Tight ends James, Johnson, Grimble contributing for Steelers
The Steelers’ Xavier Grimble dives for the end zone during Sunday.
Steelers tight end Jesse James catches a pass for a touchdown with the Bengals’ Shawn Williams defending during a game in Pittsburgh Sunday.
In this July 31, 2013, photo, Steelers tight end David Johnson watches practice during training camp in Latrobe.
PITTSBURGH – For 11 years, the Steelers could take for granted what they would get each week from the tight end position.
Heath Miller was the gold standard in that respect. He showed up to work each week and did whatever was required of him in a given game plan, whether it be catching 10 passes or blocking defensive ends.
But with Miller’s retirement at the end of last season, Pittsburgh’s offense was left with a huge void, one it attempted to fill in free agency with the signing of Ladarius Green from San Diego.
When Green didn’t recover from an offseason ankle surgery and was subsequently placed on the Physically Unable to Perform List for at least the first six weeks of the season, the tight end position was viewed with quite a bit of skepticism. After all, the trio of Jesse James, David Johnson and Xavier Grimble had just 32 career receptions entering the regular season, 24 of which had come from Johnson, an eight-year veteran.
Two games into the season, the tight ends have not only had a strong impact, they’ve been a big reason why the Steelers are 2-0 heading into a matchup Sunday in Philadelphia against the Eagles (2-0).
For a team that released longtime No. 2 tight end Matt Spaeth before training camp opened because he could not pass a physical, the contributions have not gone unnoticed.
“We’re not waiting for Heath or Spaeth to come back,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “These are the guys that play for us now. They’re capable and we have great confidence in them.”
James, a second-year player out of Penn State, has already matched the output of his rookie season by catching eight passes for 60 yards and a touchdown.
Johnson has been outstanding as a blocker and has filled in for fullback Roosevelt Nix, who missed the first two games with a back injury.
Grimble, who spent last season on the practice squad after being released by San Francisco and New England, had two big catches Sunday in a 24-16 win against Cincinnati, snaring a 20-yard TD pass from Ben Roethlisberger for his first career reception and then making a 6-yard catch on third down to keep another touchdown drive alive in the third quarter.
“Both catches were huge,” Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger told KDKA-FM. “The trust and faith that I have in those guys, the look was to go there. If it’s Heath Miller, you don’t even blink an eye. I didn’t even think twice about who was there. I’m going to throw the ball where I need to put it.
“The catch (Grimble) caught for the first down was awesome. It was such a big play for us. And (Tomlin) highlighted that in film, just how important that play was.”
The tight ends as a group vowed from the start of training camp they wouldn’t allow there to be any dropoff.
“We know we can get the job done,” said Johnson, who is in his second stint with the Steelers, who selected him in the 2009 draft. “We have faith in ourselves.”
None in the group is the complete package the way Miller was for much of his career. Each has their own niche. James, the starter, is probably the best all-around player, but he freely admits his blocking needs to get better. And he doesn’t possess the natural athleticism of Grimble, who at 6-4 and 261 pounds, looks like a bulked-up wide receiver.
And Johnson is easily the best blocker of the group, though his contributions as a pass catcher are limited by his lack of speed.
As a group, however, they are making it work.
“You can’t replace that guy and we aren’t trying to replace Heath Miller,” said Roethlisberger. “I tell our tight ends to be the best that they can be.”
So far, that’s been good enough.
“When Heath decided to retire, we knew it was going to be different,” Grimble said. “The Steelers do a good job. They only bring people in they feel can do the job. It’s not just anybody. They’ve always shown confidence in our group. It’s just putting it on tape (on game days).”
Odds and end zones
Tomlin said wide receiver Markus Wheaton is likely to return this week after missing the first two games with a shoulder injury. Wheaton practiced fully last Wednesday but was limited Thursday and Friday. … Backup center Cody Wallace (knee) and Nix (back) also could return. … The Steelers have not won in Philadelphia since 1965, going 0-8.