Steelers' Tight Ends Appear To Be Stepping Up...

[feltdizz]

Hey guys, give it a rest and then a Kumbaya hug, wudja please? Geez, we *won* yesterday!

Thou shalt not post positively about TE’s not named Heath.

[Eddie Spaghetti]

and some are glorified internet cheerleaders with no objective opinions....

[Slapstick]

...and some hate on those who embrace positivity...for no good reason...

[WB Tarleton]

A few fun facts about Heath. 6 out of 11 years he had 3 or less TD's. 2 of Heaths best seasons we had records of 9-7 and 8-
I think those who miss Heath miss saying "Heeeeath" more than they actually miss him for his production.

He averaged 3.5 receptions for 39 yards per game over his career.

Our TE's just need to keep scoring TD's at this rate and we will be fine.

Your final sentence is completely different than the TE's "stepping up" or being "deadly" (your word). It's a significant walk back.

You then go the "straw man" route.

No one said we needed All Pro or Pro Bowl TE's. We need competent ones. They are not competent. JJ cannot block or get any separation from a linebacker. There is a reason we tried to replace him two years in a row.

They are not getting open on talent but scheme and, frankly, the defense not taking our TEs seriously. The last two TE TDs were purely trickery and are more Haley's than X's or JJ's.

And, no need for the false choice either. It is not a good TE "or" JJSS/MB. Any kind of TE threat helps every other aspect of our offense. It makes AB better. Bell better. MB better.

"Deadly." LOL I think you looked up the wrong Jesse James before making that statement.

[WB Tarleton]

Thou shalt not post positively about TE’s not named Heath.

No, Thou shalt not just look at "TDs scored" without analyzing how they were scored. Thou shalt think before they post.

[Slapstick]

People say, “Anyone could have done that,” without taking into consideration that one person actually did it...

[WB Tarleton]

People say, “Anyone could have done that,” without taking into consideration that one person actually did it...

Watch the plays.

They "did it" because Haley "schemed it." Both took no more athletic ability than it takes to speed walk.

[Slapstick]

Watch the plays.

They "did it" because Haley "schemed it." Both took no more athletic ability than it takes to speed walk.

And yet, they scored...

[NorthCoast]

For the record, for all TEs James is 27th in the NFL in receiving yds, 35th in yds/gm and 15th for TE TDs with 3. Room for improvement, yes. But not horrible by any stretch.

[Slapstick]

For the record, for all TEs James is 27th in the NFL in receiving yds, 35th in yds/gm and 15th for TE TDs with 3. Room for improvement, yes. But not horrible by any stretch.

It’s about what you’d expect from a guy who plays on the same offense as Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell...

[WB Tarleton]

It’s about what you’d expect from a guy who plays on the same offense as Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell...

You are pretending that the Steelers would PREFER to throw it AB/Bell's way 26 out of 40 or so throws.

The best offenses have balance. Two guys dominating all of the targets is a BAD thing.

We do it because we are lacking at the other WR spots and the TE spot.

And, yes, 27th in TE receiving yards and 35th (there are 32 teams) in yds/game is pretty awful.

BTW, the actual stats are 30th in receiving yards (8 spots BELOW Seth Devalve), 40th in yards per game, and 78th(!) in yards per catch.

Yeah, that's pretty darn awful.

BTW, there are a ton of TE's above him that are on teams with a lot of offensive weapons too.

[Slapstick]

Perhaps. Or, perhaps, the Steelers are content to let the best RB and WR in the game be the best RB and WR in the game...

[feltdizz]

Your final sentence is completely different than the TE's "stepping up" or being "deadly" (your word). It's a significant walk back.

You then go the "straw man" route.

No one said we needed All Pro or Pro Bowl TE's. We need competent ones. They are not competent. JJ cannot block or get any separation from a linebacker. There is a reason we tried to replace him two years in a row.

They are not getting open on talent but scheme and, frankly, the defense not taking our TEs seriously. The last two TE TDs were purely trickery and are more Haley's than X's or JJ's.

And, no need for the false choice either. It is not a good TE "or" JJSS/MB. Any kind of TE threat helps every other aspect of our offense. It makes AB better. Bell better. MB better.

"Deadly." LOL I think you looked up the wrong Jesse James before making that statement.

TE’s that score TD’s are deadly in this offense. We get tons of yards but we struggle to score TD’s. I don’t care if it’s play calling, gimmicks, etc. It’s easier to run those plays to TE’s who aren’t the focus of our offense.

You guys may may think we can’t have too many weapons but when you only have one football best believe it’s hard to keep playmakers satisfied.

Also..If they really wanted to replace Jesse James he would be gone already. He’s a decent TE and more times than not he is going to catch the ball when it’s thrown to him.

[WB Tarleton]

Perhaps. Or, perhaps, the Steelers are content to let the best RB and WR in the game be the best RB and WR in the game...

LOL Are you seriously contending that this team is happy with only two threats?

OK, so why is it so important for MB and JJSS to play well? Just "let the best RB and WR in the game be the best RB and WR in the game..." Right? Did you happen to see all of the double coverage on AB last night? Do you think some more single coverage would allow AB to be the "best WR in the game" even more?

Well, the same holds true with a seam and pole route threat. If you think we would not like to get more single coverage on AB, you are nuts. A TE does that, pulls the safety to the middle instead of the outside. When is the last time Jesse James even ran a pole/pole corner/seam/seam post route? I cannot remember either.

And Bell getting 12 catches is not optimal. Most were not designed to him. He was a check down. Perhaps a good TE in the middle would allow Ben not to check down so often. A TE getting 13 yards is much better than Bell getting 8 and saves tread on Bell.

[Slapstick]

Do you think the team is regretful about AB catching 10 passes for 167 yards and two TDs? Or Bell getting 180+ yards from scrimmage?

Me neither...