Fleener is garbage. Not a Steelers-type TE at all. He can't block a lick and was fairly unproductive as a receiver even though he had his college teammate Luck at QB.
If Hunter Henry TE Arkansas is Available in Second
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Fleener is garbage. Not a Steelers-type TE at all. He can't block a lick and was fairly unproductive as a receiver even though he had his college teammate Luck at QB.
The steelers under Dan Rooney have a policy not to trade the #1 pick. its why they did it regularly before he was in control then never unless trading up after he took over. If they were to trade up in the 2nd, it will be some group of draft picks lower than a first. Also TEs are found lower in the draft, and we have Jesse James developing right now... they were happy enough with him that they released Blanchflower 3 days ago
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That isn't exactly a ringing endorsement for a player.
Fleener's claim to fame is playing with Luck in college. I agree. And if the Colts are willing to let him walk, enough said. I think the Steelers will have to go with James and a journeman FA at this position. Don't think they can spend a premium pick when they need defense this bad.
Agreed, if there was an impending Colt FA TE to target it is Dwayne Allen, much better all around TE, but he may also be the most sought after FA TE, I'll have to look at the FA TE list, but that could put him out of our sights..
The kid from ECU is a good player and will be available in later rounds. I'd go heavy D in the first 2 rounds.
rather than Coby Fleener who is said to be a bigger priority than Allen, Fleener cant block, Cook would be a a better cheaper option who is an average blocker but with time with Daniels and muncak he could be put in the run formations asked to lead with poncey and DD.
As well everyone is saying is a recieving te well its the new ' era Aside from Gronk, Witten and just recently Miller who were all around TE, a couple in the making CJ fiedorowitz, Kelce, Sefari-Jenkins.
Plus we run a heavy pass first O so a guy like Cook would thrive playing with ben, where you go 5 wide and the d tries to double AB leaving Bryant 1-1, Wheaton, Bell along with say Cook, could be be a nightmare for D's to cover.
As well everyone is saying is a recieving te well its the new ' era Aside from Gronk, Witten and just recently Miller who were all around TE, a couple in the making CJ fiedorowitz, Kelce, Sefari-Jenkins.
Plus we run a heavy pass first O so a guy like Cook would thrive playing with ben, where you go 5 wide and the d tries to double AB leaving Bryant 1-1, Wheaton, Bell along with say Cook, could be be a nightmare for D's to cover.
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I think the Steelers need to break the mold of " Player X " is not a Steelers type. In the draft Ed Lacy was more of a Steelers type of back, we selected Bell. Point being, get the talent, that take the strong points of his game.
Hunter looks to have a late first to mid 2nd round type of grade ( Can change once he works out ). The Steelers need a big and reliable red zone target. For all our talent on offense, we still kick too many field goals.
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Not last year.
I know I missed the season, but why is this fallacy of our red zone production still being perpetuated here?
We were 11th in touchdowns/red zone appearance. We were 7th in points scored per red zone appearance. And we failed (didn't come away with points) an absurd ONE TIME out of 56 trips inside the red zone (compare that to our opponents who failed 13 times out of 57 red zone appearances).
Our efficiency in the red zone (75.3%) was the best it's been on the team since 2005.
With Martavis Bryant looking to get a bigger roll as the seasons progress in his rookie contract, I have to think these numbers will continue to stay steady or rise, regardless of Heath Miller (only 2 TD's last year).
The reason to draft someone like Henry really doesn't have much to do with Red Zone anymore. The improved running game and finally getting a tall WR (which we've all been clamoring about for a decade) finally helps (what a shock!).
The reason to draft Henry is that TE is still a position we devote 125% to 130% snap counts to every season. That's a lot of snaps (approximately 1300) that need to be filled by TALENT. Spaeth can't do it. And I'm not sure James has the ceiling (he might) or experience yet to hand him the reigns for 1000 snaps next year.
And the free agency market isn't really that great.
You bring in Henry. You give Henry 500-600 snaps this year as a rookie. Spaeth continues to get his 250 snaps. And James goes from 180 snaps last year to 500-600 snaps. And you battle Henry vs. James in camp/practice each week to see who starts. Creates competition and gives you another chance to find the right guy to replace Miller for the next decade.
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I missed the season, too, but I can't believe James' ceiling is as high as Henry's and Henry would be winning these competitions.
I doubt I trade up for Henry, but if he is there at 1.25 and I don't have a first round CB there, I take Henry.
I agree. Henry is a complete TE. He is big, can catch and is a good blocker. He will start this year if they pick him.
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Losing Heath brings TE more in play but it would still not be my preference. The way i see it is the steelers are real Super Bowl contenders. They are very close and a playmaker on defense, either a pass rusher or a DB may be all that is needed for #7.
The only way i'll feel OK about a TE is if pass rusher and DB are cleaned out of first round talents
The only way i'll feel OK about a TE is if pass rusher and DB are cleaned out of first round talents
Pretty much agree with this, but I think we need to add a body to the tight end position in free agency and then use either our 3rd or 4th round pick on one as well. The free agent can be a no-name guy to a league minimum deal, but we need bodies at the position because you have to look at Spaeth's age and knee / foot issues and consider anything we get from him to be a bonus.
Mayock likes Henry to the Steeelrs at 1.25. Read the draft report. Good enough for me.
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I think they take Hunter simply because he will be the BPA when we pick. The CBs at the spot won't be 1st round quality, and Colbert has a history of going BPA. Plus, with the retirement of 83 he would make sense. Spaeth is not the future and James has been solid, but we need a guy who can block and make first downs. Henry appears to fit that bill.
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we can't give up any more picks and he'll ask for more than 6M a year so no thanks, rather have James and a top 3 rounds rookie
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Not good enough for me. There will be much better BPA players at pick #25, and some of them fill needs.
Henry's to me is more of a round two type of talent, and would have a tough time catching a lot of passes with Brown, Bryant, Bell, and company.
If we trade down to round two, picking up say an extra 3rd and 4th, then I'd be okay picking Henry depending on who's left on the board to select.
I think Henry is being hyped because he's the best TE in a weak TE class, and we just lost Heath Miller to retirement.
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I know we have a lot of talent at our skill positions but Heath still caught a lot of balls the past 2 years. So, a good TE is still important to the team and won't be taking catches away from anyone.
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Trading down depends on finding somebody who wants to trade up.
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John Madden?