SHould We Draft a TE?

[MeetJoeGreene]

Re: SHould We Draft a TE?

Andrew Quarless - Penn State

[PSU_dropout43]

Re: SHould We Draft a TE?

Aaron Hernandez - Florida

[RuthlessBurgher]

Re: SHould We Draft a TE?

Flippinburghers -

I'm of course all for drafting the BPA in most cases so if in the second day of drafting an interesting prospect at TE comes along - so be it -

However next season we have

Heath Miller, Matt Spaeth, Sean McHugh, and David Johnson coming back.

David Johnson was reported to be a very solid blocker at TE and he'll be 23 years old next season.

I could certainly see where the Steelers could bring in another guy to compete - but currently we're pretty good at TE.

L.B.

Both McHugh and Johnson are probably better suited to playing FB. Neither has the size or the pass catching ability you expect ou5t of an elite TE. Even in Detroit, McHugh played more FB than TE and late last season the running game really got better when he played the FB role. Neither McHiugh or Johnson will force an opponents defensive coordinator to take them into account as part of his game planning.

Other than Heath none of the TEs we have are game chamgers. You add someone like a Jermaine Gresham on the field at the same time as Heath and you have created a mismatch problem that no team will be able to deal with, particularly in the Red Zone which we all acknowledge is a problem.

Think about over the next couple of years as Hines gets older. He is Ben's safety blanket and primary possession receiver. Get someone like Gresham who has TE size and a WR skill set a couple years experience to step into that role. That would not be a bad addition. And you are hearing this from a defense first philosophy fan.

I don't disagree about the potential impact that adding a player like Gresham could have on this offense, but it would be difficult to spend another 1st round pick on a TE after already spending so much on the TE position already (Heath's big extension last offseason) and with so many other holes to fill that are more immediate needs (secondary, D-line, O-line, LB'ers, etc.).

[NJ-STEELER]

Re: SHould We Draft a TE?

i wouldn't mind seeing someone brought in to replace spaeth, but not in the 1st round.


in that pack game yesterday, they have 2 TE's drafted in the 3rd (finley) and 5th (lee) that would look much better in our 2 TE set then spaeth does.

then you have 2 guys (boss and celek) then went in the 5th round in the same draft that spaeth did. again, i think we'd be better off with either one of those guys

there are impact 2nd TEs out there that can be taken later in the draft

[Oviedo]

Re: SHould We Draft a TE?

i wouldn't mind seeing someone brought in to replace spaeth, but not in the 1st round.


in that pack game yesterday, they have 2 TE's drafted in the 3rd (finley) and 5th (lee) that would look much better in our 2 TE set then spaeth does.

then you have 2 guys (boss and celek) then went in the 5th round in the same draft that spaeth did. again, i think we'd be better off with either one of those guys

there are impact 2nd TEs out there that can be taken later in the draft

Boss and Celek do better because their QB has made them primary targets. They don't have someone like Heath on their team. That is not on Spaeth. Put Celek and Boss on this team and they will be ignored too because Ben looks first and foremost for WRs and TEs as an afterthought.

[NJ-STEELER]

Re: SHould We Draft a TE?

i disagree

both players stepped up with injuries to starters shocke and LJ smith where their organizations chose to keep them over their more expensive counterparts.


boss and celek both look very athletic and run pretty well. spaeth looks like a pregnant yak running in the open field.
even in his game where he started , all his catches were the short gain variety

[ikestops85]

Re: SHould We Draft a TE?

i disagree

both players stepped up with injuries to starters shocke and LJ smith where their organizations chose to keep them over their more expensive counterparts.


boss and celek both look very athletic and run pretty well. spaeth looks like a pregnant yak running in the open field.
even in his game where he started , all his catches were the short gain variety

I think this is silly to even consider. We have an elite TE in Miller whom they finally started to use productively this year. Spaeth will work out just fine if you throw him the damn ball. Especially near the goal line. Spaeth had 3 TDs the first 4 games he played as a Steeler. Did he suddenly lose his ability or did we just stop looking for him? I think I know the answer to that question.

If you think Spaeth looks like a pregnant yak when he runs then how do you describe Antonio Gates? Spaeth is plenty fast and athletic for what we need him to do ... which is go down field a little ways, squat, and use his big body to shield defenders and catch the ball.

I don't know any team that has 2 elite TEs. Miller is our guy and between Spaeth, McHugh and Johnson we have adequate depth. Our problem is more that BA AND Ben haven't figured out the most effective ways to use the talent we have. Not that we need to ADD more talent to the TE position.

[NJ-STEELER]

Re: SHould We Draft a TE?

i'm not the one advocating drafting a TE high.

i agree that miller is near the top of 2 way TEs in the league and dont want to spend a high pick for a 2nd TE.
i'm just suggesting some good TEs could be drafted later on.


as far as spaeth, i'll disagree with your opinion. i haven't seen any evidence in his years here to suggest he runs well. he might run well for someone 6-7 270lbs. but he doesn't run as well as the other TEs i mentioned

[phillyesq]

Re: SHould We Draft a TE?

I think we're going to see a bit of a different running game next year. A true blocking TE may be drafted, but not until the 5th or 6th round.

Pappy

This makes the most sense. With Santonio, Hines, Wallace and Heath, the Steelers have plenty of receiving options. Spaeth is fine as a possession receiver, but doesn't offer much as a blocker.

I think that Johnson and McHugh are both better fits for the offense than Spaeth in that both are better blockers, but if a big, block first TE is available later in the draft, I could see the Steelers taking him late if he is BPA.

[SidSmythe]

Re: SHould We Draft a TE?

We finally utilized HEATH this year like we should. SPAETH is soft and needs to be pushed by a draft pick. Why not a big, nasty Run Blocker, we could use the help

[fordfixer]

Re: SHould We Draft a TE?

We finally utilized HEATH this year like we should. SPAETH is soft and needs to be pushed by a draft pick. Why not a big, nasty Run Blocker, we could use the help

You mean like a Fullback?

[Steelerphile]

Re: SHould We Draft a TE?

Spaeth has a tendency to be bashed a lot and I never quite understand the reason. When you have Heath Miller in front of you, no TE is going to get a lot of opportunities to catch the ball. I think Spaeth has above average receiving skills. He just doesn't get a lot of passes thrown his direction because of the other playmakers in PGH's offense. I haven't seen enough of him to say he cannot run after catch. Some people bashed Heath Miller when he showed up for being slow. But I think he can wheel and deal with the ball in his hands. Spaeth would have to get more chances with the ball to see what his playmaking abilities really are.

As far as him being "soft". I also do not agree to this. I think a tall player might a few leverage issues but I do not think he is soft. I see him as being somewhat tenacious.

The Steelers do not need to draft a TE at all. David Johnson is there and he can be your blocking TE, also.

[steelblood]

Re: SHould We Draft a TE?

If you think Spaeth looks like a pregnant yak when he runs then how do you describe Antonio Gates? Spaeth is plenty fast and athletic for what we need him to do ... which is go down field a little ways, squat, and use his big body to shield defenders and catch the ball.

.

Spaeth is NOT fast and doesn't move well in space. He is clumsy and awkward. Gates is light on his feet and still has decent quickness.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Re: SHould We Draft a TE?

We are in glaring need of help at:
CB, FS, ILB, OL, DL, and ST positions

The way the Steelers use the second TE, we can fill the spot with Johnson or with a cheap FA (maybe even off the waiver wire). No way this team ought to be spending draft picks on any TEs this season.

[Oviedo]

Re: SHould We Draft a TE?

We are in glaring need of help at:
CB, FS, ILB, OL, DL, and ST positions

The way the Steelers use the second TE, we can fill the spot with Johnson or with a cheap FA (maybe even off the waiver wire). No way this team ought to be spending draft picks on any TEs this season.

What are the glowing needs on OL. Starks and Kemo are signed long term. They likely want to keep Collon and they have Urbik, Foster, Essex and Stapleton to battle for RG. Would be nice to grab a Center, but Hartwig is signed for at least one more year and Stapleton has been tapped as the follow on.