Steelers at Portland St.

[steelerkeylargo]

2 p.m.: The Steelers took their search for a tight end to Portland State on Wednesday, according to NFL.com.

The Steelers went there to see Julius Thomas, a converted basketball player who looked like a great developmental prospect at the combine. At Indianapolis, the 6-4.5, 246-pounder ran a 4.68 40 and a 6.96 3-cone drill. His vertical jump of 35 1/2 was second best at his position. Thomas had a position-low 16 bench reps, but then again he'd only been on the football team for one season.

After establishing himself as one of the best basketball players in school history, Thomas moved to football last spring and went on to make the All-Big Sky first team by catching 29 passes for 453 yards and 2 touchdowns.

As a basketball player, Thomas played in more games (121) and more winning games (7 than anyone in school history, and he set school records for single-season (.671) and career (.663) field-goal shooting percentage.

Thomas was a four-year letterwinner in basketball and played in the NCAA Tournament in 2008 and 2009. As a power forward, he averaged 10.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game as a senior.

Thomas played football his freshman year in high school before rejoining the sport as a college senior. His light

[Oviedo]

Re: Steelers at Portland St.

Looking at lots of TEs. I hope that we see them at the Tennessee Pro day looking at Luke Stocker.

Obviously they are either looking to upgrade at the position or putting up one really big smokescreen

[papillon]

Re: Steelers at Portland St.

Looking at lots of TEs. I hope that we see them at the Tennessee Pro day looking at Luke Stocker.

Obviously they are either looking to upgrade at the position or putting up one really big smokescreen

Getting a good (or better) second tight end wouldn't be horrible, but I'm hoping for the smokescreen option.

Pappy

[steelerkeylargo]

Re: Steelers at Portland St.

As much as I hate to say it. You are gonna see alot of teams look to copy the Cheatriots gameplan with the 2 young TE's they took last year. Hernandez & Gronkowski.

[Oviedo]

Re: Steelers at Portland St.

As much as I hate to say it. You are gonna see alot of teams look to copy the Cheatriots gameplan with the 2 young TE's they took last year. Hernandez & Gronkowski.

It worked. I'm a huge proponent of using TEs much more than we have. I'd like to see Heath get 75 catches in a season instead of being over-used as a extra OT. You can wear down a defense that way and open up deeper routes for WRs. Where we have the advantage is that we have the deep threat that the Patriots were lacking.

[steelerkeylargo]

Re: Steelers at Portland St.

As much as I hate to say it. You are gonna see alot of teams look to copy the Cheatriots gameplan with the 2 young TE's they took last year. Hernandez & Gronkowski.

It worked. I'm a huge proponent of using TEs much more than we have. I'd like to see Heath get 75 catches in a season instead of being over-used as a extra OT. You can wear down a defense that way and open up deeper routes for WRs. Where we have the advantage is that we have the deep threat that the Patriots were lacking.

I don't mean to say that I disagree with the strategy. I just hate the fact that Belicheat is starting what could be a trend that many teams may follow.

[Chadman]

Re: Steelers at Portland St.

Starting to look like we should all add a TE to our mock drafts somewhere...

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Steelers at Portland St.

Starting to look like we should all add a TE to our mock drafts somewhere...

yup, it sure does seem that way. the three TEs the Steelers spoke with at the Combine were Lance Kendricks, Luke Stocker and D.J. Williams...

[Dee Dub]

Re: Steelers at Portland St.

As much as I hate to say it. You are gonna see alot of teams look to copy the Cheatriots gameplan with the 2 young TE's they took last year. Hernandez & Gronkowski.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have never been influenced scheme wise by any other football team.

[steelerkeylargo]

Re: Steelers at Portland St.

As much as I hate to say it. You are gonna see alot of teams look to copy the Cheatriots gameplan with the 2 young TE's they took last year. Hernandez & Gronkowski.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have never been influenced scheme wise by any other football team.

Right! BA invented the 2 TE set I guess Bill just knows what to do with it!!

[NJ-STEELER]

Re: Steelers at Portland St.

if they are going to use the 2 and 3 TE set so much, a better receiving option then spaeth would make us less predictable and more dangerous. and it wont be hard to find an equal to him as a blocker.

although, i'd prefer they look at one no sooner then the 3rd/4th round

[focosteeler]

Re: Steelers at Portland St.

i wouldn't mind having a jermichael finley type player on the team...i got nothing against heath but i wouldn't mind a faster more agile TE

[Blockhead]

Re: Steelers at Portland St.

i wouldn't mind having a jermichael finley type player on the team...i got nothing against heath but i wouldn't mind a faster more agile TE

agreed completely.

[Chadman]

Re: Steelers at Portland St.

As much as I hate to say it. You are gonna see alot of teams look to copy the Cheatriots gameplan with the 2 young TE's they took last year. Hernandez & Gronkowski.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have never been influenced scheme wise by any other football team.

That is a bold & hugely innacurate statement...

[steelz09]

Re: Steelers at Portland St.

I would be satisfied if we didn't draft a tight end at all. The only offseason move that should involve "movement" of a tight end should be releasing David Johnson and replacing him with a full back that knows how to block.