Darnell Washington...TE or RT?

Just for thoughts. I cannot find the YT I saw a few days ago, but the guy brought this up. This is another vid of just how impressive this guy is. In a different era they moved Larry Brown from TE to T and it worker out well. I know, different time and all that, and of course Darnell would have to buy in, but my question for discussion is would this work? Would the level of play at 100 % at T be bettter for the team than the % he brings at TE? Do we lose more in the shift or gain?

I'm not sure it's even on the radar, but honestly think it works either way, you gain and lose in either situation, but the thought of having bookends for the next 10 years, with a potential stud C being added makes this line magic.

(625) Steelers Rookie Darnell Washington Absolutely Destroys Defenses | FILM REVIEW - YouTube

 

Some times the answer is right in front of you. Would be one hell for of a line, wouldn't it.

 

His blocking stands out because he can do it as a tight end. I doubt this is something he or the team are considering, though I understand the logic behind it. Larry Brown made that switch a long time go. I've seen some players make the change in college and turn out to be outstanding pro linemen. Andy Heck, who is now an assistant coach with the Chiefs, was a tight end his first three years at Notre Dame before moving to tackle for his senior season. A year later, he was a first-round draft choice by the Seahawks. (I only remember that one because he and I attended the same high school. I was a freshman there the year after he graduated.) Alejandro Villanueva was recruited as a tight end. He played defensive end and even some receiver before finally landing at tackle.

I think the Steelers will give Washington every opportunity to develop at tight end.

 

Are we not already using him as a tackle? Am I watching another steeler team? This a Mandela effect?

 

He could be our next Bennie Cunningham, I like his upside.

 

I could see exploring this as an option, especially given his success to date. On the other side of the coin, I am excited by the prospect of utilizing him alongside an improving o-line. Using him as a 6th blocker, in combination with pulling lineman seems to be effective.

 

That's the immediate benefit, and if the receiving is developed and they use him in a constructive was then the 'weapon' aspect takes on a very serious problem for opposing D's. This kid can be dynamite, damn I love this draft lol.

 

Over the past few months 70's steeler games have shown up on my YT, Bennie never really had great career numbers as a receiver, may the era or the fact there was 2 HOF WR on the team. What I saw though was a very good player used in the concept they provided.

 

Could you imagine a competent play caller in the redzone with this young man, it should be lights out
if they used him right. He is big and wide how does a 190 lb. cb /safety get around him to cover him?

 

They don't. A big, physical linebacker covers him.

 

Moving him? I don't know.
You always want that blocking TE that can make catches.
Bennie made some nice catches at the right times. I always admired that about him.

 

USE IT ALL!

MAUL TEAMS w the run - and then PASS out of it! BE CREATIVE!

 

He's a TE through and through.... we need to use more double TE sets.... it would be incredibly disheartening for a DB to see this mountain of a man running at them down the seam with the ball in his hands.... pair him and Muth, with Pickens and DJ on the outside and watch defenses panick

 

Sometimes, mismatches in redzone can be created.

 

I get that. My point was that he isn't Rob Gronkowski. Linebackers can run with him.

 

Funny, I google'd for Gronk : And was immediately confronted with a Washington comparison. I guess we are not the only ones who are wanting to compare Washington to Gronk.

 

Washington couldn't do the things Gronkowski did in college and he hasn't shown the ability to do them in the pros. He isn't even close.

 

I like having him at TE because it is advantageous having him out there like an extra lineman but yet you can also pass out of that set. You lose all of that if you move him to RT. If I were him I would prefer to become a LT because it will be a much more lucrative career for him.

 

The other thing this 2024 Draft is really deep at OT so I still think we can get our OT to solidify the line. I know we need a CB as well but if they go after the Chicago CB in Free Agency that they tried to trade for we fix our two biggest needs. You free up ca space by cutting Patrick Peterson dn Chuck Okorafor and probably Allen Robinson. That would be more than enough to get that CB from Chicago.

 

It may be a long road to the TE top for Washington, but I wouldn't limit his ceiling to what his coaches had him doing at Georgia.

You are talking about a Rookie that is still learning the basics of NFL route running. Give him a few more training camps before pushing him inside to offensive tackle.

 

He's not a tackle. He's a great run blocking TE that also can catch a football if we would throw to him. If it's not broke don't fix it.

 

He could do better if KFP didn't hate him. LoL. I know its not true, but it's all I can think of. He has gotten open in almost every game, and had KFP look(it seems to me) right at Him, and go elsewhere. Like last week. Go look at the play where KFP dumped the ball to Warren for a loss....Washington is wide a$$ open right in front of KFP....for a 1st down. Again maybe Washington drops a lot of easy passes in practice, and KFP doesn't trust him...Him..., but this is a common theme.

 

Georgia's offense does not limit a tight end who can run a diverse route tree. Look at what they do with Brock Bauers. If Washington could have done more, he would have had the opportunity at Georgia.

I'm not in favor of moving Washington to tackle. He should stay at tight end, but people need to understand his limits as a receivers are his own, not something imposed by his coaches.

 

Maybe KP watches to many old steeler clips and has flashbacks of the big snack, "what's Casey doing on O?". if we are going to speculate might as well go overboard, lmao/.

 

I know Muth has had injury issues, that said when used correctly he is a nightmare of D's. Add the tangent you described, and the dream receiver team is formed, getting to that point is the waiting game we hope for.