Is it too early to start rooting for FB DJ Thomas-Jones to make the roster?

Seems like every year I end up hoping to see the Steelers keep a FB on their roster that can actually lead block for a RB. And every year they end up hiring someone's brother that couldn't lead block out of the I-Formation to save his life. I would have loved to have seen what Najee could have done running behind a real FB.

So, this year they have just given out the biggest guaranteed money in Team history to a UDFA. A whopping $30,000, but it still qualifies as the Biggest GTD ever given to a UDFA. (Non-QB)
Pittsburgh Steelers make franchise history with UDFA signing - pennlive.com

6'1" 251 pounds and ran a 4.63 forty. This makes him 20 pounds bigger and faster than both Connor Heyward (4.72) or Derek Watt (4.77).

I know it will take him being a stud on special teams to make the final 53-man roster, but hopes are high for me.

 

I see no reason not to root for him

 

Exactly what I was thinking. If He puts on the Black,and Gold = I root for them......especially if We drafted, or are their 1st team

 

Thomas-Jones will have to outplay Connor Heyward by a lot to earn a spot on the roster.

 

That is the crux of it, for the grief he gets Conner is a football specialist and can be good for a team that uses a particular system, at issue is the system we deploy. I think it's a fundamental breakdown in committing to certain system fully and trying to use players in the wrong format.

 

I thought we root for all players and have the best of the best on the 53 man roster?

 

Given how well DJ Thomas-Jones fits into what Arthur Smith looks for in a FB, I suspect he can. That said, he is gonna have to show something on both Special Teams and on Offense to do so. Connor Heyward hasn't been unseated yet but DJ could give him a run for his money.


Remember that Connor Heyward is in the final year of his Rookie Deal.

 

And that’s good enough for me

 

The Steelers have had full backs before. I have no problem with one and properly used, it's a big enhancer for the run game. Problem is that the Steelers don't seem to use them to their full potential, and the Steelers are not very deceptive on what they're going to do. That always makes the run game harder.

I really like Najee and would not have been at all upset if they had kept him around for another year. But, I don't know that a fullback would have made a huge difference on his run game. It undoubtedly would have made some kind of a positive, but Najee just wasn't fast enough to really take advantage of getting into the open......imo

 

Having the best of the best is not always the best.....lol

Better to have the right person. That's an old mentality from my time in the military. Always better to have the right person. Someone might look fantastic on paper, but you have to take into consideration a lot of other factors beyond a few stats. For this specific instance, maybe we don't have the best fullback, but having him does keep his brother on the team at a reasonable price. That's the type of an intangible that you can't always measure.

 

We're not using Heyward correctly, so while I'm looking for a good competition, I still don't see this kids' relevance

 

See Arthur Smith's offense before Mike Tomlin. I am giving Arthur Smith a pass last year, because it was not his idea to play someone's brother at the FB position for the last few years.

Before coming to Pittsburgh Smith's offenses were always Top 5 for having a FB on the field. Having a QB under center in the I-Formation has been Smith's go to formation in short yardage situations.

The Ravens have a great run game, because they know how to run behind a fullback.

 

A full back you say?? What's a fullback?? We hbe no scheme for a fullback. Having a fullback takes away from the scintillating qualities of our deep QB room. We have no need of a fullback!! Hope that helps

 

If he can play special teams he has a chance, if he can't he's out. A FB does not play enough offensive snaps to warrant a roster spot if he is not a stud on special teams.

 

Yeah Rhs-Plumlee was signed by the Seahawks and converted to WR. They saw his value as an all around good athlete.