The Argument for a 2nd TE

The drafting of Matt Spaeth in the third round has left many pundits and fans scratching their heads. It�s been considered a highly questionable pick that fans of other teams have taken to mocking. However, many fans are beginning to come around, and for good reason. There�s a reason the team drafted a second TE.

I had wanted the Steelers to target a TE in free agency. There was an especially deep pool to chose from, and they mostly came cheap. I did two mocks, neither of which were ever posted on the front page. I had the team selecting Ben Patrick in the third. When people judge this pick, they need to consider a number of factors:

One of the keys to the second Ravens game was Jerame Tuman. The Steelers decided to focus on two TE sets against the Ravens 46 defense. And for good reason. A TE gives you flexibility. At least he�s supposed to. You can work a team underneath, from where they�re blitzing. He adds extra protection, and if athletic enough, can stretch the defense vertically, where they have a single safety over top. Two TE sets also give you some bulk so you are still able to run. They are versatile and can give defenses fits with the right guys on the field.

The problem is Tuman is a worthless piece of crap. He isn�t an especially good blocker (it�s always laughable when members of the national media assume that he earns his keep with his blocking), and he isn�t a receiver. Tuman has surpassed 10 catches just once in his painfully long career. Tuman is one of those veterans who Cowher just would not part with, and I don�t think anyone can explain why. It has puzzled fans for years.

The Steelers had one way of dealing with the Ravens, and that was to spread them out and throw. My guess is the Steelers felt this would eliminate their run game from the equation, though. Think it�s a coincidence that Arians is talking about adding 4 wide sets with Roethlisberger under center? Both of these moves are being done to counter the Ravens. The Steelers aren�t changing their identity entirely, as some fans have surmised. No, the Steelers are developing versatility that they need to compete with their division rivals� particularly nasty brand of defense.

The Steelers offense is based on intermediate routes, generally coming from their power formations off play-action. This is the basic principal they operate under. This is great when the run game is clicking. But it becomes very difficult for the Steelers to throw out of their base packages.

Assuming they are operating in a two back, two WR, single TE set, the QB is generally left with 2-4 legitimate options to throw the ball to. Maybe. You have the two receivers, obviously. Last year this was Hines Ward (who was also hit by a hamstring season that hindered him throughout the season) and Cedric Wilson. Neither is a burner. Ward has a knack for making plays. Wilson is a guy best suited for the slot. He doesn�t have great speed. He doesn�t have great awareness, and he generally is not capable of making plays for his QB. This is a bad match-up for the Steelers against many of the leagues starting corners.

You then have the TE, who may end up blocking. Coming out of the backfield the Steelers had Parker, and Kreider. Parker has potential as a receiver. Kreider is not an option.

During the tail end of the season, the Steelers started to throw the ball more to Kreider. I took this as a clear sign that the Steelers wanted to be more versatile on offense. The only problem is that Kreider was awkward with the football and not much of an option. Kreider is beginning to look dated in the Steelers offense. He lacks the ability to get to the edge with Parker, who is restricted to running inside most of the time. He�s unable to catch or run with the football.

There�s a place for Kreider in certain packages, but he needs to be on the field less.

It�s important for the Steelers to run two TE sets for both the run game and the pass game. A second TE gives another option in the pass game, obviously. He also sets the edge for Parker. Spaeth has great size, as you probably already know. He�s been called one of the best blockers in this draft - period. If he lives up to the billing, he becomes a major asset that can help the Steelers expand both aspects of offense.

The Steelers are opening things up, but not just in the typical way. I expect to see more outside runs, and more short passing.

Many people have questioned addressing a second TE before back-up RB, and a position I have dismissed as a need in the past - WR. Then, this seems narrow minded to me. Besides questioning some of the RB prospects, a second TE will most likely see more plays on the field than a Michael Bush or Tony Hunt.

A back-up RB will get on the field 10-20 plays in a good game. The Steelers run two TE sets nearly a third of the time. In the average game, this is most likely over 20 plays. The TE adds an extra dimension in the passing game as well as the run game. Spaeth, who is supposed to have great blocking ability, also adds to the power run game. He becomes a valuable target in the red zone. At any time he can be a blocker, receiver, or decoy.

As for a receiver, he can not bring the dimension as a blocker Spaeth does. And like a back-up RB, it�s doubtful he would see the field more than half of the time a second TE would.

Even if Spaeth only catches 10-20 passes next year, his ability as a blocker and the extra potential threat to defenses will be greater than that of any receiver or back-up RB.

Beyond that, many have continued that Spaeth could have been had in the fourth round or later. This is contradicted by reports that Jacksonville, who let veteran TE Kyle Brady walk, would have drafted him in the third had the Steelers not. Seattle, too, was rumored to be interested him. So much that they were talking about trading up ahead of Jacksonville to take him.

This isn�t to say that I have no doubts on the pick. Like any player, he could very well bust. He doesn�t appear to be a Charles Davis-like stiff, though, either. My essential argument here is that second TE WAS a need worthy of addressing on day-1. I would rate it higher than any other that was addressed on day-2, given the current personnel this team has.

The starters on the OL seem mostly set. Two positions may be up in the air this year, but there are already capable players competing (Willie Colon at guard, Mahan/Okobi at center). Mahan also has extra ability to play LG once Faneca walks next year. And regardless of what I think of Starks, the coaches believe they can save him. They love his size, as everyone does. They aren�t willing to give up on him. Kemoeatu, Phillips, and newly added guard Cameron Stephenson add extra potential behind the starters.

There are no immediate needs on the OL. And I�ve already written extensively on why the team did not need to add more receivers. Anyone they did add most likely isn�t any higher than fourth on the depth chart any time in the foreseeable future, and would need to beat out Reid and Wilson.

Matt Spaeth will most likely always be a role player for the Steelers, but I have no problem with that. I�m pretty sure he�ll contribute from game one as a Steeler. He�ll save them cap space and probably won�t be worse than Tuman. He�s most likely going to end up better.