Dan Kreider

In other ex-Steeler news, the Rams have invited Dan Kreider to training camp. Kreider blew out a knee last year with the Steelers and wasn't re-signed, as HC Mike Tomlin appears to prefer a multi-purpose player at the position, with Kreider regarded as "just" a blocker.

Kreider's one of the best at what he does, though, and Steelers fans at MVN.com have had nothing bad to say about him. See below, all copied from MVN. I tend to believe Steeler fans know their stuff, and at age 31, I think Kreider would be a very nice pickup for the Rams. At least make a very low-risk pickup and give him a shot to prove he's 100% healed from the blown knee. If Scott Linehan can bear to bring the Richard Owens Era to an end, of course.

Best of all, Kreider's hometown is Manheim, PA, which should lead to one of the more obvious nickname choices, though one I haven't seen bestowed upon him: The Manheim Steamroller.

Report Card: Dan Kreider

By Mike Frazer | February 22nd, 2008

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Grade: B

Dan Kreider barely made the cut with a bare-minimum four starts in 2007, but when he played, he played well.

The numbers don’t do him justice: a single carry for a mere two yards, and one catch for 15 yards. But, prior to a season-ending injury, Kreider was clearly the best lead blocker on the team. Willie Parker, himself, publicly stated that he would prefer Kreider to new primary fullback Carey Davis.

Maybe that comes from familiarity, to some extent. The two worked well together in 2005 and 2006, so Parker knew what to expect from his ‘dozer. But Kreider also led the way for Jerome Bettis and the oft-injured Duce Staley, leading the Steelers to one of the best rushing attacks year-in and year-out. No matter who was behind him, he cleared gaping holes.

Kreider was less a victim of diminished abilities than of new coach Mike Tomlin’s preference for “dual-purpose” players — men who could serve more than a single role. Davis had a spectacular pre-season running the ball, prompting Tomlin to name him the starter when the regular season began. However, it seemed the fact that Davis put up his numbers largely against backups — and the backups’ backups — was mostly lost on a new coaching staff trying to make a big statement, and the result was diminished returns from the running game until Kreider was re-inserted as the starter. Production picked up again, and stayed that way until Kreider was lost for the season.

For a man to perform as consistently well as Kreider has over the last eight years, and to handle a demotion without so much as a publicly heard sigh, earns him a solid B.

User comments:

* We could sure tell when Kreider was out our backfield was just not the same. I do not want to blame Parker's injury on loosing Dan, but it was not until after he was gone for the season. W/ out Parker we did not have any real running threat.

* It will be a real shame if the Steelers do not sign Dan in 2008. He is the essence of Steelers football - hard-nosed hitting - and he will be greatly missed. Too bad he was injured on the sloppy turf at Heinz field. He could have really contributed so much to the last few games. Obviously, Dan never gets the credit he deserves and I hope he can find a spot on another team that will appreciate him

* I agree the guy is tough as nails and can really serve up a pancake! It wasn’t his play that lost him the starting job, Tomlin just likes a FB that can swing out and catch a ball and go the distance.

* I watched Dan come threw the ranks of the game starting with the midget program in his home town of Manheim,Pa. Right to the high school level where he was a very tough player helping to lead us into playoffs year in and year out. We were proud as a town when he went to New Hampshire for college in fact we would even go down to the University of Delaware to see him play against his former High School Quarterback Matt Nagy. Then he walked on in Pittsburgh and without looking back had a terrific career. Needless to say everyone in his home town is so very proud to have watched is career on a Friday night, Then a Saturday Afternoon right into a Sunday Afternoon. Tough as Nails and one of the nicest guys you will ever find.

* I think that Dan Kreider is a much better player then Carey Davis. Dan is a good power runner, and a better blocker, and should be allowed to run with the ball more often in a season.

* The Steelers were never the same without Dan Kreider leading the way for whoever was running behind him. I hope the coaching staff watches past years to see Dan is needed in the backfield. The end of the season showed what can happen if the Steelers can not play power football. Coach Tomlin, you need Kreider in your backfield

* Dan is one hell of a football player and a class act. Pittsburgh wake up!