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NFL > Pittsburgh Steelers > A BRUISER At "Nose"!!!!!

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October 22, 2011, 09:42 AM

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"Only a technicality will prevent Steve McLendon from making his first career start Sunday. That is how the second-year defensive tackle is approaching the Steelers' upcoming game at Arizona.

"That's one person I'm not worried about," Hampton said. "He's big, strong, physical; it's just a matter of him getting some experience because all the tools of being a really, really good nose tackle are there for him. (If the Cardinals) test him, that'll be a mistake because he'll definitely be ready to go."

That is high praise for a player the Steelers signed as an undrafted free agent in 2009 and released from their practice squad his first season with the team.

The 6-foot-4, 280-pound McLendon has relied on resiliency as much as brute strength to get here. The former Troy standout played his way onto the 53-man roster early last season and appeared in seven games."

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/ste elers/s_763014.html

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Once, AGAIN, Pittsburgh discovers/employs a player passed-over by the "experts".

What better a test, than against Pittsburgh West?

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July 31, 2012 05:25 AM ET

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"It's uncommon for recent first-round draft picks to share the same position, but Hood and Heyward are running 1-2 at left defensive end.

Heyward can play either the left side or the right, where Brett Keisel starts. When the Steelers go with the 25-year-old Hood, the 26-year-old Steve McLendon and the 23-year-old Heyward together, it becomes one of their youngest defensive lines ever.

McLendon will start the season at nose tackle if 12-year veteran Casey Hampton isn't ready."

http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/2288295-85/hood-heyward-amu-steelers-s eason-defense-round-defensive-didn-players