With Green situation glad to have Xavier Grimble...

[Scunge]

Sure, some of you may say so what, but reports from camp are that Ben is developing a rapport with him in the passing game. Even if Green is released, retires, starts season on PUP, I still feel good with Jesse James and Xavier Grimble as the 1-2 TE combo.

I don't think enough is being said of the job that Colbert has done in free agency the past couple years. Yes, there will be those quick to point out Green and Boykin and how things went sour, but look at what Colbert has picked up via free agents and undrafted free agents the past couple seasons.

Chris Boswell, PK
Ross Cockrell, CB
Alejandro Villanueva, LT
Rosie Nix, FB/core ST
Fitz Touissant, RB
Eli Rogers, WR/PR
LJ Fort, ILB/core ST
DeAngelo Williams, RB
BJ Finney, C/G

THAT was just last season alone. Show me another GM that is able to acquire that much quality talent in free agency in a single season.

And then this year he has quietly, under the radar, signed more free agents and other UDFA types.

Daryl Richardson, RB
Xavier Grimble, TE
Ricardo Matthews, DE
Ryan Harris, LT/RT
Steven Johnson, ILB/core ST
Montell Garner, CB

Will all of them make the roster this season? A good many of them will, maybe all of them. Garner for example could be that last CB to make the team if they have to keep Golson for the 53 initial roster then put him on IR, and then add Garner to replace him on the roster. Richardson could be the 3rd RB if Bell is suspended for games.

What I like about our current makeup in terms of the roster, is that Colbert has masterfully used free agency and UDFA's to greatly improve the depth of the middle and bottom of our roster. And they aren't just bums, but players with talent, some with pedigree, some with experience, but all told they have greatly improved the depth and talent of this team.

Back in the day, of our Super Bowl years of 05, 08, 10, Colbert had players like Kimo Von Oelhoffen, James Farrior, Jeff Hartings, Willie Parker, Nate Washington, James Harrison, Ryan Clark, Tyrone Carter, Travis Kirschke, Nick Eason, etc. They were not drafted by us, but brought in via free agency in one form or another.

Colbert has been doing a wonderful job these past 3 or 4 seasons in bringing back that free agency aspect back into the fold. It was missing for a time. But with Art Moats, Darius Hayward-Bey, Mike Mitchell, DeAngelo Williams to uncovering gems like Rosie Nix, and Ross Cockrell, and other intriguing players like Eli Rogers and Xavier Grimble, Colbert is at the top of his game. Yes, you may swing and miss on the occasional Boykin and possibly Green, but I will take those misfires if it means getting the rest of those players.

[Legacy User]

I think it green truly fails to ever play they'll go with more 4 wide. Ben teased that with one of his comments. A back like Bell can run out of any set.

Anyway yeah steelers O depth is likely to be tested. Steelers drafting prowess on D is going to be tested. Lot of home grown guys on D side

[burmanj]

I agree and have always been a big fan of KC. Sure, he's missed on some picks... but.... our roster has been rebuilt since 2011 and is now one of the top picks to win the SB this year. I'm also a big Tomlin fan... although I do see some of his weaknesses (as mentioned on this site), I think this team is always well conditioned, well coached, and ready to play physical style football.

And as far as Green goes.... fuck him... we'll win the SB without his ass.

[Scunge]

It is just nice when you look at say, your 5th WR, who will probably be Hayward-Bey, and he is a great core special teams guy and still has great speed and is a former 1st round pick of the Raiders. How many teams can say that their 5th WR on the depth chart is a former 1st round draft pick?

Eli Rogers I think has been having a great camp and he has a pretty good chance of causing some noise this season. He was an UDFA. I think his route running and hands and ability to help spell Brown on PRs will prove invaluable this year. I have him being the 3rd/4th WR neck and neck with Coates this season, that is why I say Bey is the 5th WR.

You ask a team to look at the 4th RB on their depth chart, do they have somebody like Daryl Richardson? Richardson has played in 24 games with 3 starts for St Louis and has 690 yards rushing and 38 receptions. That is the 4th RB on our team. Usually that 4th RB is just a nobody who is still looking for their first carry, their first reception, to play their first game.

We lost Sean Spence and Terrance Garvin in free agency, but Steven Johnson and LJ Fort may be better special teams players and Colbert brought them in over the last two seasons.

As long as this team does not lose one of the true core players, Ben, Brown, Bell, Heyward, Shazier, etc for any length of time, I think the rest of the depth and talent on this team is much better than last season.

[R_S]

If Green is gone, they absolutely need to sign a vet TE. I imagine there will be some options come available.

[alancac98]

If Green is gone, they absolutely need to sign a vet TE. I imagine there will be some options come available.

They may try to find a vet TE, but I would be fine to go with The Outlaw and Grimble as our TE. The Outlaw showed promise last year, and it looks like Grimble is having a great camp. Like others have said, you can also go more 4 wide with AB, Wheaton, Coates, and Rogers on the field at the same time. That would be quite difficult for any D to matched up against all game, particularly with Bell in the backfield (possibly when he comes off of suspension). Most D's aren't that deep with quality DB's to hold these guys back. Someone will have a great day for the Black and Gold!

[Thrillsseeker]

Huck it chuck it football!!!!!

[lifelongsteel]

Sure, some of you may say so what, but reports from camp are that Ben is developing a rapport with him in the passing game. Even if Green is released, retires, starts season on PUP, I still feel good with Jesse James and Xavier Grimble as the 1-2 TE combo.

I don't think enough is being said of the job that Colbert has done in free agency the past couple years. Yes, there will be those quick to point out Green and Boykin and how things went sour, but look at what Colbert has picked up via free agents and undrafted free agents the past couple seasons.

Chris Boswell, PK
Ross Cockrell, CB
Alejandro Villanueva, LT
Rosie Nix, FB/core ST
Fitz Touissant, RB
Eli Rogers, WR/PR
LJ Fort, ILB/core ST
DeAngelo Williams, RB
BJ Finney, C/G

THAT was just last season alone. Show me another GM that is able to acquire that much quality talent in free agency in a single season.

And then this year he has quietly, under the radar, signed more free agents and other UDFA types.

Daryl Richardson, RB
Xavier Grimble, TE
Ricardo Matthews, DE
Ryan Harris, LT/RT
Steven Johnson, ILB/core ST
Montell Garner, CB

Will all of them make the roster this season? A good many of them will, maybe all of them. Garner for example could be that last CB to make the team if they have to keep Golson for the 53 initial roster then put him on IR, and then add Garner to replace him on the roster. Richardson could be the 3rd RB if Bell is suspended for games.

What I like about our current makeup in terms of the roster, is that Colbert has masterfully used free agency and UDFA's to greatly improve the depth of the middle and bottom of our roster. And they aren't just bums, but players with talent, some with pedigree, some with experience, but all told they have greatly improved the depth and talent of this team.

Back in the day, of our Super Bowl years of 05, 08, 10, Colbert had players like Kimo Von Oelhoffen, James Farrior, Jeff Hartings, Willie Parker, Nate Washington, James Harrison, Ryan Clark, Tyrone Carter, Travis Kirschke, Nick Eason, etc. They were not drafted by us, but brought in via free agency in one form or another.

Colbert has been doing a wonderful job these past 3 or 4 seasons in bringing back that free agency aspect back into the fold. It was missing for a time. But with Art Moats, Darius Hayward-Bey, Mike Mitchell, DeAngelo Williams to uncovering gems like Rosie Nix, and Ross Cockrell, and other intriguing players like Eli Rogers and Xavier Grimble, Colbert is at the top of his game. Yes, you may swing and miss on the occasional Boykin and possibly Green, but I will take those misfires if it means getting the rest of those players.

But . . . but . . . . but . . . He ran to the podium to draft Jarvis and Archer. C- GM

{sarca}

[R_S]

I'm not down with are #1 and #2 TE's having 8 NFL catches between the two of them. Grimble is having a good camp, ok. That really doesn't mean shit at this point. If James get's hurt we are looking at an UDFA journeyman.

[Legacy User]

In which paragraph did you list Josh Scobee? Brilliant move. Only potentially cost the team a home playoff game.

If Green had pre existing head issues steelers may have outbid themselves to get him. And then they knowingly went into camp with a concussion case, Jesse "annointed before doing anything" James and Xavier "weslye saunders" Grimble.

[955876]

3 wide with Nix in at FB isn't a bad package by any stretch.

Neither is 4 or even 5 wide.

I realize we need a TE. I'm just saying that I think we will have enough to still move the ball and generate offense. The TE situation should sort itself out.

I'd rather go 4 wide than try to force David Johnson too much into the scheme.

[Jobu]

The idea that the Steelers are fine with James, Grimble, (and fill in the blank) at TE, is wishful thinking to say the least.

[bradshaw2ben]

The idea that the Steelers are fine with James, Grimble, (and fill in the blank) at TE, is wishful thinking to say the least.

agreed... unless the blank is a healthy Green or a TE from a trade.

[Scunge]

And yet, I can see the Steelers staying with James, Grimble and Johnson, those will be your 3 TEs if Green is somehow not in the picture. There has been talk of how Green has fallen behind in reps, in playing time, getting work in the offense, picking up the offense, developing chemistry with Ben, and now somehow we are going to trade for a vet TE who is going to come in and without a training camp and a full preseason and is going to have an impact? Right. Sure.

This offense used to heavily rely on Miller for the short passing game and picking up first downs and moving the chains. It used to be we hardly threw to the RBs. But Bell changed that, and we now throw to the RBs, even DeAngelo Williams is an option as he had a career best 40 catches last season, imagine if he had started the whole season, he would probably have had 65 catches in addition to going over 1,000 yards rushing. There are reports out of camp that the FB Nix has been showing off great hands and getting open and catching the ball.

The sky is not falling if Green is out of the picture. It sucks because I really wanted that athletic vertical presence at TE, and it seemed like we got our wish, but maybe it just isn't meant to be.

[Orangesteel]

I think you are missing the point. Our plan at TE is almost as thin as our plan at QB.

Green was, and was paid to be, the guy. We lost our best receiving TE in franchise history, and one of the best blocking TE in recently history, and you are OK with the fact that Green might not take a snap as a steeler?

That optimism I wish I shared.

[randomsteelerfan]

To OP

Holy shit! A positive post regarding Colbert. I'm literally stunned. I had to go back after a few paragraphs and reread it just to make sure I wasn't missing something.

Kidding aside. +1. Well said. Colbert doesn't get enough credit. IMO.

[Legacy User]

I think you are missing the point. Our plan at TE is almost as thin as our plan at QB.

Green was, and was paid to be, the guy. We lost our best receiving TE in franchise history, and one of the best blocking TE in recently history, and you are OK with the fact that Green might not take a snap as a steeler?

That optimism I wish I shared.

If Green is no longer in the picture

KC is right about Heath

OR

Owen Daniel who head to head against Heath looked like a better pass catching option last year is still available for the right price and a team with a shot at the Lombardi. Give him Green's money for one year.

[R_S]

A guy like Owen Daniels would be the perfect type to step in.


The offense might be "alright" with James and Grimble, but if James goes down, it would really limit what they can do and how they attack defenses. Not worth the risk.

[bradshaw2ben]

I think you are missing the point. Our plan at TE is almost as thin as our plan at QB.

Green was, and was paid to be, the guy. We lost our best receiving TE in franchise history, and one of the best blocking TE in recently history, and you are OK with the fact that Green might not take a snap as a steeler?

That optimism I wish I shared.

Miller was not all that much better than James or Grimble in 2015. The Heath Miller you're talking about was already gone, especially 2nd half of the year.

[Kodiak]

I think you are missing the point. Our plan at TE is almost as thin as our plan at QB.

I'm not as negative on Landry as others.....this team is built around a future HOF QB, if you take him away there's going to be a huge drop-off regardless of who replaces him.

This is a very mediocre team without #7. If he goes down, I'm not interested in semantic debates around how much better PIT is based on how fast the backup QB can bail water.....Without #7 this is not a good team (and we'd say the same about GB or NE and others).

[Orangesteel]

I think you are missing the point. Our plan at TE is almost as thin as our plan at QB.

Green was, and was paid to be, the guy. We lost our best receiving TE in franchise history, and one of the best blocking TE in recently history, and you are OK with the fact that Green might not take a snap as a steeler?

That optimism I wish I shared.

Miller was not all that much better than James or Grimble in 2015. The Heath Miller you're talking about was already gone, especially 2nd half of the year.

That's true. Miller was MIA for much of last year. What, two TDs?

[Scunge]

Well, I just think people were naive to think that Jesse James was NOT going to be just as important as Green this year. Green is not and never will be much of a blocker, I think Grimble will show himself to be better than Green as a blocker too. Even with a healthy Green, I think James was going to get nearly as much playing time.

I will confess, and my old posts prove this out, I was never a fan of Green. When the offseason began, and before Miller retired, I was one of those nuts who was saying we should go out and sign a TE in free agency. But Green was never on my list, I wanted Dwayne Allen from Indy.

I ruled out Green, because in my mind he was just a jumbo sized WR, and I knew about his injury history. So now we have all of this drama unfolding and it really doesn't surprise me one bit.

I am more concerned about Sammie Coates. We need a Bryant/Wallace explosive playmaker and Coates had a brutal first preseason game. We can do well with James and Grimble at TE, but if Coates falls behind and drops on the depth chart, if the Steelers top 3 WRs are Brown, Wheaton and Rogers, it really limits this offense.

[Legacy User]

Some interesting TE battles around the league. New England is going to have a tough cut between AJ Derby and Clay Harbor. Either could be serviceable if Grimble can't hold onto ball or Johnson just doesn't have it.

[bradshaw2ben]

Some interesting TE battles around the league. New England is going to have a tough cut between AJ Derby and Clay Harbor. Either could be serviceable if Grimble can't hold onto ball or Johnson just doesn't have it.

I like Harbor a lot.

If we play Jesse James a lot as a #1 TE, folks are going to be disappointed. He really lacks dynamics... can't separate out of his breaks.

There's more than one way to skin a cat and more than one way to be effective as a TE. Green helps the run game because they have to view him as a WR with a size mismatch when they're determining what personnel to put in the game. You end up with a lighter player, who lines up further away from the ball. This can create just as much of a running lane as a fantastic blocking extra OT, if not more.

[Legacy User]

No Green is even worse if Coates displays hands like he did on Friday. No Bryant Coates Green: the steelers are pretty much without a physical down field threat.

On top of that, Heeeth and Speath also lended a lot of blocking support for out OTs. This could get ugly fast.

Looks very shaky. Lets just hope that Tomlin isnt just blowing smoke. Outlaw, DJ, Grimble: I dont want to paint that barn red with this group of TEs.

At this point I'd take Breunner, Tuman and Kranchick over our current prospective TEs.


Owen Daniels

[blu]

Some interesting TE battles around the league. New England is going to have a tough cut between AJ Derby and Clay Harbor. Either could be serviceable if Grimble can't hold onto ball or Johnson just doesn't have it.

The Steeler scouting personnel are going to very busy watching all final TE cuts leaving a roster spot available & ready to pounce on any young TE with significant potential placed on a practice roster.

[FC]

Grimble is not a decent run blocker
Grimble is not a good run blocker
Grimble is an excellent run blocker

Its something this offense has been missing since 2007....The last time Heath Miller was even decent in the run game.

I am not concerned in the least

[steeledge]

...if the Steelers top 3 WRs are Brown, Wheaton and Rogers, it really limits this offense.

you really think Rogers is over HeyBae in that list?
dude, pass me some...

[Scunge]

So, two games down and both Jesse James and Xavier Grimble are looking pretty damn good.

Can you imagine the growth that both might make in the next 14 games?

We may not even need Green, and if he somehow does not make it back off the PUP list, they may very well cut ties with him after the season and put the money to better use.

[K_C_]

Goddamn it, let me delete my Grimble thread.

Forgot about this one!