Steelers sign Essex

[calmkiller]

[url="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11234/1169096-100.stm"]http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11234/1169096-100.stm[/url]

Steelers sign veteran lineman Essex
Monday, August 22, 2011
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Matt Freed/Post-Gazette
Steelers guard Trai Essex, left, at Steelers training camp in 2009.

Tackle Jonathan Scott's minor knee injury was enough to throw a scare into the Steelers because they re-signed tackle/guard Trai Essex today to a one-year contract.

Essex, who came to them as a tackle in the third round of the 2005 NFL draft, started 25 games, some at tackle, some at guard. He opened the 2009 season He won the job and started all 16 games at right guard in 2009 and opened last season there. However, he sprained an ankle in the second game, returned to start three more games at mid-season but then lost his starting job to Ramon Foster.

Essex became an unrestricted free agent this year.

Scott left Thursday night's game with a knee injury on the first play from scrimmage. There was no ligament damage to his knee but the Steelers have no experienced backups at tackle and there even has been talk of re-signing 36-year-old Flozell Adams.

The Steelers released first-year guard Nevin McCaskill to make room for Essex on the roster.

[plainnasty]

Re: Steelers sign Essex

I like Ed Bouchette's idea of using Essex as a blocking tight end.

Remedy at tight end?
The Steelers are not known to consider this, but, if they fail to convince 34-year-old Reggie Kelly to become their No. 2 tight end and if they feel squeamish about moving Johnson there or putting rookie Weslye Saunders there, a simple solution might be at hand -- re-sign Trai Essex as their No. 2 tight end.

Johnson did not look comfortable when they used him on the line of scrimmage against the Redskins. They love him at fullback and are trying to see if he can block adequately on a regular basis near the line of scrimmage.

Their second tight end rarely catches passes or runs routes. Matt Spaeth did little other than block except when Heath Miller did not play. So, why not just put a tackle at the No. 2 tight end spot?

They have used tackles, including Essex, in those positions on occasion, especially near the goal line. Other teams have done it. Baltimore does it with an unbalanced line. Essex need not learn all the routes Miller and Spaeth learned, and, if something were to happen to Miller, they would have to go to four and five wide-receiver sets more often.

It also does not have to be Essex. It could be Tony Hills or Chris Scott (if he is not the starting right guard). The No. 2 tight end virtually has been a tackle, so just put a tackle there and call him a tight end. Problem solved.



Read more: [url="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11226/1167323-66-0.stm#ixzz1VnwXHqit"]http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11226/11 ... z1VnwXHqit[/url]

[flippy]

Re: Steelers sign Essex

I like Ed Bouchette's idea of using Essex as a blocking tight end.

Remedy at tight end?
The Steelers are not known to consider this, but, if they fail to convince 34-year-old Reggie Kelly to become their No. 2 tight end and if they feel squeamish about moving Johnson there or putting rookie Weslye Saunders there, a simple solution might be at hand -- re-sign Trai Essex as their No. 2 tight end.

Johnson did not look comfortable when they used him on the line of scrimmage against the Redskins. They love him at fullback and are trying to see if he can block adequately on a regular basis near the line of scrimmage.

Their second tight end rarely catches passes or runs routes. Matt Spaeth did little other than block except when Heath Miller did not play. So, why not just put a tackle at the No. 2 tight end spot?

They have used tackles, including Essex, in those positions on occasion, especially near the goal line. Other teams have done it. Baltimore does it with an unbalanced line. Essex need not learn all the routes Miller and Spaeth learned, and, if something were to happen to Miller, they would have to go to four and five wide-receiver sets more often.

It also does not have to be Essex. It could be Tony Hills or Chris Scott (if he is not the starting right guard). The No. 2 tight end virtually has been a tackle, so just put a tackle there and call him a tight end. Problem solved.



Read more: [url="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11226/1167323-66-0.stm#ixzz1VnwXHqit"]http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11226/11 ... z1VnwXHqit[/url]

How bout screw BA's fascination with 2 TEs and put the best 11 on the field.

I'd rather see more of Antonio Brown than a #2 TE personally.

And remember, Hines blocks as well as most receiving TEs. Hines is our receiving TE and Heath is our blocking TE. Done. Seems simple to me.

[Chadman]

Re: Steelers sign Essex

Hahaha...

Imagine Essex at TE with Legursky at FB....talk about "Jumbo Package"...

[plainnasty]

Re: Steelers sign Essex

I like Ed Bouchette's idea of using Essex as a blocking tight end.

Remedy at tight end?
The Steelers are not known to consider this, but, if they fail to convince 34-year-old Reggie Kelly to become their No. 2 tight end and if they feel squeamish about moving Johnson there or putting rookie Weslye Saunders there, a simple solution might be at hand -- re-sign Trai Essex as their No. 2 tight end.

Johnson did not look comfortable when they used him on the line of scrimmage against the Redskins. They love him at fullback and are trying to see if he can block adequately on a regular basis near the line of scrimmage.

Their second tight end rarely catches passes or runs routes. Matt Spaeth did little other than block except when Heath Miller did not play. So, why not just put a tackle at the No. 2 tight end spot?

They have used tackles, including Essex, in those positions on occasion, especially near the goal line. Other teams have done it. Baltimore does it with an unbalanced line. Essex need not learn all the routes Miller and Spaeth learned, and, if something were to happen to Miller, they would have to go to four and five wide-receiver sets more often.

It also does not have to be Essex. It could be Tony Hills or Chris Scott (if he is not the starting right guard). The No. 2 tight end virtually has been a tackle, so just put a tackle there and call him a tight end. Problem solved.



Read more: [url="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11226/1167323-66-0.stm#ixzz1VnwXHqit"]http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11226/11 ... z1VnwXHqit[/url]

How bout screw BA's fascination with 2 TEs and put the best 11 on the field.

I'd rather see more of Antonio Brown than a #2 TE personally.

And remember, Hines blocks as well as most receiving TEs. Hines is our receiving TE and Heath is our blocking TE. Done. Seems simple to me.

I don't agree with BA's fascination either. I wouldn't open the game with 2 TEs, but in short yardage situations I would rather have Essex blocking than whoever will be our backup TE this year. Essex started at TE at Northwestern before moving to tackle so I imagine that he could catch a short pass if he had to also.

[steelblood]

Re: Steelers sign Essex

Essex is a fat slob, but he is passable as OT.

I think I would have preferred Max Starks, but there is obviously more to that story than we know.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Steelers sign Essex

Steelers Sign OL Trai Essex

by Neal Coolong on Aug 22, 2011



The Steelers announced Monday afternoon the signing of veteran OL Trai Essex. To make room, they waived rookie OG Nevin McCaskill.

Essex was signed to a one-year contract with no financial terms released. His career began in Pittsburgh in 2005 after being selected in the third round of the draft out of Northwestern.

While no other statement was made, the timing of Essex's re-joining the roster will fire up speculation on the health of projected starter Jonathan Scott, who has suffered multiple injuries this preseason.

He went down early in the Steelers' 24-14 win over Philadelphia in preseason Week 2, but MRI results were negative. Rookie T Marcus Gilbert replaced Scott against Philadelphia, but he went down with an injury as well. His MRI results were also negative.

Essex contributed to both of the Steelers Super Bowl teams in 2005 and 2008, and has been seen as a valuable back-up and spot-starter for Pittsburgh. He has played both guard and tackle positions previously, but likely will be seen as a back-up tackle in 2011.

The Steelers released veteran tackles Max Starks and Flozell Adams this offseason. They initially chose not to re-sign Essex.

[url="http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2011/8/22/2378231/steelers-sign-ol-trai-essex#storyjump"]http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/20 ... #storyjump[/url]

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

Re: Steelers sign Essex

Essex is a fat slob, but he is passable as OT.

I think I would have preferred Max Starks, but there is obviously more to that story than we know.

I think that we do know the Starks story. Coming off of injury he sowed up at camp grossly out of shape.

And that....is the rest of the story.

[steelblood]

Re: Steelers sign Essex

Essex is a fat slob, but he is passable as OT.

I think I would have preferred Max Starks, but there is obviously more to that story than we know.

I think that we do know the Starks story. Coming off of injury he sowed up at camp grossly out of shape.

And that....is the rest of the story.

That is why we cut him. I get that. The question is...why don't we bring him back on the cheap? Even if it takes him two-three months to get into peak physical condition, having a good LT on your bench is exactly what this team needs. But, there is absolutely no talk of bringing him back. Further, no other team seems to want to give him a chance. Gaither reportedly was out of shape and coming off a serious injury and he got two offers from other teams after being cut by the Ravens. Starks is in the prime of his career and has great experience (he's played in 3 Super Bowls and started for 6 seasons). He's also very smart and a great team guy. You'd think that some NFL team would want to bring him in. Something is up that we don't know.

[Oviedo]

Re: Steelers sign Essex

I like Ed Bouchette's idea of using Essex as a blocking tight end.

Remedy at tight end?
The Steelers are not known to consider this, but, if they fail to convince 34-year-old Reggie Kelly to become their No. 2 tight end and if they feel squeamish about moving Johnson there or putting rookie Weslye Saunders there, a simple solution might be at hand -- re-sign Trai Essex as their No. 2 tight end.

Johnson did not look comfortable when they used him on the line of scrimmage against the Redskins. They love him at fullback and are trying to see if he can block adequately on a regular basis near the line of scrimmage.

Their second tight end rarely catches passes or runs routes. Matt Spaeth did little other than block except when Heath Miller did not play. So, why not just put a tackle at the No. 2 tight end spot?

They have used tackles, including Essex, in those positions on occasion, especially near the goal line. Other teams have done it. Baltimore does it with an unbalanced line. Essex need not learn all the routes Miller and Spaeth learned, and, if something were to happen to Miller, they would have to go to four and five wide-receiver sets more often.

It also does not have to be Essex. It could be Tony Hills or Chris Scott (if he is not the starting right guard). The No. 2 tight end virtually has been a tackle, so just put a tackle there and call him a tight end. Problem solved.



Read more: [url="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11226/1167323-66-0.stm#ixzz1VnwXHqit"]http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11226/11 ... z1VnwXHqit[/url]

How bout screw BA's fascination with 2 TEs and put the best 11 on the field.

I'd rather see more of Antonio Brown than a #2 TE personally.

And remember, Hines blocks as well as most receiving TEs. Hines is our receiving TE and Heath is our blocking TE. Done. Seems simple to me.

I don't agree with BA's fascination either. I wouldn't open the game with 2 TEs, but in short yardage situations I would rather have Essex blocking than whoever will be our backup TE this year. Essex started at TE at Northwestern before moving to tackle so I imagine that he could catch a short pass if he had to also.

It's pretty simple--the OL is not good enough to keep pass rushers off of Ben with just 5 blocking. I really have no issue with having an extra OT out there. Why not just eliminate the illusion that you are actually going to throw to your #2 TE (Ben never does) and get a good blocker out there.

The real issue comes in if Heath gets hurt. We are totally screwed then because David Johnson is a waste of a roster spot. I still think we need to get a #2 TE from somewhere.

[ramblinjim]

Re: Steelers sign Essex

I think it was Chadman that mentioned this:

Essex as the TE
Legursky in as Fullback with Mendenhall behind him.

An obvious running situation, the send Wallace and AB L-O-N-G off of play action.

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

Re: Steelers sign Essex

Hmm...1 year with the injuries at LT. Guranteed if he is on the 53 opening day. If all are healthy at end of preseason...He could be cut.

[Oviedo]

Re: Steelers sign Essex

I think it was Chadman that mentioned this:

Essex as the TE
Legursky in as Fullback with Mendenhall behind him.

An obvious running situation, the send Wallace and AB L-O-N-G off of play action.

I'm betting Hines would get the nod in that situation over Brown.

I think it is interesting this preseason how Hines has almost become the forgotten man as everyone becomes enamored with the new toys at WR. IMO Hines is still the most trusted WR on the team.

[steeler_george]

Re: Steelers sign Essex

Does that mean the end of Foster? If Hills truelly wins the RG spot. There is place on this roster for him, Essex being the swing tackle and guard and add in Leguarsky as the swing G/C.

[flippy]

Re: Steelers sign Essex

Hines has almost become the forgotten man as everyone becomes enamored with the new toys at WR. IMO Hines is still the most trusted WR on the team.

That's a funny reminder coming from the advocate for all young players and rookies