Why is Ebron starting?

[Fire Goodell]

Is there any good reason at this point? The Steelers lead the NFL in dropped passes (big surprise), and it appears that Ebron is a major contributor to that. I don't see what's so great about him, he's soft in the blocking game, and he always seems to get stopped soon after the catch.

McDonald isn't the best catcher either, but his blocking is solid, and in the past he has shown to be tough to bring down after the catch. Is he injured or not 100% recovered from the Covid? I don't understand why this guy isn't starting over Ebron at this point

[SteelMayhem72]

Good question and McDonalds past health issues is the only reason I can think of. Availability of McDonald is probably why Ebron was brought in

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[Shoes]

Because the steelers shit the bed by not drafting kittle. Don't get me going!

[Mojouw]

The Steelers have decided to trade blocking for the match-up nightmare that Ebron represents. He is almost always open. When he does catch the ball, he is capable of making catches that McDonald can only dream about. I think that it is pretty obvious why the Steelers prefer Ebron. He fits who they are right now. A giant WR that can get open on both LBs and DBs.

[DesertSteel]

Jesse James is looking pretty good for the Lions! :-/

[Fire Goodell]

The Steelers have decided to trade blocking for the match-up nightmare that Ebron represents. He is almost always open. When he does catch the ball, he is capable of making catches that McDonald can only dream about. I think that it is pretty obvious why the Steelers prefer Ebron. He fits who they are right now. A giant WR that can get open on both LBs and DBs.

When he does catch the ball is a big if. I rather have the guy that can open running lanes and make some YAC yardage. Ebron is basically what you said, a big receiver. He'd be a good player if he didn't drop so many passes, but that was the reason why Detroit gave up on him. I don't see it changing at this point in his career.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Jesse James is looking pretty good for the Lions! :-/

Yup and his 12 catches and 2 TD's this season for $5.6million contract..........are a steal of a deal for the Lions!! The Lions are the new Bengals.

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When he does catch the ball is a big if. I rather have the guy that can open running lanes and make some YAC yardage. Ebron is basically what you said, a big receiver. He'd be a good player if he didn't drop so many passes, but that was the reason why Detroit gave up on him. I don't see it changing at this point in his career.

The positive is that I think Ebron at least doesnt have the most dropped passes on the team. Thought I saw that Johnson has more.

[Born2Steel]

The Steelers have decided to trade blocking for the match-up nightmare that Ebron represents. He is almost always open. When he does catch the ball, he is capable of making catches that McDonald can only dream about. I think that it is pretty obvious why the Steelers prefer Ebron. He fits who they are right now. A giant WR that can get open on both LBs and DBs.

This is the correct answer. Agree with the decision or don't but this is the very reason.

[Mojouw]

When he does catch the ball is a big if. I rather have the guy that can open running lanes and make some YAC yardage. Ebron is basically what you said, a big receiver. He'd be a good player if he didn't drop so many passes, but that was the reason why Detroit gave up on him. I don't see it changing at this point in his career.

Ebron is 4th in TE targets for the season. Tied for fourth in catches. 10th in yards. 10th in TDs. Ebron is just under 63% catch rate for all targets. Kelce, the current TE gold standard is at 71%. So Ebron would have had to catch around 6 more targets for him to have the exact same catch rate as Kelce.

Does Ebron make maddeningly simple catches turn into drops? Yup. But he hasn't exactly been doing it a ridiculous rate until some super visible drops the last 2 weeks.

Is Ebron everything you could or would want in a TE? Far from it. But is he a fairly formidable match-up piece? yes.

[cubanstogie]

Ebron has been very good this year, A couple of drops which anyone who watches football and not just Steelers games knew were inevitable. He whiffed on a block to a future Aaron Donald type player(probably not quite that good) and overall not his best game. I still think he offers more than vance, not to mention if Vance starts its a matter of time before injury anyway. I agree yards after catch not even close to a guy like Kelce or even ex QB TE on the skins but he’s more of a vertical type.

[SteelMember]

I think everone going into the season knew what Ebron was...
Big, Atheltic, WR type, that seems to catch with his body rather than his hands most times.
Would make tough catches look amazing. Make easy ones look tough, and drop his fair share of those.
Blocking, a bonus if he could even get his hands on a guy leagally.

His drops were lower than expected earlier in the year, imo.
Now that the year is progressed, and the weather is getting colder, the drops seem to be coming more frequently.

But he's still who we though he was.

Outside of McDonald trucking a guy, he's been a non-factor... even when he was the #1

[SteelMember]

Jesse James is looking pretty good for the Lions! :-/

But the Lions have Hockenson. Ask Shoes about him...

James will always be a #2 TE

[86WARD]

The Steelers have decided to trade blocking for the match-up nightmare that Ebron represents. He is almost always open. When he does catch the ball, he is capable of making catches that McDonald can only dream about. I think that it is pretty obvious why the Steelers prefer Ebron. He fits who they are right now. A giant WR that can get open on both LBs and DBs.

They need one of those Matt Spaeth/Mark Bruener type compliments...

[DesertSteel]

Yup and his 12 catches and 2 TD's this season for $5.6million contract..........are a steal of a deal for the Lions!! The Lions are the new Bengals.

Thats better than McDonald right?
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[HollywoodSteel]

Thats better than McDonald right?
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But we refuse to even try to use McDonald. I know he’s less athletic than Ebron, but he’s way more of a Steeler.

I acknowledge that it’s kind of an emotional bias here, but I’ve learned to hate Ebron. He’s just cocky and acts like he’s some kind of Super Star. Every time he opens his mouth to complain or say something stupid, all I can think is that he should be spending that free time on the juggs machine.

If I were Tomlin I’d honestly dress him down in front of the team and tell him exactly what I said about the juggs machine. Nobody dropping balls has any business tweeting about how the NFL should treat them when they go to the super bowl.

I couldn’t stand the cocky ass Ravens with their Big Truss bullshit last year, and I think when the Titans humbled them the world rightly cheered.

I don’t want to be the fucking Ravens who are a reflection of their whiny and cocky coach. I think the Steelers should project Tomlin’s attitude: we can take whatever you throw at us. No complaints. Just rise to the challenge.

Ebron is such the anti Heath Miller. He still looks weird to me in a Steelers uniform.

Lions and Colts fans all hate him. They said we’d hate him too. And I do.

[Drazo85]

I share your sentiments toward him. Showing off and having fun is okay, if you back it up on the field. That's why most of us liked AB until he got totally beserk. Ebron is plain and simple annoying, he talks the talk, but he's not walking the walk.

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[Shoes]

Here's Tomlin's answer to why he may be riding the pine.

https://steelersdepot.com/2020/12/to...-get-replaced/

[DesertSteel]

Here's Tomlin's answer to why he may be riding the pine.

https://steelersdepot.com/2020/12/to...-get-replaced/

That includes a lot of other guys too.

[Shoes]

That includes a lot of other guys too.

Yep, as it should.

[EzraTank]

He's starting because he's a better pass catcher than McDonald (and he's not made of glass like McDonald either). Yes he drops a lot of balls but when he does catch them he's a monster.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Thats better than McDonald right?
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Definitely! Plus I think they are paying McDroptheball $7.9million this season for nothing.

Lions paid a lot for a #2 TE, while the Steelers pay even more for a "never was" TE they dont even use. I never understood the fascination with McDonald.

[Mojouw]

I am kinda surprised at all the Ebron hate. Sure, he had some horrible drops the past 2 weeks. And, I would like to think, we all knew those were coming. It is part of his "brand". As to the social media stuff...I don't social media or listen to sports "reports" that do...so that is really easy to ignore.

Statistically...Ebron is a top 10 TE in the 2020 NFL...https://www.lineups.com/nfl/tight-end-te-stats

He still can't block worth a tinker's dam and the Steelers insistence in asking him to is infuriating...but the guys he was/is replacing couldn't block worth snot either. Let's not get it twisted that McDonald is some monster blocker as a TE. He is merely competent when compared to the non-factors as blockers that are Eric Ebron and Jesse James.

[Fire Goodell]

That includes a lot of other guys too.

Diontae Johnson as well shouldn't be benched but Washington should be given more playing time. Washington isn't as flashy but he's been making plays all year when given the opportunity. Even Ben said James deserves more playing time.

Johnson is also concerning, he's been dropping passes at a higher rate this year than last. A player in his 2nd year showing regression from his rookie season is something to be worried about

[EzraTank]

After watching last week, one thing is certain, Claypool should be in on every passing down. He makes defenses change the way the defend.

[Mojouw]

Diontae Johnson as well shouldn't be benched but Washington should be given more playing time. Washington isn't as flashy but he's been making plays all year when given the opportunity. Even Ben said James deserves more playing time.

Johnson is also concerning, he's been dropping passes at a higher rate this year than last. A player in his 2nd year showing regression from his rookie season is something to be worried about

Johnson's catch % has gone down by 3 passes total while seeing almost 3 more targets per game. I think he is the exact same guy -- just with more opportunities to be that guy.

[JimHarbaugh'ssoakedtissue]

Is Ike Taylor our wr's coach ? Some blame needs to be on our wr's coaches.

[teegre]

A: Ebron is our best TE

He has already eclipsed The Outlaw’s best season, and pretty much already matched McDonald’s best season. Plus, Ebron has the potential (the dreaded “p” word) to put up a 13 TD season (honestly, Ebron could rattle off a TD in each of the next four games).

Speaking of TEs, I know he won’t drop to us, and I know that we need to draft an O-lineman, but Kyle Pitts (Florida) is gonna be insane!!! If we somehow get him...

[SteelMember]

Is Ike Taylor our wr's coach ? Some blame needs to be on our wr's coaches.

Ike Hilliard is WR coach. James Daniel is TE coach.

Darryl Drake was a big loss. rip.

Speaking of TEs, I know he won’t drop to us, and I know that we need to draft an O-lineman, but Kyle Pitts (Florida) is gonna be insane!!! If we somehow get him...

Already projected top 5 pick... Yeah, he's crazy good, but he won't be there at 32.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

A: Ebron is our best TE

He has already eclipsed The Outlaw’s best season, and pretty much already matched McDonald’s best season. Plus, Ebron has the potential (the dreaded “p” word) to put up a 13 TD season (honestly, Ebron could rattle off a TD in each of the next four games).

Speaking of TEs, I know he won’t drop to us, and I know that we need to draft an O-lineman, but Kyle Pitts (Florida) is gonna be insane!!! If we somehow get him...

"Potential" is a fancy french word that means you havent done anything yet---Bill Parcells

I think after 7 NFL seasons of being a pass catching TE, if you still are dropping a fair amount of passes, then the potential to become a more reliable catcher of the football is minimal. Sure he is the best TE right now, but still saying that the Steelers need to look at upgrading next season. When your best TE has a history of dropping the football and cant block well, then its not great.

[Mojouw]

"Potential" is a fancy french word that means you havent done anything yet---Bill Parcells

I think after 7 NFL seasons of being a pass catching TE, if you still are dropping a fair amount of passes, then the potential to become a more reliable catcher of the football is minimal. Sure he is the best TE right now, but still saying that the Steelers need to look at upgrading next season. When your best TE has a history of dropping the football and cant block well, then its not great.

That is all true. But here is my thing...Ebron is far from the only guy in the league that plays exactly like he does. The NFL is lousy with TEs that run like giant WRs and don't really block. Other teams seem to figure out ways to work around this...but the Steelers seem stubbornly insistent on asking Ebron to not only block but to make critical blocks. Last week they had him trying to block Chase Young at the goal line...guess who blew up the play?

My question is whether this is just a thing that happens when your TE can't block or if the Steelers are just being kinda dumb and not finding ways around a non-blocking TE?