so right after halftime I went out and caught some punts and got comfortable just in case,” said Sanders. “Then when I saw Chris Rainey go down and I knew I was up next. It was a crucial situation and I wanted to make a play to help my team win.

“You are a championship caliber team and when somebody goes down the next guy has to step up and fill that void. You have to play up to the standard. Coach (Mike) Tomlin says the standard is the standard. We live and breathe that. If we want to get to where we need to be and that’s Super Bowl champions, through the season guys will go down and guys will have to step in.”

The Steelers likely will need Sanders to step in this week against the Kansas City Chiefs, as both Brown and Rainey are still question marks. And while Sanders doesn’t know yet exactly what his role will be, whatever it is he will be spending time this week getting ready.

“We are playing on Monday night so I have an extra day to prepare myself,” said Sanders. “I have to study a lot. I am going to work hard in practice and stay singularly focused on winning. If the ball comes my way it comes my way, but I am going to do my job, get open and make plays.

“I am excited about the opportunity to help my team win. It’s a Monday night game, a lot of fun, great environment. Hopefully I can have a big game as a returner and receiver.”

Ready for primetime

The Steelers are no stranger to playing games in primetime, and as always players are pumped to be center stage when they travel to Denver for NBC’s Sunday Night Football this week.

“You have to love it,” said Antonio Brown. “All of your peers are watching; all football fans are all watching. It doesn’t get any better than Sunday night. Everyone is watching. It doesn’t get any better than opening the season there.”

And when the bright lights are on, everyone wants to shine.

“You play the game for these big-time games,” said Emmanuel Sanders. “That is what we live for, everyone is watching and they are watching to see the Steelers win.

“I have grown up on big time players doing big time things in big time games. Everybody wants to be that guy that makes the game winning catch on national television.”

The Steelers have had success in primetime under Coach Mike Tomlin, with a 19-7 record, including 10-4 on the road and 8-5 on Sunday Night Football.

“I love football in general, but to start the season off primetime, Sunday night, the whole country watching is what you want,” said Ryan Mundy.  “It’s a big game for us and an opportunity to start our season off right as we try to pursue our goals for the 2012 season.”

Teammates welcome Wallace back

The Steelers practice facility was buzzing on Tuesday with Mike Wallace back in the fold, ending his holdout that covered the team’s OTAs, minicamp and training camp.

And those happiest to have Wallace back were his fellow wide receivers.

“Everyone is excited around here just to get him back,” said Emmanuel Sanders. “The dimension that Mike brings to the offense is the speed. He takes the top off the coverage for us.

“He is a big time playmaker around here. He has been doing that the past three years. We are excited to get him back. He is the last link for us to take off.”

Antonio Brown was energized to have Wallace back, knowing it helps the offense overall to have the speedy receiver as part of the arsenal.

“It definitely helps everyone’s cause with a guy like Mike, taking the top off defenses,” said Brown. “It opens us up. Mike can do so many things to get us open, draw coverage, help us get open underneath. It allows so many other things and options.

“It’s something special, knowing we have our guy back. We all need him here, working together, moving on in the right direction and chasing the Lombardi. He is going to be a key role in that.”

Another person who is going to benefit by Wallace’s return is quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, giving him another weapon on the field.

“To have him here is another piece of the puzzle that completes it for us,” said Roethlisberger. “He is a fast guy that stretches the field for guys and gets other guys open and makes big plays for us.”

Wallace will have some catching up to do, but his teammates are happy to make sure he is right on schedule for opening day in Denver on Sept. 9.

“We are going to do the extra things we need to do to make sure he is ready,” said Brown. “If that is stay out after practice, we will do the necessary things to make sure when we go to Denver we are ready. It’s going to take a little bit of time and studying but that is why he is here. It’s just fun to have him back and see if we can get off to a great start.”

Wallace can’t practice for three days, ruling him out for the preseason finale against Carolina on Thursday night, and giving him only a week to prepare for the Denver game. But teammates are confident he will be ready.

“I feel like he is going to do everything necessary that he has to do,” said Sanders. “The coaches are going to work with him hard to get him caught up.

“It’s a new playbook. There are some similar things he will be able to pick up on. He is not familiar with the concepts, but he will get caught up fast and coach will do an exceptional job getting him caught up. I think he will be ready by Denver. No question about it.”

There was no dissension among the ranks, with the players understanding Wallace’s situation and welcoming him back with open arms.

“We understand. That is the business part,” said Sanders. “We missed his personality in the offensive room. Ever since I have been here he has been in that meeting room. It’s been different, but everyone is glad he is back. The Young Money Crew is back. We are looking forward to that. It’s going to be fun.”

And speaking of fun, right after Wallace arrived at the facility linebacker James Harrison had some fun snagging Wallace for the first exclusive interview, which he posted on his Twitter account, @jharrison9292.

“We are friends before anything else and he wanted to talk to a friend first, so I was there for him,” said Harrison. “We talked a little bit and then he gave me the first exclusive.”

Don’t look for Harrison to change professions and join the media ranks, though.

“I don’t like putting cameras in people’s faces,” said Harrison. “It’s not me. But you have to first hear it from James Harrison.”

Sanders hopes to stay injury free

After a 2011 season marred by foot injuries, wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders is hoping to stay injury free this year and contribute as much as possible to the offense.

“I am doing everything I can to stay healthy,” said Sanders, who was held out of practice on Sunday by Coach Mike Tomlin. “My injury has never been a hamstring. It’s a bone (injury) that comes from the physicality of being on the field. I don’t think about getting hurt, I play hard, I play fast.

“When I am on the field feeling good I feel like no one can stop me. If I stay healthy I feel like I can have a big year.”

Sanders started against the Eagles and was pleased with the first outing.

“It felt to go out there and execute,” said Sanders. “I felt like I played well, but I still have a long way to go. That is what the preseason and training camp is for.”

Sanders hopes offense throws the ball

Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders would love to see the Steelers throw the ball every play, but knows that with new offensive coordinator Todd Haley this camp will be about developing an identity for the offense.

“We are out here trying to find our identity, whether we are going to pass the ball 60 percent of the time or 40 percent of the time,” said Sanders. “I am a receiver so I am hoping we throw the ball 80 times a game. In OTAs it was 50-50.

“Talking to Todd he said we are going to do whatever it takes to win, whether it’s pass the ball or run. I am hoping its pass.”

Sanders, who was hampered by a foot injury last season, is excited about the 2012 season.

“Football season is finally here,” said Sanders. “We are back to work. Now it’s time to put all of the hard work form the last six months to the test.

“I am looking to get better. That is what training camp is all about. I am training to get better, training to learn the offense and continuing to gain Ben’s (Roethlisberger) trust so when the game comes around he can trust me.”

Dancing with the Steelers

Receiver Emmanuel Sanders plans on doing typical workouts this offseason, with a minor twist.

“I was talking to the trainers and I am probably going to do a little dancing,” said Sanders. “Really just rest, that is what it needs, and to use my bone stimulator every day. Just get the bone stronger and take calcium and things of that nature. “

Sanders said he plans on getting together with fellow receiver Antonio Brown to do the dancing, something the two feel will help them.

“Me and Antonio have talked about linking up in Miami and doing that,” said Sanders. “I don’t know. He actually brought that idea up. It’s good for you.”

Ben, Pouncey have a “shot” this week

Coach Mike Tomlin is not ready to rule out many players this week as the Steelers prepare to take on the Cleveland Browns on Sunday at 4:15 p.m., but two players not likely to play are running back Mewelde Moore and center/guard Doug Legursky.

“Some guys probably on the outside looking in from a health standpoint…Mewelde Moore continues to work his way back from his MCL sprain,” said Tomlin. “Doug Legursky is probably going to be a week away with his left shoulder. We’ll make the necessary adjustments there.

“All the other guys that have existing injuries or missed the last performance due to injury are in play as we sit here today.”

Among the players Tomlin said have a “shot” this week are center Maurkice Pouncey, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and linebacker LaMarr Woodley.

“Hopefully we get all of those guys back,” said Tomlin. “It’s our intention right now if the guys are healthy enough to practice and prepare, of course we will play them.”

Pouncey out for Saturday

Ruled out for Saturday’s game against the Rams are: CB Curtis Brown (knee), RB Mewelde Moore (knee), C Maurkice Pouncey (ankle), and WR Emmanuel Sanders (foot).

Questionable are: LB Chris Carter (hamstring), QB Ben Roethlisberger (ankle), LB LaMarr Woodley (hamstring)

Steelers injury update

As expected Ben Roethlisberger missed practice on Thursday with an ankle sprain. Also missing practice were: LB Chris Carter (hamstring), T Marcus Gilbert (illness), S Troy Polamalu (hamstring), C Maurkice Pouncey (ankle), and WR Emmanuel Sanders (foot).

Two players were limited in practice – WR Arnaz Battle (hamstring) and CB Curtis Brown (knee

Arians not sure if Sanders will play

Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians indicated after practice that wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, who did not practice on Tuesday, might not play Thursday night against the Cleveland Browns.

“He wasn’t ready to come back,” said Arians. “I think he favored his foot because of his knee. He has a little aggravation of both. We have to wait and see how it goes. It may be a time for him to sit and rest for 11 days and get truly healthy.”

Arians is more optimistic about having guard Ramon Foster play.

“He practiced,” said Arians. “We will see how it goes. He’s a tough dude. It’s a low ankle sprain, not a high one. So he should be alright.”

Woodley, Sanders among those not practicing

Five Steelers did not practice on Tuesday, including LB Chris Carter (hamstring), RB Jonathan Dwyer (foot), T Chris Hoke (neck), WR Emmanuel Sanders (foot), LB LaMarr Woodley (hamstring). In addition WR Arnaz Battle (hamstring) was limited in practice.

Legursky to start, Sanders could play

Roethlisberger, Woodley limited in practice

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (thumb), linebacker LaMarr Woodley (hamstring) and receiver Arnaz Battle (hamstring) were limited in practice on Wednesday.

Roethlisberger has repeatedly said he will play on Sunday, and in the past has risen to the occasion when playing with an injury.

“I want to be out there for my guys,” said Roethlisberger. “You have to play a little better, harder and focus more. That might be the only explanation.”

Safety Troy Polamalu (ribs) and receiver Emmanuel Sanders (knee) participated fully in practice.

Steelers getting healthy after bye

Steelers injury update

Only four players did not practice on Thursday, including WR Arnaz Battle (hamstring), S Troy Polamalu (rib), WR Emmanuel Sanders (knee), and LB LaMarr Woodley (hamstring).

Linebacker James Harrison was limited with what was listed as a toe injury. Wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery and linebacker Stevenson Sylvester returned for a full practice.

Steelers injury update

Emmanuel Sanders had his knee scoped on Monday and Coach Mike Tomlin said it was deemed a success, but could miss a couple of weeks. Daniel Sepulveda also underwent surgery on Monday.

Wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery has swelling on his knee and might be limited in practice early in the week.

Hines Ward appears to be doing well with concussion-like symptoms. He will be assessed again on Wednesday, but should be okay to go this week.

James Harrison had no issues coming off of his injury and LaMarr Woodley and James Farrior will be evaluated this week.