Pittsburgh Steelers rookie Limas Sweed is under fire for his wicked case of "stone hands" during the last 3 games. In the season finale against Cleveland, Sweed dropped a perfectly thrown Byron Leftwich bomb that would have been a sure touchdown. Two games later, in the AFC Championship against the Ravens, Sweed dropped a perfectly thrown Roethlisberger bomb that would have resulted in a touchdown as well.
Many in Steeler nation are already calling Sweed a bust...these are the same people that called Lawrence Timmons a bust for the last couple of seasons. That said, I'm giving Sweed a free pass.
Yeah, Casey Hampton could have caught the two balls that Sweed dropped. But, Sweed doesn't deserve to take the verbal beating that he is experiencing. There are so many rookies making an impact in the NFL currently that the rookies that are playing like "rookies" are not being treated as rookies....(Side note: That may be a world record for the most number of times the word "rookie" was used in a single sentence)
Sweed ranks 6th on the all-time receptions list at the University of Texas and 5th on the career receiving yards list. Additionally, Sweed is 2nd in Texas history in career touchdown receptions and tied for most touchdown catches (12) in a season with the great Roy Williams. (Now he's just Roy Williams since he's playing with a star on his helmet.)
Limas Sweed did not forget how to catch a football. If anything, people should be extremely impressed with Sweed's ability to create separation. He has been wide open on the two notable drops that he couldn't haul in. Sweed will be okay....as soon as he gets some game experience under his belt...and some glue on his gloves.
Many in Steeler nation are already calling Sweed a bust...these are the same people that called Lawrence Timmons a bust for the last couple of seasons. That said, I'm giving Sweed a free pass.
Yeah, Casey Hampton could have caught the two balls that Sweed dropped. But, Sweed doesn't deserve to take the verbal beating that he is experiencing. There are so many rookies making an impact in the NFL currently that the rookies that are playing like "rookies" are not being treated as rookies....(Side note: That may be a world record for the most number of times the word "rookie" was used in a single sentence)
Sweed ranks 6th on the all-time receptions list at the University of Texas and 5th on the career receiving yards list. Additionally, Sweed is 2nd in Texas history in career touchdown receptions and tied for most touchdown catches (12) in a season with the great Roy Williams. (Now he's just Roy Williams since he's playing with a star on his helmet.)
Limas Sweed did not forget how to catch a football. If anything, people should be extremely impressed with Sweed's ability to create separation. He has been wide open on the two notable drops that he couldn't haul in. Sweed will be okay....as soon as he gets some game experience under his belt...and some glue on his gloves.
You're right. Limas Sweed isn't a bust. He's a rookie, and he's gonna make mistakes. At least he didn't pull the showboating crap that DeSean Jackson pulled.
ReplyDeleteWith time, Limas is going to be Pro-Bowl material. I definitely see him being the face of Pittsburgh's WR corps in the years to come. And, as a Bengals fan, that scares me.