Steelers add depth at receiver

[stillers4me]

The Steelers added another XFL player to the offseason roster with the signing of receiver Saeed Blacknall, a wide receiver who played for the Los Angeles Wildcats.



Blacknall, who played college football at Penn State, originally signed with the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted rookie free agent following the 2018 NFL Draft. He spent the season on the Raiders practice squad. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins in the 2019 preseason but waived before the regular season began. Blacknall spent time on the Arizona Cardinals practice squad.



While at Penn State he had 50 receptions for 979 yards and seven touchdowns in 34 games.....

Read more @ https://www.steelers.com/news/steelers-add-depth-at-receiver

[Born2Steel]

Nice. Big and fast. Let's just hope he can catch better than Coates or Moncreif.

[teegre]

He was known as “Megatron Jr” while at Penn State. Of course, I remember back in the late 90s there being a plethora of RBs nicknamed “The Bus, Part II”...

[stillers4me]

1249719027909283841

[teegre]

You know what, I’m pleased that Colbert is giving these guys a chance. I’m not just talking about finding the next Deebo or Tommy Maddox. (That would obviously be the ultimate goal.) I mean that just giving them a chance is great. Most (none?) will not stick around, but with the XFL closing, this gives guys who’d be out of work a second chance... even if it is merely a long shot at making the roster as a “special teams guy.”

[Dwinsgames]

Player

Position
Yards


Cam Phillips
WR
455


Dan Williams
WR
338


Donald Parham
TE
307


Jalen Tolliver
WR
297




why not a productive guy tho ????

seems like they are looking for bodies instead of results /shrug

[ALLD]

Sammie Coates, what a waste of talent.

[teegre]

Player
Position
Yards


Cam Phillips
WR
455


Dan Williams
WR
338


Donald Parham
TE
307


Jalen Tolliver
WR
297




why not a productive guy tho ????

seems like they are looking for bodies instead of results /shrug

Good point

Seeing how I watched (checks notes) zero minutes of the XFL, I had no clue who was good or bad. With that list in mind, I’m wondering why we didn’t add the TE. FireGoodell mentioned him a few times...

[86WARD]

Player

Position
Yards


Cam Phillips
WR
455


Dan Williams
WR
338


Donald Parham
TE
307


Jalen Tolliver
WR
297




why not a productive guy tho ????

seems like they are looking for bodies instead of results /shrug

Yes. All they are doing is adding bodies. Let’s be honest, 98.9% of what is being added from the XFL are bodies...

[Mojouw]

Yes. All they are doing is adding bodies. Let’s be honest, 98.9% of what is being added from the XFL are bodies...

I think that is why you get them. "Seasoned" professionals instead of "raw" college UDFAs who can come in and in a heavily shortened off-season cycle give you good practice reps right away. If any of them can actually play, that is just a nice bonus.

I believe it is about stocking the practice lines with guys who should already know how to learn a playbook, get their bodies ready, and show up Day 1 (without orientations and rookie camp) ready to run drills at a decent level.

[86WARD]

I think that is why you get them. "Seasoned" professionals instead of "raw" college UDFAs who can come in and in a heavily shortened off-season cycle give you good practice reps right away. If any of them can actually play, that is just a nice bonus.

I believe it is about stocking the practice lines with guys who should already know how to learn a playbook, get their bodies ready, and show up Day 1 (without orientations and rookie camp) ready to run drills at a decent level.

Agree.

[Dwinsgames]

I think that is why you get them. "Seasoned" professionals instead of "raw" college UDFAs who can come in and in a heavily shortened off-season cycle give you good practice reps right away. If any of them can actually play, that is just a nice bonus.

I believe it is about stocking the practice lines with guys who should already know how to learn a playbook, get their bodies ready, and show up Day 1 (without orientations and rookie camp) ready to run drills at a decent level.


that is fine but ..... when you can do that and get guys that played at a higher level than the ones you sign why not do that raising your chances even if it is just .5 % of acquiring someone who can actually play , you are spending the same league min regardless

[JimHarbaugh'ssoakedtissue]

Said it in another thread that Austin Proehl would have been worth taking a chance on. He seem like the best WR in the league and has the Pedigree.

[Mojouw]

that is fine but ..... when you can do that and get guys that played at a higher level than the ones you sign why not do that raising your chances even if it is just .5 % of acquiring someone who can actually play , you are spending the same league min regardless

It depends on what you are looking for in each player. Maybe they don't sign a WR that tons of catches in the XFL because they feel he can only play in the slot and they want a guy who can run go routes down the sideline? Or maybe the guy had tons of catches but is short and they want to add height to the room. I have no idea. But I can't get worked up over guys that not only won't make the Steelers, but almost certainly won't make a roster or a PS across the entire league.

[Dwinsgames]

It depends on what you are looking for in each player. Maybe they don't sign a WR that tons of catches in the XFL because they feel he can only play in the slot and they want a guy who can run go routes down the sideline? Or maybe the guy had tons of catches but is short and they want to add height to the room. I have no idea. But I can't get worked up over guys that not only won't make the Steelers, but almost certainly won't make a roster or a PS across the entire league.

Phillips might be considered a slot guy at 6' 200 but the other 2 WR I mentioned are 6'3 guys not your typical slot players


https://www.azcardinals.com/video/tolliver-hauls-in-48-yard-pass

[Mojouw]

Phillips might be considered a slot guy at 6' 200 but the other 2 WR I mentioned are 6'3 guys not your typical slot players


https://www.azcardinals.com/video/tolliver-hauls-in-48-yard-pass

Fair enough. I pulled my examples out of thin air. No idea about a single player in the XFL. Just like the AAF. I don't think a single refugee from the AAF had much of a positive impact last season. Unless you count Kelly being terrible as the tipping point for the MF trade!

[EzraTank]

Cup = Ours (oh sorry, wrong sport).

[Dwinsgames]

Fair enough. I pulled my examples out of thin air. No idea about a single player in the XFL. Just like the AAF. I don't think a single refugee from the AAF had much of a positive impact last season. Unless you count Kelly being terrible as the tipping point for the MF trade!

the bold is true ... though 17 players did roster on final 53's last year ..

[Mojouw]

the bold is true ... though 17 players did roster on final 53's last year ..

That is actually more than I thought! Hopefully some of these guys from both the AAF and XFL get another real chance at cracking some NFL rosters and making impacts.