Black and Gold Links: The Steelers can’t afford to overlook tight end in this year’s NFL Draft

Apr 2019

Time to check on the latest news surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ season is over, but if you think the news surrounding the black-and-gold is over — think again. For the drama-filled Steelers, things are just heating up, and this is where the daily links article comes in. You might have missed some key news, and we fill you in and give you the latest, and sometimes greatest, news surrounding the Steelers.

Today in the Black-and-gold links article we take a look at how the Steelers need to remember tight end during this year’s 2019 NFL Draft to add to their depth at the position.

Let’s get to the news:

While everyone is talking about cornerbacks, inside linebackers and wide receivers, you can’t forget about tight ends. After all, the Steelers really only have Vance McDonald and Xavier Grimble currently on their depth chart.

NFL Draft: Free agency makes tight end a need

By: Dale Lolley, DKPittsburghSports

He hasn’t gotten to the point where fans chant his name yet after every catch — maybe because his first name doesn’t roll off the tongue quite like “Heath — but Steelers tight end Vance McDonald has established himself as a fan favorite with his physical style of play.

He’s easily the team’s best tight end since the beloved Heath Miller roamed opposing secondaries.

But it’s that same physical style of play that also causes McDonald to get nicked up at times. And that became an interesting proposition for the Steelers when No. 2 tight end Jesse James was signed by the Lions to a four-year, $22.6-million contract in free agency earlier this year.

With James gone and McDonald’s injury history — he missed at least one game in each of his six NFL seasons — the Steelers have a hole at their backup tight end position.

To read the full article, click HERE

Getting the player you want in the first round of the NFL Draft is tough. In fact, it takes luck…

Labriola on getting lucky in Round 1

By: Bob Labriola, Steelers.com

All of that work, and then sometimes a team’s fate on draft day comes down to pure unadulterated luck. Or to put it more accurately, pure unadulterated stupidity by another team or teams when it finally comes down to the actual picking.

Take 1987 for example. If Steelers fans think this current group is in need of an injection of talent at cornerback, go back and peruse that 1986 roister. John Swain and Harvey Clayton were the primary starters at cornerback, and the “depth” was provided by the likes of Donnie Elder, Chris Sheffield, and Lupe Sanchez.

During a season in which only six NFL quarterbacks completed 60 percent of their passes, the Steelers defense allowed opponents to complete 58 percent, and their 22 touchdown passes allowed ranked in the bottom third of the league. Ah, but there seemed to be light at the end of this dark tunnel, because their 6-10 record in 1986 earned the Steelers the 10th overall pick in the 1987 NFL Draft, and that exercise surely would provide them the opportunity to add reinforcements.

To read the full article, click HERE

The Steelers are looking hard at the CB position in the upcoming draft, but are people forgetting about Brian Allen?

Allen focused on a tough task

By: Teresa Varley, Steelers.com

Allen laughed, knowing saying getting quicker and faster is easy to say, but not necessarily the easiest thing to do.

“I went back to California and worked with my trainer,” said Allen. “Work on getting in and out of breaks faster. A lot of band work, resistance work, jump rope work. Things to get my lower body stronger and keep my pad level down.

“I need to work on my strengths, my physical side. Just getting quicker and faster. Doing the things that set me apart. Show my skill set that is different than the other guys we have.”

To read the full article, click HERE