I was wrong about Vance McDonald

[Fire Goodell]

So I'm here to eat crow. I said before this season started that he'd not play more than 2 games in a row and that James would be the clear #1 mostly due to availability.

Well, he's played what like 4 games now and seems like he's a key part of the offense. I was wrong, but it's good to be wrong sometimes especially when making predictions that suck for the team

I also called him a soft china doll, but he's made some seriously "Wow" plays that makes him look like a man among boys sometimes. If he can stay healthy he'll definitely be a special player.

[86WARD]

I think I was one of the few that liked the trade when it initially happened and it didn’t look great while he sat out and dropped a couple passes to start. Took some time to develop but McDonald is playing lights out right now and Ben is gaining more trust in him as the season progresses.

[steelreserve]

If the guy can stay on the field, we have zero issues at the TE position. While four games is promising and he has been great in them, I am still in the keep-your-fingers-crossed period right now.

[katmandu]

Dude is a freaking BEAST !!

The Steelers need to utilitize his skills more so in the future. Just as Gronk is being used.

[TD's & Beer]

He's got Ben throwing to the TE's and not forcing the ball to AB! ...and not a just one or two passes early then forgetting about them later in the game.

Keep it up Ben, it really makes a difference when we can throw the ball down the middle to wide open TE's. Easy yds. No need for heroics every play,

[GBMelBlount]

The pass distribution to TE's has been significant and it really keeps the defense on their heels when we have so many options beyond Brown & JuJu.

That being said, I am a little disappointed that Washington has not been more productive through 6 games.

[Mojouw]

The pass distribution to TE's has been significant and it really keeps the defense on their heels when we have so many options beyond Brown & JuJu.

That being said, I am a little disappointed that Washington has not been more productive through 6 games.

Great points. I also think that someone has to begin making plays outside the #'s down the sideline or all that room that Juju and the TEs are exploiting in the middle of the field is going to go away.

Hopefully Washington can come out of the bye and have a second half impact similar to what Bryant did his rookie year!

[smokin3000gt]

This guy is a bull.. I loved watching Bungles hanging from him as he was chewing up yards..

[vasteeler]

Can't blame you for doubting him. I think we all did. I glad we can all eat a little crow

[polamalubeast]

I hope he will stay healthy, since he is very important for the steelers.

Very good trade by Colbert.

[tube517]

Vanimal!

[GBMelBlount]

Vanimal!

McDominant! I'm lovin it!

[GoSlash27]

I'll join you. I didn't know what he was capable of when healthy. Dude is an absolute beast! I'd hate to be a DC game planning against him; even triple- teaming can't shut him down. I'm still a big fan of James and I give him props for every clutch play... but credit where it's due: I never saw this guy coming.
Pass some of that crow my way,
-Slashy

[AtlantaDan]

Great points. I also think that someone has to begin making plays outside the #'s down the sideline or all that room that Juju and the TEs are exploiting in the middle of the field is going to go away.

Hopefully Washington can come out of the bye and have a second half impact similar to what Bryant did his rookie year!

Steelers went to lineups to pound the Bengals yesterday - these snap counts for offense (does not include special teams)

Washington only on the field for 16 snaps (lowest since week one when he had been limited in practice)

McDonald season high 51 snaps

James 51 snaps (highest since week one)

Grimble 21 snaps (highest since 22 in week one)

Nix on for 17 snaps (highest since week one after 1 snap in Ravens game)

Switzer 2 snaps (after 21 when he was the inexplicable focus of the offense in the Ravens game)

https://www.pro-football-reference.c...nap-counts.htm

After the second half cluster on offense in the Ravens game that was tied at the half, Steelers seem to have committed to trying to control clock with more Conner and the passes you described - problem is drives requiring more plays can break down before end zone, as happened in second half yesterday

[GoSlash27]

An unofficial request: Any members of this forum that happen to attend a game this year: Can we try to make "Thor" a nickname for Vance McDonald?
He said that that's his inspiration, and it's kinda fitting.

[polamalubeast]

Steelers went to lineups to pound the Bengals yesterday - these snap counts for offense (does not include special teams)

Washington only on the field for 16 snaps (lowest since week one when he had been limited in practice)

McDonald season high 51 snaps

James 51 snaps (highest since week one)

Grimble 21 snaps (highest since 22 in week one)

Nix on for 17 snaps (highest since week one after 1 snap in Ravens game)

Switzer 2 snaps (after 21 when he was the inexplicable focus of the offense in the Ravens game)

https://www.pro-football-reference.c...nap-counts.htm

After the second half cluster on offense in the Ravens game that was tied at the half, Steelers seem to have committed to trying to control clock with more Conner and the passes you described - problem is drives requiring more plays can break down before end zone, as happened in second half yesterday

Yesterday in the second half, our red zone offense was not good (no reason to not score on the first and goal at the one yard line .... terrible play calling and formation, but this is another story, but Antonio Brown should never be on the side lines no matter the situation) but in general, the steelers are 3rd in the NFL in the red zone offense ... Hope that it will continue ... Boswell has only attempts 8 field goal this year.

[teegre]

Twitter has started calling him...

Vanos

[43Hitman]

Yesterday in the second half, our red zone offense was not good (no reason to not score on the first and goal at the one yard line .... terrible play calling and formation, but this is another story, but Antonio Brown should never be on the side lines no matter the situation) but in general, the steelers are 3rd in the NFL in the red zone offense ... Hope that it will continue ... Boswell has only attempts 8 field goal this year.

Yeah, the line got blown up on 1st and 3rd down in that series, no excuse for our line to let that happen. The 2nd throw probably should have drawn a flag, James' defender had a hand full of the back of his jersey.

[GBMelBlount]

Twitter has started calling him...

Vanos

have they also dubbed Burfict V-anus?.

[Shoes]

My beef with McDonald has been the constant injuries. If he can stay healthy it would be wonderful and I might lay off my campaign for drafting a TE in 2019......maybe

[AtlantaDan]

My beef with McDonald has been the constant injuries. If he can stay healthy it would be wonderful and I might lay off my campaign for drafting a TE in 2019......maybe

McDonald is a bargain this season at $790K base salary, with bonuses and restructuring total cap hit $2.1 million

But that goes up to base salary of $4.2 million and total cap hit of $5.8 million in 2019

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/pittsbur...cdonald-12336/

Where part of the Bell & Shazier $$$$ coming off the books is going to go unless he gets injured a lot for the rest of this season and the Steelers need to decide whether to keep him

[Steeldude]

My issue with McDonald was his hands and injuries

[tube517]

My beef with McDonald has been the constant injuries. If he can stay healthy it would be wonderful and I might lay off my campaign for drafting a TE in 2019......maybe

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

My beef with McDonald has been the constant injuries. If he can stay healthy it would be wonderful and I might lay off my campaign for drafting a TE in 2019......maybe

Keep on the campaign! While 7 receptions on 8 targets is great by Vance stats...history would show that neither the dropped passes or injuries will stay away for long. Take the production while we can, as I expect the glass hamburglar to return before the end of season.

[Shoes]

Keep on the campaign! While 7 receptions on 8 targets is great by Vance stats...history would show that neither the dropped passes or injuries will stay away for long. Take the production while we can, as I expect the glass hamburglar to return before the end of season.

My gut feeling also.

[tube517]

[/B]
My gut feeling also.

I think we can do better than Grimble and the Outlaw but we have too many holes in the defense. Maybe we can sign a bunch of basketball players and put them in the TE room and pray we get another Gates/Gonzalez/Graham.

[43Hitman]

Noah Fant

[katmandu]

My beef with McDonald has been the constant injuries. If he can stay healthy it would be wonderful ...

Not his fault. Would be great if human bodies were indestructible. Playing an extremely violent game of human demolition derby like that.... shit happens and injuries are purely LUCK and happenstance. Nothing more. Nothing less. Vanos has just had shittty luck with injuries.

[GBMelBlount]

Not his fault.

Would be great if human bodies were indestructible.

Playing an extremely violent game of human demolition derby like that....

shit happens and injuries are purely LUCK and happenstance. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Vanos has just had shittty luck with injuries.

Good post and I agree that sh*t happens.

However, I firmly believe some people are more injury prone than others.

[Shoes]

I am going to disagree here.

I believe some people are far more injury prone than others.

No question about it imo.