Murphy becoming a dual threat for Steelers
PITTSBURGH – Two weeks ago, Tyler Murphy was lining up under center for the Steelers at Saint Vincent College.
On Sunday night, he was leading the Steelers not in passing, but receiving in a 24-19 preseason victory over Green Bay at Heinz Field.
Murphy, an undrafted rookie who played only quarterback at Boston College, was pressed into service there when Bruce Gradkowski opened camp on the Physically Unable to Perform List with a sore shoulder.
That’s fine by Murphy because it could influence the Steelers at final cutdown.
“The transition is going smooth,” said Murphy, who switched between quarterback and receiver in the spring. “I’m just taking it one day at a time, trying to get better every day. I have a good core of guys in front of me teaching me things, guys like Antonio (Brown), (Markus Wheaton) and (Darrius Heyward-Bey).
“I’m just trying to learn from them and watch them and kind of mimic what they do.”
Murphy (6-2, 213) made a pretty good impression against the Packers, catching four passes for 61 yards and a touchdown.
It was Murphy’s ability to run after the catch that originally intrigued the Steelers.
A read-option quarterback at Boston College, Murphy set the Atlantic Coast Conference record for rushing yards from that position last season with 1,079. He also threw for more than 1,623 yards and 13 touchdown passes. Murphy played only one year for the Eagles after transferring as a graduate student following four seasons at the University of Florida, where he made six starts in his final season.
Murphy lined up at quarterback for a couple of plays in the Hall of Fame Game against Minnesota, running the read option twice for two yards. He continued his work at quarterback through the second preseason game. When Gradkowski was activated from the PUP List last week, Murphy moved back to receiver.
“Playing quarterback and knowing that stuff, I know who the hot route is when certain guys blitz and stuff like that,” Murphy said. “I’m able to kind of understand what the quarterback is thinking.”
That was apparent on the Steelers’ go-ahead scoring drive in the fourth quarter Sunday, when third-string quarterback Landry Jones stepped up to avoid pressure and appeared ready to scramble on third down. Suddenly, Murphy appeared in the middle of the field and Jones tossed a short pass to him that went for a 25-yard gain.
“I couldn’t really see Landry until he stepped up,” Murphy said. “I started coming across. I knew I was kind of the last read. I just tried to go and get the first down.”
It set up a touchdown pass to fellow rookie receiver Shakim Phillips, who was one of Murphy’s top targets when the two played at Boston College last season.
“We made a few plays,” Phillips said. “Tyler did really well. As a quarterback, he knows how to get in those zones and find those spaces. I was really happy for him.”
The odds are against them making the team but Murphy appears to have a spot on the practice squad, unless he is signed by another team.
Brown, Wheaton, Martavis Bryant and Heyward-Bey are the top four receivers. Rookie Sammie Coates, a third-round draft pick, has had an uneven preseason, but leads the team with eight receptions and is almost certain to be on the final roster.
With the Steelers facing several teams with scrambling quarterbacks this season – including Colin Kapernick of San Francisco and Seattle’s Russell Wilson – Murphy can be of value in the preparation process.
“We’re just trying to work hard and find a way to stick around when it comes to Coach (Mike) Tomlin and the staff putting together the 53-man roster,” Murphy said.
The Steelers will return to practice today at their facility on Pittsburgh’s South Side. … The Steelers are 1-for-3 on two-point conversion attempts this preseason. Opponents are 2-for-3. … The Steelers did not update the status of center Maurkice Pouncey, who suffered a broken left fibula in Sunday’s game. Pouncey is expected to have surgery to attach a plate to the bone to speed the healing process this week.