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Garnett or Henry?

Been banging this drum loudly. I absolutely go Garnett if he is there. If we resign Foster then it doesn't matter so it depends on what we do with our FA first.
 
I don't think there are many players who would have a more immediate impact at 1.25 then Henry. I don't know who would be a better player, but if you are talking position of need and contributing day one starter, I think it is Henry. For example, if you had to and Pouncey is going to be healthy, you could probably kick Wallace to guard. You are talking about a major drop off from Miller to James (though James played ok.) Either way if Spaeth isn't back you need a tight end for sure.
 
Rather take Garnett (if I HAD to choose).

Protect Ben, and open up some lanes for Bell.

But I am very against picking a TE in the 1st with our offense. I know posters like Del proclaim that we use our TE's ~125% of the time-- but consider the capacity. With our weapons, we need our TE's to be largely blockers and part time (very part time) receivers. In other words, we need Matt Spaeth's at TE.

Quite honestly, Heath Miller was essentially a 'Matt Spaeth' last year. And these type of players can be had in FA for cheap.
 
Have a feeling we go UFA for TE for a year so they can focus on other needs. Heath was a stud for so long. He will be greatly missed. I think you fortify the line if that's presented and make sure this offense protects its greatest asset. We saw what happened when Ben went down. The tunnel vision on a DB pick is misguided. Its a huge concern but to me the O line being solid lets me know we can run or pass, protect Ben and put points on the board.
 
Rather take Garnett (if I HAD to choose).

Protect Ben, and open up some lanes for Bell.

But I am very against picking a TE in the 1st with our offense. I know posters like Del proclaim that we use our TE's ~125% of the time-- but consider the capacity. With our weapons, we need our TE's to be largely blockers and part time (very part time) receivers. In other words, we need Matt Spaeth's at TE.

Quite honestly, Heath Miller was essentially a 'Matt Spaeth' last year. And these type of players can be had in FA for cheap.

Miller has over 60 catches last year. His highest # catches since 2010 was 71, I think. That aint no Spaeth.
 
I really like Garnett and want to keep the offensive line playing well, but what safeties are available at this point?
 
Honestly a trade down is probably the best course of action. pick up a couple extra picks and take a TE in the later rounds. There is value in the second round and i don"t want them spending a first on a second round talent. Guard, TE, CB, and maybe even DT worth taking should be on the board in the second.
 
Miller has over 60 catches last year. His highest # catches since 2010 was 71, I think. That aint no Spaeth.

And it ain't Gronk or Jimmy Graham either. Think of the typical Heath reception. Is it Heath beating a safety 30 yards downfield or is it more like Heath on a 10 yard curl that is wide open because there are 2 guys watching AB and 2 other guys watching Martavis 30 yards downfield?

The main thing the steelers need is a blocker at TE. He only needs to be a 4th option as a receiver and that doesn't take a first round talent to fill that role.
 
And it ain't Gronk or Jimmy Graham either. Think of the typical Heath reception. Is it Heath beating a safety 30 yards downfield or is it more like Heath on a 10 yard curl that is wide open because there are 2 guys watching AB and 2 other guys watching Martavis 30 yards downfield?

The main thing the steelers need is a blocker at TE. He only needs to be a 4th option as a receiver and that doesn't take a first round talent to fill that role.

I wasn't making a case that it was think or Graham. He stated heath was, basically, Spaeth last season and that just isn't true.

Heath has been a safety blanket for Ben for all these years. It wasn't just the number of receptions or the yards. And he has been that with or without Brown and Bryant. I like Spaeth well enough for a backup when he can get on the field, but he has shown nothing to indicate he can be close to heath. James, probably, has a higher ceiling than Spaeth, but we should want something closer to heath than I think James can get.
 
And it ain't Gronk or Jimmy Graham either. Think of the typical Heath reception. Is it Heath beating a safety 30 yards downfield or is it more like Heath on a 10 yard curl that is wide open because there are 2 guys watching AB and 2 other guys watching Martavis 30 yards downfield?

The main thing the steelers need is a blocker at TE. He only needs to be a 4th option as a receiver and that doesn't take a first round talent to fill that role.

I think we need a red zone option at TE, one that can slip off blocks and get open. I don't think you just want a blocker there you already have that on the other side. And why limit your options?

When Heath first came around he really helped that O,

Bell for whatever reason hasn't stayed healthy.

No for me I want that TE that can do a little bit of everything..................
 
I think we need a red zone option at TE, one that can slip off blocks and get open. I don't think you just want a blocker there you already have that on the other side. And why limit your options?

When Heath first came around he really helped that O,

Bell for whatever reason hasn't stayed healthy.

No for me I want that TE that can do a little bit of everything..................

Couldn't James fill that role?

I agree with Tape, I think it'd be a mistake to go TE early. Unless the Steelers don't think James can get it done blocking-wise, then we need the best blocking TE in the draft but blocking first TE's can typically be found later on (or even free agency). I think James is more than capable of filling Heath's pass catching void and may be even more of a target in the redzone due to his height. It'll come down to his blocking whether or not we see him as the TE1 of the future because that was where Heath was one of the best at the position. IMO, losing Heath hurts the run game more than the pass game.
 
Couldn't James fill that role?

I agree with Tape, I think it'd be a mistake to go TE early. Unless the Steelers don't think James can get it done blocking-wise, then we need the best blocking TE in the draft but blocking first TE's can typically be found later on (or even free agency). I think James is more than capable of filling Heath's pass catching void and may be even more of a target in the redzone due to his height. It'll come down to his blocking whether or not we see him as the TE1 of the future because that was where Heath was one of the best at the position. IMO, losing Heath hurts the run game more than the pass game.

I think you want to replace Heath with someone as close to Heath as possible. I don't think James comes close. Maybe nobody available does. If you rely on Jamesome to fill that role, I think you fall too short and that hurts the entire offense.
 
plus, drafting Henry would be an apology of sorts to ark, so he can watch games again this season
 
I saw James improve his blocking skills through the season, who's to say he can't keep improving?
 
I saw James improve his blocking skills through the season, who's to say he can't keep improving?

Could be. Depends on what the coaches saw in his game and practices. I just don't believe he will be more than an adequate 2nd TE. He certainly has some good size to be a Red Zone target, though.

Looking at Profootballreference, there are not a lot of 50+ reception seasons coming from TE's drafted outside the top 3 rounds.
 
Could be. Depends on what the coaches saw in his game and practices. I just don't believe he will be more than an adequate 2nd TE. He certainly has some good size to be a Red Zone target, though.

Looking at Profootballreference, there are not a lot of 50+ reception seasons coming from TE's drafted outside the top 3 rounds.

with this group of WRs and Bell maybe we don't need a 50+ rec TE but one that is a RZ target
 
with this group of WRs and Bell maybe we don't need a 50+ rec TE but one that is a RZ target

or we have a really good RZ target at TE which is way cheaper than trying to match those open market prices for WR's?

While the Steelers don't throw to the TE as much as I would like, dropping below 40-50+ receptions and letting everyone and their mother know that this is way less likely to be an option is poor game planning. Only 2.5 receptions per game may not seem like much but it can be very important as a threat.
 
or we have a really good RZ target at TE which is way cheaper than trying to match those open market prices for WR's?

While the Steelers don't throw to the TE as much as I would like, dropping below 40-50+ receptions and letting everyone and their mother know that this is way less likely to be an option is poor game planning. Only 2.5 receptions per game may not seem like much but it can be very important as a threat.

Here is the thing-- with our weapons, almost anyone you throw in at TE is going to to be an 'option'.

I was obviously being facetious earlier, I understand that Spaeth will never be on the same planet as Heath. But you really think that Millers 50+ catches came as a result of him getting open? You think Miller's 'separation' skills are the reason why he was one of the top 10 receiving TE's?

I think whoever you put back there will benefit from having talented weapons all around him. Which is why placing a large emphasis on TE may be overdone.
 
If those are the best two BPA's then it would boil down to what happened in FA. If Foster walks then id take the guard, if we have re-signed Foster then id take the TE.
 
or we have a really good RZ target at TE which is way cheaper than trying to match those open market prices for WR's?

While the Steelers don't throw to the TE as much as I would like, dropping below 40-50+ receptions and letting everyone and their mother know that this is way less likely to be an option is poor game planning. Only 2.5 receptions per game may not seem like much but it can be very important as a threat.

Show me a team that throws a bunch to the TE and i will show you a team that has either a bad QB or bad WRs.

Look at the Pats receptions by TE
2006 - 70 ****** WRs
2007 - 2009 - avg 40 TE rec per year - Pats had Moss
2010 - 87 receptions - Moss is done so they threw to TEs again

Look at the Bengals last year. Eifert is a great TE but he still had only 52 receptions. He had fewer receptions than Marvin Jones. That;s because as good as Eifert may be, Green and Jones are more dangerous.

The TE is always a secondary weapon when you have good WRs. WR are the prime targets because they do more damage.

I'm not against a good TE. I agree that it is a need. I just don't think it's a need that requires a high draft pick to fix right now. The steelers should be able to sign a veteran and be OK for this year, then if a good TE is on the board in later rounds then they can grab him.

Also, this is not the year to take a TE high because it's a weak class. I think Maxx WIlliams was a better prospect than Henry and the steelers didn't draft him in the first.

Another thing is that Villanueva can play TE. I have a feeling that the steelers will address OT and Villanueva will not be the planned starter this year. If that's the case then he can play some TE. Max Starks used to do that before he became a starter. Villanueva used to play TE so he is familiar.
 
Here is the thing-- with our weapons, almost anyone you throw in at TE is going to to be an 'option'.

I was obviously being facetious earlier, I understand that Spaeth will never be on the same planet as Heath. But you really think that Millers 50+ catches came as a result of him getting open? You think Miller's 'separation' skills are the reason why he was one of the top 10 receiving TE's?

I think whoever you put back there will benefit from having talented weapons all around him. Which is why placing a large emphasis on TE may be overdone.

I think you are undervaluing Heath by a great margin. I can't believe anyone thinks that Heath can be replaced that easily. I think a lot of his catches came from his knowledge of how to play the game. He can hold his block as long as he is supposed to and get into the open without endangering the QB.

What happens if Brown gets hurt game 1 and Martavus/Wheaton/Coates are your 1-3? You need a better TE than I think James is.
 
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