Ben Tate to visit Steelers

[awboatguy]

Report: Ben Tate visiting Steelers Tuesday
http://www.thescore.com/nfl/news/669182
(via http://thesco.re/theScore_app)

With a knee injury putting the status of star running back Le'Veon Bell up in the air, the Pittsburgh Steelers are looking to the free-agent market ahead of Saturday's playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, free-agent running back Ben Tate is visiting the team Monday and could be signed if all goes well.

Tate's struggles have seen him released from both the Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings this season, but the talent he demonstrated during his time with the Houston Texans in the three years prior makes him worth a look.

The 26-year-old would be in for a fairly significant workload Saturday if he's signed and Bell is unable to play.

Feature photo courtesy of Gregory Shamus / Getty

 

[Steelr4evr]

That is scary to bring in a guy who doesn't know the plays or system. I suppose they'd work him in on a few plays. I'm doubt he could help much pass blocking.

 

[stillwright]

That is scary to bring in a guy who doesn't know the plays or system. I suppose they'd work him in on a few plays. I'm doubt he could help much pass blocking.

Why is that?

 

[Yinzerlyn]

Looks like Supe is getting his wish!!!!

 

[Steelr4evr]

what's he really going to learn in 4 days? I guess he could have a handful of plays down. I suppose just the terminology of the offense would be the problem. I just see having a new guy off the street as a liability with such short time to learn. I'm certain the coaches wouldn't stick him on the field if he didn't know his stuff.

 

[ZonaBurgh]

He's always been injury prone and his production has gone done each year since being a rookie.

But at 220 he may be able to provide better protection for BB than Dri.

 

[thesteelcity]

"Here's the ball. Now run, Forrest, run!"

This is rather asinine from the FO, someone should have been brought in the week Blount was released. It's foolish to bring someone in during the week of the damn playoffs.

 

[awboatguy]

I'm not a big fan of late season / playoff experiments. We knew this could be a situation and the front office didn't address it when we released Blount. Now they scramble for a suitable fix and conduct last minute damage control. Just another indicator that the Steeler FO is inept.

Hope it all pans out well for the team.

 

[Superman]

Looks like Supe is getting his wish!!!!

nah. mine was AP. but the Vikings and nfl are *******.

 

[CoolieMan]

yep the front office is inept...that is why they find guys like Brown and Bell to begin with.

 

[steel dino]

They should of done this a few weeks ago..

We would be set for Saturday...Don't know why we didn't then...

Timing is everything, and we misssed the boat...

We should now go with what we got..

 

[thesteelcity]

The FO is not inept, but certainly played with fire banking that Bell would not get hurt for how much he is used each game. The bed is now made. Beat the Ravens and then we can see if Bell can go next week.

 

[awboatguy]

yep the front office is inept...that is why they find guys like Brown and Bell to begin with.

Not my point Coolie. They have done admittedly well with some of the draft picks and player moves (ie. Bell, Brown, Bryant, Harrison). I was pointing out the bold move to release a solid back up, d-bag for sure, but a solid guy to rely on and not make a move to bring in a guy to replace him. They knew Archer wasn't the guy. That's why Harris was brought up. They still didn't believe in Harris, otherwise they would have put him in more to spell Bell. The impression is they were playing "hope for the best" instead of preparing for the worst. Now they scramble on a short week in the playoffs to find a band aid for the running game. That, to me, is inept, or if you rather, clumsy.

 

[JupiterBnG]

I would guess that a RB doesn't have to learn too much from the playbook to be modestly effective - not saying Tate is going to come in and put up 300 all-purpose yards, just that RB is a position that relies as much on vision and athleticism as memorizing X's and O's from the playbook. If we were talking about a WR, yes, that guy would be worthless until he could learn the playbook, because he has to know all the routes/progressions, and it's not just an "instinct/ability" position. I would guess that half of any good RB's runs don't go exactly where the playbook has them going, they are seeing a hole and hitting it.

The QB can pretty much set him in the huddle. If he's actually getting the ball, he just needs to know which way the blocking is supposed to be going, and most (starting) RBs have the vision to see the holes. If he's blocking, the QB and the O-line captain are usually shouting out blitzes and blocking assignments, he just has to stay home and pick up whoever comes free. Getting him involved in the passing game might be a little more complicated, but again, these guys have all played enough to have a basic understanding and common language, so the quarterback can say "you're the safety valve in the left flat on this play" or "chip block the left OLB and release underneath the LB coverage." I'm sure it's wearisome for the QB to have to tell him what to do on every play, but what are you gonna do at this point? We need an experienced body... clearly they don't have much faith in either Harris (rookie UDFA) and Archer (rookie midget) to be their workhorse if they're looking to sign someone this late.

 

[JupiterBnG]

Not my point Coolie. They have done admittedly well with some of the draft picks and player moves (ie. Bell, Brown, Bryant, Harrison). I was pointing out the bold move to release a solid back up, d-bag for sure, but a solid guy to rely on and not make a move to bring in a guy to replace him. They knew Archer wasn't the guy. That's why Harris was brought up. They still didn't believe in Harris, otherwise they would have put him in more to spell Bell. The impression is they were playing "hope for the best" instead of preparing for the worse. Now they scramble on a short week in the playoffs to find a band aid for the running game. That, to me, is inept, or if you rather, clumsy.

Definitely a stupid, "run him 'til the wheels fall off" decision. Tomlin certainly knows how to shorten the careers of running backs.

 

[SteelBuckeye]

Or, and this is just a thought ... the plan is to go with Harris as the starter and they want Tate there as an emergency "just in case". That way they don't have to entertain the possibility of putting Archer in at all.

 

[Shane Falco]

This is an 'is what it is' signing. Tate is football capable of providing some quality snaps. He's an X's and O's type guy with the ability to make the occasional splash play. He is possibly the next man up.

Did I cover enough cliches?

 

[FSF]

This is a move should have been done while ago - maybe not necessarily Tate but a vet RB for exactly this - plus to spell Bell. Heck where is Issac Redman or Johnathon Dwyer when need them?

 

[JupiterBnG]

Redman's career is done. Neck injury - doctors advised him he could end up paralyzed or worse.

 

[SteelBuckeye]

This is an 'is what it is' signing. Tate is football capable of providing some quality snaps. He's an X's and O's type guy with the ability to make the occasional splash play. He is possibly the next man up.

Did I cover enough cliches?

Obviously they thought he is a professional who is capable of providing above the line play in short period of time. He's provided quality play wherever he's been at and we'll expect the same effort now that he's here. Because we will not hesitate to use him. That's why we've brought him in and we will not live in our fears.

 

[awboatguy]

This is an 'is what it is' signing. Tate is football capable of providing some quality snaps. He's an X's and O's type guy with the ability to make the occasional splash play. He is possibly the next man up.

Did I cover enough cliches?

Now that is funny!

 

[Max Power]

Just forget it. Cut by the Clowns and couldn't even hook on to the AP-less Vikings. Has to be as useless as an unmatched sock.

 

[Wingman]

Redman's career is done. Neck injury - doctors advised him he could end up paralyzed or worse.

I thought Dwyer was suspended and out of football for some type of abuse

 

[thesteelcity]

Just forget it. Cut by the Clowns and couldn't even hook on to the AP-less Vikings. Has to be as useless as an unmatched sock.

so, if we sew him and Archer's uniform together, we might have one complete RB? Worth a shot, I say.

 

[Stryker]

Definitely a stupid, "run him 'til the wheels fall off" decision. Tomlin certainly knows how to shorten the careers of running backs.

The wheel fell off on a pass play. Not exactly the same thing...