Steelers Now
Former Denver Broncos and Washington Redskins guard Mark Schlereth is bullish on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ tight ends this season. He thinks the trio of Pat Freiermuth, Jonnu Smith and Darnell Washington will be matchup nightmares for opposing defenses.
“They have two-tight end, three-tight end system that will wreak havoc in the way the league is designed right now,” Schlereth said on his Stinkin’ Truth podcast. “Because you think about the way the league is designed right now, linebackers in today’s game weigh 220 pounds, 225.
“They can run like the wind, but they’re not really big. So now, all of a sudden you sit there and say, Let’s just beat the living piss out of these dudes that are little. Let’s get big bodies on little bodies.”
Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith loves multiple tight end sets. He has even run 04 personnel (no running backs, four tight ends) at training camp.
Washington, who has a massive stature at 6-foot-7 and in the 290 range, has stonewalled linebackers during blocking drills at training camp. He also displayed his receiving in Saturday night’s preseason win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, as the big man caught a 19-yard touchdown reception down the seam from Mason Rudolph on the opening drive.
Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III thinks the Steelers need to have a heavy dose of Washington incorporated into their offense this year.
“All 6’7 270lbs of Darnell Washington running down the seam is a hard thing to stop. He has been having a great training camp especially coming alive in the redzone. Pittsburgh has to feed the big man more this season,” Griffin wrote on X.
Rudolph was surgical on the opening drive, completing all seven of his passes for 70 yards and a touchdown. Washington explained what happened on the 19-yard touchdown that capped the drive.
“I just had a simple seam route,” Washington said. “They went one (safety) high, Cover 3. So, I just kept it down the seam and Mason found me.”
NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger was also blown away by Washington’s performance on Saturday night.
“Watching Darnell Washington run through the Jaguars secondary, he looks like a Power Ranger, just a giant, amongst Jaguar defenders,” Baldinger said in a video breakdown on X. “Into the end zone for a touchdown.
“You’ve gotta believe that he’s gonna be a big part of this offense. You just watch Mason Rudolph, playing some tall ball. [A] 6-5 quarterback to a 6-7 tight end, and you finish in the end zone. I’ve gotta believe that that man is gonna have a breakout season this year.”
With Washington developing as a route-runner, the Steelers are set up with three solid pass catchers at tight end this season. The potential for the tight ends room is definitely an encouraging aspect for the offense heading into the regular season. Arthur Smith has a lot to work with.
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Jacksonville, Fla.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: [Super Bowl Champion...
