SteelerFury Combined Forum

I really am loving what I see from James. He continues to show great hands. The TD was a rifle and he plucked it out of the air. But, that wasn't all. He had a great catch on the sidelines earlier in the game where he showed very good body control and he had another diving reception later in the game.

I also thought his blocking was a little better. He's never going to pancake anyone and he still struggles at times, but I saw him get just enough of people today to help spring Dwill a few times.

Kudos to the late rounder from PSU. He's really worked hard to get better and it shows. Remember, he JUST turned 22. We really did draft him young.

The tight ends as a group were very solid.

James did show improvement in the run game
Grimble and Johnson both made contributions

You can't teach size

A 6'7" TE with soft hands is awesome. He's made some bonkers catches already. Big fan.

Our TE group is getting it done somehow. Kudos.

Kudos to James Daniels for getting this group ready to play but nice for James and Grimble stepping up their games

Grimble & James (The Law Firm) just made plays that the Steelers paid $20 Million to Ladarius to make.

I look forward to his addition, very excited about these playmakers, as it is a far fucking cry from and Old Heath Miller (love you and all that you did) and Matt "waste of" Spaeth, who excelled at a being a glorified 3rd Tackle and made some money doing it.

Fucking score touchdowns!

If and when Ladarius starts playing....imagine what PIT can do with 2-TE sets - with AB/Coates/Rogers or AB/Wheaton/Bell.

Think redzone....AB and Bell, plus 3 BIG targets for Ben.

franco32 wrote:Kudos to the late rounder from PSU. He's really worked hard to get better and it shows.

Agreed.

And as you mentioned, he's only 22

Great stuff from the TE's today in the passing game.

You know James Daniels doesn't get enough credit for being a great TE coach. if I remember right, he coached Shannon Sharpe (Pro Bowler), Alge Crumpler (Pro Bowler), Heath Miller (Pro Bowler), and now he has two promising prospects in James and Grimble, and hopefully Green too.

I don't think all of that success is just a coincidence, Daniels is a fine coach.

Always liked Jesse James throughout his Penn State career.....consistently made big catches there.

He's going to be a very good #2 TE for a lot of years in the league. Big target who can make grabs and blocks just enough to be useful.

Agreed, and I like his demeanor...another hard working, low maintenance, Heath type is exactly what this team needs. I'm a little concerned that with some success Coates' inner diva might come out. Not Ocho Cinco or TO level diva, but diva just the same.

After a disastrous camp last year that made me second-guess being on the James bandwagon so vociferously (and there were personal things going on with him at the time that may have been contributing to that), James has come along nicely.

He'll never be a Gronk. I think he proved yesterday he can turn into a reliable chain-mover and red zone threat. And I think he's showing a little athleticism than some people here thought he might not have.

Jeemie wrote:After a disastrous camp last year that made me second-guess being on the James bandwagon so vociferously (and there were personal things going on with him at the time that may have been contributing to that), James has come along nicely.

He'll never be a Gronk. I think he proved yesterday he can turn into a reliable chain-mover and red zone threat. And I think he's showing a little athleticism than some people here thought he might not have.

Nice day for the Kid

i think it fair to say Jesse James will never be a mismatch TE in the way Gates and Gronk are. but, as already noted, he is still incredibly young and is on a path to get better. he made two tough catches yesterday. one he went down low to get....the other one he went waay up there to snag a throw w/ some mustard on it.

to my eye, he looks less *awkward* out there compared to last season. a little more fluid. and someone correct me, but blocking is a skill that can be coached up....if the guy wants to be a good blocker.

SteelyourFace wrote:i think it fair to say Jesse James will never be a mismatch TE in the way Gates and Gronk are. but, as already noted, he is still incredibly young and is on a path to get better. he made two tough catches yesterday. one he went down low to get....the other one he went waay up there to snag a throw w/ some mustard on it.

to my eye, he looks less *awkward* out there compared to last season. a little more fluid. and someone correct me, but blocking is a skill that can be coached up....if the guy wants to be a good blocker.

He gave up a lot of mass in order to be quicker this year-- it's made him into something of a liability in pass pro. I don't see him as a lot quicker but he seems faster and the leaping is terrific.

Ann Veale....she has a lot of mass.