How highly do you rate the Pittsburgh TE Unit?

[Livinginthe past]

Following on from a thread in the NFL forum, I thought i'd set up a quick poll in the main Steelers forum the gauge the opinion of the SF members on the quality of this years TE unit (MIller, Tuman, Spaeth)

Where would you rank the Steelers unit out of the 16 units in the AFC and also the 32 units in the NFL?

You should vote for 2 options only (AFC rank and NFL rank)

[HometownGal]

Kind of hard to rank them as we really haven't seen what Spaeth can do just yet. If we're going by potential and what I've seen out of Miller and Tuman since they've worn the B & G, I'd rank them AFC Top 1-4 and NFL 1-8.

[xXTheSteelKingsXx]

I voted 1-4 because I believe they have uderachieved up to this point but I look to see the corp having a break out year this season.

[83-Steelers-43]

It's tough for me to say that they have underachieved over the years while I feel that Cowher had underutilized them over the years. I feel Tuman is solid and I feel Heath has the catching, being able to get open across the middle and blocking abilities to become one hell of a TE if used properly. While some have knocked Heath for his lack of blocking abilities, I felt he stepped up to the plate nicely in that aspect and has become a well rounded TE.

Spaeth is a question mark. I have no idea what this guy will look like or what he brings to the table, not until at least I see him in camp.......and even then.

[fansince'76]

I voted 5-8 and 9-16 for AFC and NFL, respectively, due more to underutilization in the passing game than lack of ability, as 83 pointed out.

[ben2hines=6]

this question is a little unfair based on we use our tight ends more as run blockers than we do pass catchers, and heath did drop a few last year, i gave us 5-8 but can def move up

[tony hipchest]

Originally Posted by ben2hines=6

this question is a little unfair based on we use our tight ends more as run blockers than we do pass catchers, and heath did drop a few last year, i gave us 5-8 but can def move up

the thread is only unfairly biassed if the author is going on receiving numbers alone.

a good tight end shoulndt be consisered a glorified receiver or or a glorified o- linemen but a 50-50 blend of both. definition and the pretty much 50-50 playcalling of run vs. pass suggests as much.

i voted 1-4 afc and mistakingly clicked 9-16 in nfl. however i believe the steelers unit it top 8 in the league. alot of this rests upon the quality of te we took in the 3rd round and the overall impact i expect him to have on the offense.

steelers are well known for plugging in successful linebackers. they have a pretty impressive record plugging in te's and rb's too.

sure our te's dont put up reception numbers like the "greats" however our time of possession and rushing numbers stand on their own and wouldnt be so great without te's such as green, bruener, tuman, miller, and soon to be spaeth.

some would think having one of the strongest rushing attacks, and highest win % over the last 15 years means the under utilization of the tight ends. i call it efficient.

when it comes to rookie spaeth, im willing to put my money on the rooneys properly scouting the player when i project his effectiveness in this offense. as it is, we have the 2 of the best te's coming into the draft in the past 3 years. add the solid veteran tuman to that mix and i definitely think we are solid.

as a fan, i wont be worried as much if miller goes down as i would if i were a cheifs, giants, ravens, or san diego fan.

[Preacher]

I rated them 5-8 right now.

Yeah, they have a tremendous upside. Tuman and Miller may develop into a great tandem this year... and with Spaeth.. well, we may have the ability to pass out of what looks like a full on smack you in the face running game...

But I gotta see it in action first. It is there on paper... but not yet on the field.

[GBMelBlount]

Originally Posted by tony hipchest

a good tight end shoulndt be consisered a glorified receiver or or a glorified o- linemen but a 50-50 blend of both. definition and the pretty much 50-50 playcalling of run vs. pass suggests as much......

some would think having one of the strongest rushing attacks, and highest win % over the last 15 years means the under utilization of the tight ends. i call it efficient.

Agreed, but what is current opinion showing/using more tight ends in O-plan with current overall offensive personnel & RB's?

[xXTheSteelKingsXx]

Originally Posted by tony hipchest

the thread is only unfairly biassed if the author is going on receiving numbers alone.

a good tight end shoulndt be consisered a glorified receiver or or a glorified o- linemen but a 50-50 blend of both. definition and the pretty much 50-50 playcalling of run vs. pass suggests as much.
i voted 1-4 afc and mistakingly clicked 9-16 in nfl. however i believe the steelers unit it top 8 in the league. alot of this rests upon the quality of te we took in the 3rd round and the overall impact i expect him to have on the offense.

steelers are well known for plugging in successful linebackers. they have a pretty impressive record plugging in te's and rb's too.

sure our te's dont put up reception numbers like the "greats" however our time of possession and rushing numbers stand on their own and wouldnt be so great without te's such as green, bruener, tuman, miller, and soon to be spaeth.

some would think having one of the strongest rushing attacks, and highest win % over the last 15 years means the under utilization of the tight ends. i call it efficient.

when it comes to rookie spaeth, im willing to put my money on the rooneys properly scouting the player when i project his effectiveness in this offense. as it is, we have the 2 of the best te's coming into the draft in the past 3 years. add the solid veteran tuman to that mix and i definitely think we are solid.

as a fan, i wont be worried as much if miller goes down as i would if i were a cheifs, giants, ravens, or san diego fan.

Agreed. I believe that tight ends these days are judged too much by their pass catching abilities as a pro. I think that blocking should be taken into more consideration when ranking tightends.