TE Depth

I posted about this exchange in one of the other threads.

Doesn’t mean Washington by any means. But it also don’t mean it don’t!

If not Washington then I’ll just have to hope they find a diamond in the ruff later.

 

depends who's grading.

https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Michael-Mayer-TE-NotreDame

https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Darnell-Washington-TE-Georgia

 

Any doubters of Washington’s value, and skills for what he could provide for this offense after pouring over his ridiculous numbers in the above draft link - need to then watch the video at the bottom.

You want trench help CHECK, you want blocking help big double CHECK, you want some receiving and redzone help CHECK, CHECK, CHECK!!!

All aboard!!! Still some room left on this train. Car #32!

Toot toooot!!!

(Don’t be a caboose)

 

He will be this years Pickens, but instead of Canada being lazy and making Pickens run go routes again, and again, he will just be saying, "And you Stay in and Block", over and over because he is not a creative enough of an OC to design plays for a 2nd TE on the field.

With Canada running the offense a 2nd TE would be a complete waste in his offense.

 

That’s ok. We’d have him for years anyway. So maybe he breaks into the league getting up to speed at what he supposedly does best.

Again, he’s also an answer for anyone who thinks we need offensive line trench bolstering, which seems like 99.9% of Steelers fans.

 

Ok. So he’s not the best TE the league has ever seen. Ding him for that.

What if he’s the B-version of Gronk? Is that ok? It sounds GREAT to me.

He doesn’t have to be Gronk, or Gonzales, or Kelcey, or Gates, or Winslow.

But he could be like Whitten, Clark, or Miller.

Pair that with Muth in 12 man TE sets, plus Najee, Pickens, and Johnson = incredible…!

But then there is Canada coming to piss on the parade.

 

Did you watch the video? From your assertions it’s hard to believe you did. Lumbering….? Ok.

How many TE’s are long yardage threats for their career? How good of blockers were they? Heath Miller is a beloved figure in Pittsburgh, was he a long yardage threat? Did you like him?

I’m not trying to be obstinate here, but I feel like people are contorting themselves on this site to find reasons to not like who he’s actually displayed himself to be, or because they want other positions like O-line - which he is! But he’s actually allowed to go downfield and catch beyond the sticks. A three year starting contributor on crazy deeply talented back to back National Championship team that needed to spread the ball around.

I see (on tape) why I’m contorting myself for them to draft him and his super productive offensive package and flexibility, but the way people scoff it all off is confounding.

Watch the Chiefs go get him and it’s an otherworldly tandem. What might come of that could re-shape the league and it will be comical watching everyone try to defeat that for years.

 

I look for a late round pick for depth,

 

Great answer. However, I disagree that he’s someone who can’t beat a coverage defender due to his sheer size and phenomenal catch radius; that is his all he needs to get “open” with at 6’7”, 34”+ arms, 11” hands and 4.64 speed.

Him blocking and shedding for a 10 yard+ dump off if Muth or WR isn’t open further down field is his great value. So yes, you draft him for a concerted 12 man plan huge safety net after blocking for time.

Pick 49 would be an absolute steal and my excitement would not be able to be contained, but if they use the 32nd pick for offensive help after using the 1st round to bolster the defense is a rock solid maneuver for this team.

 

Maybe this team trades the 4th round pick to move up in the 2nd with #49 to the mid 30’s to get him - I’ll take that too.

Maybe offer a pick for the 2024 draft or a player like Dotson with a draft pick to move up from 49 to secure him. Even better! Make it happen Omar…!!!

1st - OL
2nd(a) - CB
2nd(b-trade up) TE Washington
3rd - DL or LB

Count me in.

 

not according to our coach. it's not a brand new concept.

https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=dc8c...LXNldHMtd2V2ZS1iZWVuLWluLXRoYXQtbW9kZS8&ntb=1

https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=3f47...cmdoLWVyaWMtZWJyb24tcGF0LWZyZWllcm11dGg&ntb=1

https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=591e...LXRoYXRsbC1iZS1zb21ldGhpbmcteW91LXNlZS8&ntb=1


https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=904b...0LWVuZC1tb2RlLWV2ZW4tbW9yZS1pbi0yMDIyLw&ntb=1

https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=b9d7...LWVyaWMtZWJyb24tdHdvLXRpZ2h0LWVuZC1zZXQ&ntb=1

https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=5a04...dmVyLXdyLWluLXRoZS0yMDIzLW5mbC1kcmFmdC8&ntb=1

https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=7323...WRkLWRlcHRoLXRvLXN0ZWVsZXJzLW9mZmVuc2Uv&ntb=1

https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=1dc0...LWVuZC1zZXQtbGF0ZXN0LWNvcHljYXQtdHJlbmQ&ntb=1

 

As I have posted several times, nothing would really surprise me at this point (except a QB lol), I do think some are complicating this, like taking mainly a RT and moving Chuks to the left...it could happen, but I think the deepest issue is CB, but longer term you can see T, S, edge, DL, all getting a hard look, I include TE simply because of how many 2 TE packages they have used. I really like what they have in Muth and what Conner has shown, but Conner is not THAT guy to get you to that type of production if they want to go that way. The biggest focus on O is how they can get the best out of Kenny and help his development. What they see and do I feel is really based on that.

 

The Miller comparison does not hold up. They are very different players. Miller was more athletic, absolutely capable of making big plays down the field early in his career. He had proven that he could be a big receiving threat at UVA. The primary question about him was blocking, something he developed as a pro.

Washington has not shown he can be anything like Miller.

 

If they're taking a tight end at #17 or even #32, he had better be a game changer at reciever. You said yourself that he may not be that, which means he's not worthy of the first two picks and will likely be gone by #49.

 

LaPorta would be a nice pick up.

 

I understand, and think some might be taking my comparison to literally or not how I intend, but I get it because I’ve made the comp frequently. I am strictly talking about skill value and opportunity. They are certainly not mirror reflections.

We can all agree to disagree. I am banking on that Washington will and has shown the likeliness to be as great of an in-line blocker. Like Miller developed his blocking game and provided Ben with his receiving safety net, Washington will likely build his receiving resume and solidify his blocking bonafides.

Miller had a few great deep catches and runs, but he was never considered or used as a deep TE guy which held him back from NFL folks behind Dallas Clark and Jason Whitten in those peak years, despite the fact that Steelers nation held him in exactly or greater standards.

Will he be the *same* comp TE as Miller, no. But he will (I think) prove to be as valuable an asset to this offense while being used slightly differently.

Look, Miller holds quite a spot among us fans for all great and valid reasons. Great all around player at that position, great character, hard worker, humble, great teammate, super reliable, pillar of those teams etc… I adore the guy. Like most it seems Muth is more in that mold except the blocking ability.

Hopefully Washington possesses all or most of the character traits as well. Maybe I’ll die on this hill alone or with a few people, but I think his on field skill set will be well in the conversation.

Here’s to hoping!

 

I have never once said they should get go get him at 17 because I don’t believe he’s shown to be ranked that high. Especially with our other needs and the options we should have at that slot. But, 32 absolutely…

And I do think he will be a game changer for us or a few other offenses. Hopefully not, the Bengals, Chiefs, Pats, Ravens, or Cowboys.

* I just hate the Cowboys.

 

Ok. We will see it play out.

If he lands with the right team and system I see my movie unfold. If he lands in a slew of other teams, then you could be spot on.

 

Good question. Washington. I think he’s the freak that Mayer isn’t. Mayer will be very good to great, but I don’t think he’s the problem defenses won’t have a competitive answer for like Washington will be.

Mayer will be a solid contributor, but defenses are just going to except that they don’t have an answer to Washington and try their damndest to stop us elsewhere. He’s going to get his…

 

It’s not me! He ain’t pretty enough. But he has a big brain too!!!