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

[WB Tarleton]

Why are people so easily offended by positive statements?

Projection much?

It's not about being offended by "positive statements." It's about correcting incorrect ones.

That Jesse or Grimble are "stepping up" or are "deadly" is absurd. False positivity is as bad as unnecessary negativity.

Our TE position is a mess. With Vance out, our top two cannot block a lick. With Vance out, our TEs cannot run a route more complex than a "settle" or "under stop." (I suspect you have never seen a TE route tree.) Forget a seam or pole route.

In the end, Tomlin and our front office must be "offended by positive statements" too. After all, they tried to replace James as a starter twice in two years. Tomlin himself said our TE play was junior varsity.

In case you are wondering, JV is not "stepping up" or "deadly." Neither is catching wide open lobs or shovel passes that travel two yards.

[WB Tarleton]

OP never said anything about them being deadly.

Did I say the OP did? Where? Quote me. Right after you quote me calling for a first round TE. Of course, neither quote will appear because there are no such quotes. You made up both.

The OP said "stepping up." You said "deadly." Both imply that the TEs are somehow playing well (the purpose of this thread). Try to keep up.

Its obvious you dont really have anything going on in this thread besides saying "deadly" in every post.

It's YOUR word. If you don't like it used, retract it.

You are mad because the TE's are scoring easy TD's? How dare they

A step forward! Even YOU admit they were "easy TDs." Thanks for confirming that I was right.

And, no, I am not "mad" at all. (Projecting again?) Keep them coming. I just know enough about football to know that they were "easy TDs" and not the result of some great athletic prowess from Jesse and X.

[Slapstick]

My dude, you are getting all bent out of shape by the suggestion that our TEs scoring 3 TDs in the past three games is somehow a good thing, and an improvement over going two months without scoring one.

Ruthless was 100% correct...this has become a dumb thread, mostly thanks to your contributions. Which is odd, considering you normally don’t dump your garbage in other threads.

I apologize. I didn’t realize that my assertion that the TEs scoring TDs was indicative of improvement would be so offensive to you. Carry on...

[WB Tarleton]

My dude, you are getting all bent out of shape by the suggestion that our TEs scoring 3 TDs in the past three games is somehow a good thing, and an improvement over going two months without scoring one.

Ruthless was 100% correct...this has become a dumb thread, mostly thanks to your contributions. Which is odd, considering you normally don’t dump your garbage in other threads.

I apologize. I didn’t realize that my assertion that the TEs scoring TDs was indicative of improvement would be so offensive to you. Carry on...

Again, if you have to bastardize what I said to make a point, you are better off not making the point.

I never said that our TEs scoring TDs was not "somehow a good thing" or even an "improvement" over not scoring for two months.

Wht I said (and is accurate) is that it does not mean they are "stepping up" or "deadly" or indicative of good TE play.

If this thread has gone to hell, it is because of misrepresentation of my words (e.g. that I want a first round TE or am not happy the TEs scored), misrepresenting stats (lumping a third game into two good offensive games), a failure to back up statements (a "ton" of end zone drops last week), and a general refusal or inability to see that playing the TE position well means a lot more than catching a 10 yard wide open lob or 2 yard shovel pass that was created entirely by the scheme of the play.

[Slapstick]

Again, if you have to bastardize what I said to make a point, you are better off not making the point.

I never said that our TEs scoring TDs was not "somehow a good thing" or even an "improvement" over not scoring for two months.

Wht I said (and is accurate) is that it does not mean they are "stepping up" or "deadly" or indicative of good TE play.

If this thread has gone to hell, it is because of misrepresentation of my words (e.g. that I want a first round TE or am not happy the TEs scored), misrepresenting stats (lumping a third game into two good offensive games), a failure to back up statements (a "ton" of end zone drops last week), and a general refusal or inability to see that playing the TE position well means a lot more than catching a 10 yard wide open lob or 2 yard shovel pass that was created entirely by the scheme of the play.

I truly wish you could appreciate irony...as if I’m the one bastardizing your point...

[pittpete]

not when the team is 9-2 and averaging 30 points the last 3 games.

What does that have to do with what he's talking about?
Why is it taboo to discuss things that might be a problem area?
I'm sure you think it's fine that we gave up 3 big plays to a rookie backup QB.
Hopefully our coaches don't think like you, LOL.
Imagine if Butler addressed the defense this week by saying "hey guys everything is fine because we have a winning record" and "lets go with the same gameplan because hey, we won"
The ultimate goal is to get better week by week and WIN the superbowl....
Nothing else should matter, second place is for losers.

[feltdizz]

What does that have to do with what he's talking about?
Why is it taboo to discuss things that might be a problem area?
I'm sure you think it's fine that we gave up 3 big plays to a rookie backup QB.
Hopefully our coaches don't think like you, LOL.
Imagine if Butler addressed the defense this week by saying "hey guys everything is fine because we have a winning record" and "lets go with the same gameplan because hey, we won"
The ultimate goal is to get better week by week and WIN the superbowl....
Nothing else should matter, second place is for losers.

What does the defense have have to do with the TE position?

You came me in the thread and discussed a totally different group of players who had a bad game to prove what?

All Slap said was the last 3 weeks the TE’s have stepped up and you guys lose your schit because god forbid someone gives a player or 2 a compliment.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Nothing else should matter, second place is for losers.

[feltdizz]

Again, if you have to bastardize what I said to make a point, you are better off not making the point.

I never said that our TEs scoring TDs was not "somehow a good thing" or even an "improvement" over not scoring for two months.

Wht I said (and is accurate) is that it does not mean they are "stepping up" or "deadly" or indicative of good TE play.

If this thread has gone to hell, it is because of misrepresentation of my words (e.g. that I want a first round TE or am not happy the TEs scored), misrepresenting stats (lumping a third game into two good offensive games), a failure to back up statements (a "ton" of end zone drops last week), and a general refusal or inability to see that playing the TE position well means a lot more than catching a 10 yard wide open lob or 2 yard shovel pass that was created entirely by the scheme of the play.

The problem is your focus on one word or taking words literally. When Tomlin said we were going to unleash hell he wasn’t talking about actually taking a leash off of hell. Tomlin saying JV squad is just coach speak. If Hesse was truly as bad as you guys say he wouldn’t be on our team. Jesse is solid. He isn’t great at anything but he fills in nicely in this offense.

We have the best RB and WR in the game. We also have JJSS and MB. We don’t need a TE who can stretch the field.

Thus thread has gone to hell because you are fixated on 2 words and refuse to bend a little and admit it’s nice to see our TE’s scoring TD’s in the RZ.

[feltdizz]

I truly wish you could appreciate irony...as if I’m the one bastardizing your point...

Stepping up to praise Steeler players can be deadly on these boards.

[WB Tarleton]

I truly wish you could appreciate irony...as if I’m the one bastardizing your point...

Well, yeah, you are.

You said:

My dude, you are getting all bent out of shape by the suggestion that our TEs scoring 3 TDs in the past three games is somehow a good thing, and an improvement over going two months without scoring one.

I made no such comment that three touchdowns was not "somehow a good thing" or an improvement over no TDs in 2 months. You made it up.

What I DID say and what you bastardized were my comments that the 3 TDs was not indicative of good TE play, "stepping up", or being "deadly."

No irony. Just facts.

[Slapstick]

Well, yeah, you are.

You said:

I made no such comment that three touchdowns was not "somehow a good thing" or an improvement over no TDs in 2 months. You made it up.

What I DID say and what you bastardized were my comments that the 3 TDs was not indicative of good TE play, "stepping up", or being "deadly."

No irony. Just facts.

So then, you just took your personal, arbitrary definition of "stepping up", applied it to me without my consent, and used it to turn this thread into a crapfest...bravo...

For the record, my definition of stepping up involves 11 catches and 3 TDs in three games for a group who had done very little over the last two months...if your definition of "stepping up" does not coincide with mine, that is your prerogative...but, do not apply it to me...

No irony......nothing but unintentional irony coming from you in this thread...

[WB Tarleton]

The problem is your focus on one word or taking words literally. When Tomlin said we were going to unleash hell he wasn’t talking about actually taking a leash off of hell. Tomlin saying JV squad is just coach speak. If Hesse was truly as bad as you guys say he wouldn’t be on our team. Jesse is solid. He isn’t great at anything but he fills in nicely in this offense.

We have the best RB and WR in the game. We also have JJSS and MB. We don’t need a TE who can stretch the field.

Thus thread has gone to hell because you are fixated on 2 words and refuse to bend a little and admit it’s nice to see our TE’s scoring TD’s in the RZ.

No, I did not take anything literally. The Steelers do not have a junior varsity team (which would be "literal").

What Tomlin obviously meant is that the TE position is not up to par. Not up to Steeler standards. So much so, that the team tried to replace Jesse James not once, but twice in two seasons.

If Hesse was truly as bad as you guys say he wouldn’t be on our team. Jesse is solid. He isn’t great at anything but he fills in nicely in this offense.

So untrue. You do not replace a guy, even if his performance is substandard, unless you have a better alternative. Even then, all things being equal, you cut the worst player at the position on the team (arguably, Grimble.)

Jesse is no better than a backup TE in this league. He is a terrible blocker. His hands are OK, but his speed and athletic ability to get separation are almost non-existent. That is exactly why the team has looked to replace him as the starter for two seasons. THAT'S "literal." THAT'S specific. It cannot be denied. The team has tried to replace him, which trumps any twisting of Tomlin's words you may perform.

His stats back it up. His stats are 30th in TE receiving yards (8 spots BELOW Seth Devalve), 40th in yards per game, and 78th(!) in yards per catch. Not "deadly" (and I know you do not mean he kills people). Not "solid." Pitiful.

And, yes, I did notice that you have retreated from calling him "deadly" to "solid."

[WB Tarleton]

So then, you just took your personal, arbitrary definition of "stepping up", applied it to me without my consent, and used it to turn this thread into a crapfest...bravo...

For the record, my definition of stepping up involves 11 catches and 3 TDs in three games for a group who had done very little over the last two months...if your definition of "stepping up" does not coincide with mine, that is your prerogative...but, do not apply it to me...

No irony......nothing but unintentional irony coming from you in this thread...

Hilarious. You do not even address the thrust of my post, that you claimed I said something I did not.

As far as you, I made a common sense application of the phrase "stepping up." I do not need your permission to do so. Common sense is not subject to your agreement.

"Stepping up" means significantly improving one's play. The TE group has played no better in the last three weeks than the previous 8. The RESULTS might be better, but it is due to our OC scheming opportunities rather than the TE group "stepping up" and improving their play by getting open on routes they previously were not, or catching balls they usually drop.

It's simple. It's great that they have three TDs. I am happy because the team benefits. But the kudos go to Haley for getting blood from the TE stone. It just does not mean they are playing any better than they have been the last 2-3 years.

[WB Tarleton]

Stepping up to praise Steeler players can be deadly on these boards.

Not deadly by any stretch, but it surely is better to praise the correct players (or coaches).