SHould We Draft a TE?

[flippy]

Is the 2 TE set the staple of a future Pittsburgh offense?

If so, do we look to upgrade Spaeth?

The 2 TE set lets us pass or run. Gives us the most flexibility. But do we need an Antonio Gates/Tony Gonzalez type of to help us score points?

What if we targeted a Jermaine Gresham from OK? or someone similar?

[Mister Pittsburgh]

Re: SHould We Draft a TE?

I honestly think Spaeth is underutilized. In 2008, when Heath went down for 2 games, Spaeth caught 12 passes for 108 yards. The rest of the year, however, he only caught 5 other passes for 28 yards. You figure it isn't exactly a secret that Heath is a primary weapon in our offense so is covered quite a bit. So kind of how Wallace had such a terrific year cause Holmes & Hines are covered, Spaeth should be able to sneak out and make some big catches in big situations. Why isn't he used more?

With our redzone struggles you would think a 6'7" 270lb pass catching TE would be a very attractive target inside the 20's. We have seen TE's hurt us the past 2 seasons in the redzone. In the Superbowl the Cardinals TE caught their first TD in that game on a jump ball in the endzone. This year we saw the likes of Finley from GB and Heap from Baltimore have big grabs in the endzone in mismatched coverage against our CB. I would think Spaeth could out jump and out muscle a 6' tall CB. But maybe I am missing something.

I can't recall Spaeth dropping passes or anything so who knows. Never know what happens in practice I guess. Overall though, to answer your question, Spaeth is a huge pass catching TE we dropped a 3rd round pick on. If we drafted another TE, would he be utilized more than Spaeth?

[Sugar]

Re: SHould We Draft a TE?

I honestly think Spaeth is underutilized. In 2008, when Heath went down for 2 games, Spaeth caught 12 passes for 108 yards. The rest of the year, however, he only caught 5 other passes for 28 yards. You figure it isn't exactly a secret that Heath is a primary weapon in our offense so is covered quite a bit. So kind of how Wallace had such a terrific year cause Holmes & Hines are covered, Spaeth should be able to sneak out and make some big catches in big situations. Why isn't he used more?

With our redzone struggles you would think a 6'7" 270lb pass catching TE would be a very attractive target inside the 20's. We have seen TE's hurt us the past 2 seasons in the redzone. In the Superbowl the Cardinals TE caught their first TD in that game on a jump ball in the endzone. This year we saw the likes of Finley from GB and Heap from Baltimore have big grabs in the endzone in mismatched coverage against our CB. I would think Spaeth could out jump and out muscle a 6' tall CB. But maybe I am missing something.

I can't recall Spaeth dropping passes or anything so who knows. Never know what happens in practice I guess. Overall though, to answer your question, Spaeth is a huge pass catching TE we dropped a 3rd round pick on. If we drafted another TE, would he be utilized more than Spaeth?

I could understand if people thought we needed another bruiser TE, but Spaeth is actually a good receiving TE. The Steelers just don't use him.

[grotonsteel]

Re: SHould We Draft a TE?

I honestly think Spaeth is underutilized. In 2008, when Heath went down for 2 games, Spaeth caught 12 passes for 108 yards. The rest of the year, however, he only caught 5 other passes for 28 yards. You figure it isn't exactly a secret that Heath is a primary weapon in our offense so is covered quite a bit. So kind of how Wallace had such a terrific year cause Holmes & Hines are covered, Spaeth should be able to sneak out and make some big catches in big situations. Why isn't he used more?

With our redzone struggles you would think a 6'7" 270lb pass catching TE would be a very attractive target inside the 20's. We have seen TE's hurt us the past 2 seasons in the redzone. In the Superbowl the Cardinals TE caught their first TD in that game on a jump ball in the endzone. This year we saw the likes of Finley from GB and Heap from Baltimore have big grabs in the endzone in mismatched coverage against our CB. I would think Spaeth could out jump and out muscle a 6' tall CB. But maybe I am missing something.

I can't recall Spaeth dropping passes or anything so who knows. Never know what happens in practice I guess. Overall though, to answer your question, Spaeth is a huge pass catching TE we dropped a 3rd round pick on. If we drafted another TE, would he be utilized more than Spaeth?

I could understand if people thought we needed another bruiser TE, but Spaeth is actually a good receiving TE. The Steelers just don't use him.

[steelblood]

Re: SHould We Draft a TE?

I honestly think Spaeth is underutilized. In 2008, when Heath went down for 2 games, Spaeth caught 12 passes for 108 yards. The rest of the year, however, he only caught 5 other passes for 28 yards. You figure it isn't exactly a secret that Heath is a primary weapon in our offense so is covered quite a bit. So kind of how Wallace had such a terrific year cause Holmes & Hines are covered, Spaeth should be able to sneak out and make some big catches in big situations. Why isn't he used more?

With our redzone struggles you would think a 6'7" 270lb pass catching TE would be a very attractive target inside the 20's. We have seen TE's hurt us the past 2 seasons in the redzone. In the Superbowl the Cardinals TE caught their first TD in that game on a jump ball in the endzone. This year we saw the likes of Finley from GB and Heap from Baltimore have big grabs in the endzone in mismatched coverage against our CB. I would think Spaeth could out jump and out muscle a 6' tall CB. But maybe I am missing something.

I can't recall Spaeth dropping passes or anything so who knows. Never know what happens in practice I guess. Overall though, to answer your question, Spaeth is a huge pass catching TE we dropped a 3rd round pick on. If we drafted another TE, would he be utilized more than Spaeth?

I could understand if people thought we needed another bruiser TE, but Spaeth is actually a good receiving TE. The Steelers just don't use him.

I disagree. In those games he took over for Heath, I remember that he did okay against zone coverage, but had trouble getting open against man. He also looked like he was stuck in mud (which sometimes he was at Heinz field) after catching the ball.

Spaeth does catch the ball well. But, he has absolutely no run after the catch ability. He is not fast enough to get open down the seam. And, he is not as tough as I'd like. I think his blocking is sometimes good, sometimes terrible. I'd love to upgrade him with a TE that has better speed and run after the catch ability. Spaeth is a 3rd TE quality player imho.

[frankthetank1]

Re: SHould We Draft a TE?

spaeth is probably as good as your going to get as a 2nd string te. i really like david johnson a lot. he is a great blocker and if the steelers are going to go with the 2 te set a lot i would rather see johnson in than spaeth. god i miss the days of having a fb.

[steelblood]

Re: SHould We Draft a TE?

spaeth is probably as good as your going to get as a 2nd string te. i really like david johnson a lot. he is a great blocker and if the steelers are going to go with the 2 te set a lot i would rather see johnson in than spaeth. god i miss the days of having a fb.

This is a great TE draft. I am not advocating that we take a TE necessarily. But, if we are going to play a lot of 2 TE sets as we have in the past, we could consider upgrading the position IF a very good TE falls to us in the middle rounds to late rounds..

[BURGH86STEEL]

Re: SHould We Draft a TE?

I don't think looking at a TE early in the draft is an option with the defensive questions on the team. Who knows who the Steelers will draft. They can be totally unpredictable.

[DukieBoy]

Re: SHould We Draft a TE?

I'd like a TE who can light up some blocks first and foremost. I have not seen Spaeth light up anybody as a blocker. I thought he could be a good RZ TE, but it has not proven out for whatever reason.

[feltdizz]

Re: SHould We Draft a TE?

I would love a late round run blocking TE. Real late... 7th round gem. However, I wouldn't mind a true deep threat TE.. That Keller kid for the Jets was impressive today. He could scoot.

We need D bad though this year.

[papillon]

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

[Steel Life]

Re: SHould We Draft a TE?

With all the other holes we have, I'd pass. But you never know with Colbert, he may surprise us & draft one when a stud defender is available.

[steelfin]

Re: SHould We Draft a TE?

Spaeth blows...wasted pick...but I dont see wasting another high draft pick on TE when we have so many glaring needs on the Oline and defensive side of the ball....

We also need to conside the WR spot....Holmes will be gone after his contract, Hines is getting up there in years and Sweed.....well its not looking so good....

[Lonbull]

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.

[Oviedo]

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.