Ben Tate to visit Steelers

[stillwright]

"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.

If Bell isn't going to play they might just be bring in someone for insurance if they sign him..The front office would be foolish not too. Heaven forbid another RB gets hurt.

 

[Wingman]

The only thing this might indicate is they are more concerned about bell than first thought and they maybe thinking we need another back should we advance past the gavens. If that is the case it could be a smart move. It costs nothing to look at him in the big scheme of things, and what happens from there remains to be seen. I am still thinking this might mean they are looking past the next game as far as signing a better running back goes.

 

[Superman]

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.

most likely scenario, but i'd guess archer gets some snaps

 

[stillwright]

Let me say this...if Tate is signed it will not be for him to start, but as insurance in case someone else would get hurt during the game. I would also assume that would mean most likely Bell will not be playing, but for anyone to criticize the front of for this is crazy in my opinion. They have to do this.

 

[SteelBuckeye]

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.

I can put an unmatched sock on and it will still keep my feet warm in the right situations. Hey, Tate "will look good in the Black and Gold". You know that "he wasn't used right in Cleveland".

 

[thesteelcity]

If Bell isn't going to play they might just be bring in someone for insurance if they sign him..The front office would be foolish not too. Heaven forbid another RB gets hurt.

They are at a point where they need that insurance, but is it too late? I mean, what can Tate learn and contribute in three days? Hell, Harris was on the practice squad all season and has gotten five carries. I just don't know what Tate can do at this point in a one and done game. We'll see how it unfolds.

 

[stillwright]

Now that is funny!

Yep ...maybe the first few 100 times it was. Kind of old anymore.....and I use get a good laugh out of it in the beginning.

 

[SteelBuckeye]

Let me say this...if Tate is signed it will not be for him to start, but as insurance in case someone else would get hurt during the game. I would also assume that would mean most likely Bell will not be playing, but for anyone to criticize the front of for this is crazy in my opinion. They have to do this.

I don't think the criticism is for the signing so much as the timing. The fact is that had they addressed the issue when they got rid of Blount, they wouldn't be up against the wall to do it now.

 

[oicu8ad]

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

That statement right there boggles the mind. So, when Blount left, we were better off with Harris and Archer than Tate, so there is no need to sign Tate. Tate was NOT NEEDED because we were comfortable with Harris and Archer. NOW, next man up (Harris or Archer) is NOT good enough to split the carries and go it alone. We need to bring in someone (who was deemed not as good as the two that we had) for a "fairly significant workload" in a PLAYOFF game.

 

[thesteelcity]

That statement right there boggles the mind. So, when Blount left, we were better off with Harris and Archer than Tate, so there is no need to sign Tate. Tate was NOT NEEDED because we were comfortable with Harris and Archer. NOW, next man up (Harris or Archer) is NOT good enough to split the carries and go it alone. We need to bring in someone (who was deemed not as good as the two that we had) for a "fairly significant workload" in a PLAYOFF game.

because like Titanic, there were minimal lifeboats on the ship because they didn't think the ship could sink. When they did need them in an emergency, it was too late and many people drowned for the result of poor planning.

 

[SteelBuckeye]

That statement right there boggles the mind. So, when Blount left, we were better off with Harris and Archer than Tate, so there is no need to sign Tate. Tate was NOT NEEDED because we were comfortable with Harris and Archer. NOW, next man up (Harris or Archer) is NOT good enough to split the carries and go it alone. We need to bring in someone (who was deemed not as good as the two that we had) for a "fairly significant workload" in a PLAYOFF game.

You do realize that the blurb about him being in line for a "fairly significant workload" is just the writer's opinion right?

 

[JupiterBnG]

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

I don't see the distinction. The "run him 'til the wheels fall off" statement is not about whether he's rushing or passing on a particular play, it's about the fact that we place too much reliance on him without worrying about what happens when the wheels DO fall off.

 

[stillwright]

I don't think the criticism is for the signing so much as the timing. The fact is that had they addressed the issue when they got rid of Blount, they wouldn't be up against the wall to do it now.

The timing is based on the fact Bell got hurt on Sunday night....There was no reason to sign(if they even do sign him) before. They will go in with Harris and Archer as there starter but they will want another back if Bell's knee isn't ready.

 

[blitzburghv5]

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

Man ...please dont start this **** ...not the time to start blaming Tomlin for LeVeon gettin hurt.....Team MVP, you use him...hes young. Dallas is gettin maximum use out of Murray, Houston maximized its use out of Foster...feature backs need to be used, not preserved......and its not like he was pounded like Bettis. He took a low knee shot by a forearm....he couldve been a third down specialty back and suffered the same injury

 

[antdrewjosh]

How about we wait til the game starts before all the rampant speculation. We need another back. Injuries can happen. No one knows who will play or how much. **** Bell hasnt even been ruled out yet. Signing Tate is no indicator of how they feel about Harris or Archer. Just a move that has to be done. At the time earlier this year signing Tate would of been just dumping another selfish back for another. Now its under way different circumstances.

 

[blitzburghv5]

If Bell isn't going to play they might just be bring in someone for insurance if they sign him..The front office would be foolish not too. Heaven forbid another RB gets hurt.

Exactly..this is the only reason theyd be bringing someone in...depth and a short term emergency fallback option should Josh get hurt

 

[SteelBuckeye]

The timing is based on the fact Bell got hurt on Sunday night....There was no reason to sign(if they even do sign him) before. They will go in with Harris and Archer as there starter but they will want another back if Bell's knee isn't ready.

Yeah, if you go back and read the thread, I said that already. I was addressing why the other poster was offering criticism, not the pecking order for the RBs. The two thoughts are not mutually exclusive.

 

[JupiterBnG]

So, when Blount left, we were better off with Harris and Archer than Tate, so there is no need to sign Tate. Tate was NOT NEEDED because we were comfortable with Harris and Archer.

No, Tate was not needed because no one has a crystal ball to predict that Bell would be injured in Week 17. Still short-sighted to not consider what you would do if something DID happen to Bell, but at the time several weeks ago when Blount was released, Bell was doing just fine, didn't need anyone to spell him, and Harris wasn't even around at that point, just Archer.

 

[JupiterBnG]

How about we wait til the game starts before all the rampant speculation.

What good is rampant speculation after the fact?

 

[antdrewjosh]

Because then you can speculate on why they made the move. Was it to play cause they dont trust what they have or was it depth. Because even after the game WE STILL ARE JUST GUESSING.

 

[JupiterBnG]

Man ...please dont start this **** ...not the time to start blaming Tomlin for LeVeon gettin hurt.....Team MVP, you use him...hes young. Dallas is gettin maximum use out of Murray, Houston maximized its use out of Foster...feature backs need to be used, not preserved......and its not like he was pounded like Bettis. He took a low knee shot by a forearm....he couldve been a third down specialty back and suffered the same injury

I didn't blame Tomlin for Bell getting hurt (see this previous post). I'm blaming Tomlin for not considering what our options were if Bell got hurt after we released Blount. If they didn't believe Harris and Archer can do it this week, I seriously doubt anything has changed since mid-November (when Blount was released). There's a big difference between Bell/Blount/Archer, Blount/Archer/Harris and Archer/Harris as your depth at RB.

 

[JupiterBnG]

Because then you can speculate on why they made the move. Was it to play cause they dont trust what they have or was it depth. Because even after the game WE STILL ARE JUST GUESSING.

That's not speculation, that's observation. Speculation is a projection of unknown future events. If you wait until those events happen, you are not speculating any more.

 

[thesteelcity]

I think it's pretty clear why they are making the move(if they do), Bell is hurt and more than likely will not play Saturday. They go with two rookies at RB or add some vet experience in a pinch. Timing of it sucks.

 

[SteelerFan448]

Good move. They need a running back and may add one who has the ability to produce.

 

[SteelBuckeye]

Maybe, just maybe, they like to have three RBs active on game day. Now with Bell hurt, maybe they decided to make a move early rather than wait to see if he can play on Sat. And maybe, possibly, they thought Tate was a better option for that spot than the RB they have on the practice squad.

I just don't see Tate being brought in to start. Could it happen? yes. Is it probable? I don't think so.