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Numbers game doesn't faze Grisham
August 20th, 2010
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Hines Ward and Mike Wallace are entrenched as the starters. Veterans Antwaan Randle El and Arnaz Battle were not signed during the offseason just to be practice bodies. And the two wide receivers the Steelers drafted in April look like they have a future in Pittsburgh.
Tyler Grisham would not be human if the second-year man out of Clemson didn’t do the math and realize it does not favor him.
The Steelers don’t figure to carry more than six wide receivers on their 53-man roster. And one of those spots could go to Stefan Logan if coach Mike Tomlin again decides that Logan is too valuable as a kick returner to keep off the team.
“You try not to play the numbers game,” said Grisham, who played in four games last season. “Everybody talks about it. I try not to be around it.”
That doesn’t mean Grisham isn’t feeling a sense of urgency with the Steelers set to play their second preseason game Saturday night at the Meadowlands.
“I need do something in the game,” said Grisham, who caught one pass for 14 yards last season. “I’m playing well in practice. I just want to go out there and make plays.”
The 5-11, 180-pounder looks like he has the ability to do that at this level.
Grisham is a crisp route runner and catches almost everything thrown in his direction. And, yes, for anyone wondering people tell him all of the time that he reminds them of Wes Welker, who led the NFL in catches (123) last season despite missing the last two games because of a knee injury.
“I guess we are similar in a lot of ways, similar statures, short-space quickness, hands,” Grisham said. “If I can be a player like him and be productive that would be great, and that’s my goal.”
His immediate goal is to play his way onto the Steelers, and a lot can happen between now and Sept. 4 when 53-man rosters have to be finalized. There could be an injury and it would be premature to put Antonio Brown on the team based on what he did during training camp and one preseason game.
Grisham, for his part, is no stranger to long odds.
He signed with the Steelers in 2009 as an undrafted free agent, made the practice squad and eventually the 53-man roster.
“Last year, I was just playing free. I had nothing to lose,” Grisham said. “Now that I know what it’s like to actually play and I was getting paid for it I don’t want to lose it. So now I’m trying not to be anxious, trying to just go out there and play and have fun.”
August 20th, 2010
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Hines Ward and Mike Wallace are entrenched as the starters. Veterans Antwaan Randle El and Arnaz Battle were not signed during the offseason just to be practice bodies. And the two wide receivers the Steelers drafted in April look like they have a future in Pittsburgh.
Tyler Grisham would not be human if the second-year man out of Clemson didn’t do the math and realize it does not favor him.
The Steelers don’t figure to carry more than six wide receivers on their 53-man roster. And one of those spots could go to Stefan Logan if coach Mike Tomlin again decides that Logan is too valuable as a kick returner to keep off the team.
“You try not to play the numbers game,” said Grisham, who played in four games last season. “Everybody talks about it. I try not to be around it.”
That doesn’t mean Grisham isn’t feeling a sense of urgency with the Steelers set to play their second preseason game Saturday night at the Meadowlands.
“I need do something in the game,” said Grisham, who caught one pass for 14 yards last season. “I’m playing well in practice. I just want to go out there and make plays.”
The 5-11, 180-pounder looks like he has the ability to do that at this level.
Grisham is a crisp route runner and catches almost everything thrown in his direction. And, yes, for anyone wondering people tell him all of the time that he reminds them of Wes Welker, who led the NFL in catches (123) last season despite missing the last two games because of a knee injury.
“I guess we are similar in a lot of ways, similar statures, short-space quickness, hands,” Grisham said. “If I can be a player like him and be productive that would be great, and that’s my goal.”
His immediate goal is to play his way onto the Steelers, and a lot can happen between now and Sept. 4 when 53-man rosters have to be finalized. There could be an injury and it would be premature to put Antonio Brown on the team based on what he did during training camp and one preseason game.
Grisham, for his part, is no stranger to long odds.
He signed with the Steelers in 2009 as an undrafted free agent, made the practice squad and eventually the 53-man roster.
“Last year, I was just playing free. I had nothing to lose,” Grisham said. “Now that I know what it’s like to actually play and I was getting paid for it I don’t want to lose it. So now I’m trying not to be anxious, trying to just go out there and play and have fun.”
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