The Pittsburgh Steelers turned some heads earlier this offseason once they signed TE Darnell Washington to a four-year extension. Clearly, Washington is beloved in Pittsburgh. It’s not usually you see a mountain of a person capable of transfer individuals as a blocker and trigger issues within the passing recreation.
The most important query is how the Steelers will deploy him and fellow TE Pat Freiermuth. Each gamers noticed the sector for over 50 % of the offensive snaps final yr. Washington set career-best marks in targets (43), catches (31), and yards (364) whereas additionally including a landing. Freiermuth, alternatively, had his second-worst marks in a number of classes, together with targets (54), catches (41), and yards (486).
What is going to occur this yr? Underneath new head coach Mike McCarthy, the Steelers clearly like Darnell Washington. Nevertheless, Pat Freiermuth has three seasons averaging over 10 yards per reception and two years with seven receiving touchdowns in his five-year profession. The Steelers have two tight ends who could make optimistic impacts within the passing recreation. The Steelers ought to get them concerned extra. That may take strain off the vast receivers, headlined by DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. It should additionally enable rookie WR Germie Bernard to take time adapting to the NFL.
However will Mike McCarthy embrace throwing to 2 tight ends? Let’s check out McCarthy’s historical past. Under is a desk exhibiting the stats of Mike McCarthy’s high two receiving tight ends annually with the Inexperienced Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys.
The First 18 Years Of McCarthy’s Prime Two Receiving Tight Ends
In Mike McCarthy’s 18 years as a head coach within the NFL, there have solely been seven seasons the place his high two tight ends have been focused 30-plus occasions. In that very same time interval, the highest two tight ends every caught 20-plus passes seven occasions. Digging deeper, two of these seasons had been injury-related. Inexperienced Bay Packers TE Jermichael Finley suffered accidents that value him a lot of 2010 and 2013 but he nonetheless completed because the second-most focused tight finish on the crew in these years.
Throughout 18 years of teaching, Mike McCarthy has led 5 seasons the place his high two tight ends performed the vast majority of the season and had been focused 30-plus occasions whereas catching 20-plus passes.
Nevertheless, in McCarthy’s final season as a head coach, he did precisely that. TE Jake Ferguson had 86 targets and 59 catches in 2024 with the Dallas Cowboys. TE Luke Schoonmaker had 36 targets and 27 catches. Maybe McCarthy already started laying the groundwork for involving a number of tight ends within the passing recreation in Dallas.
McCarthy additionally hinted that Darnell Washington’s efficiency within the spring is perhaps inflicting him to rethink a few of his offensive concepts, too. Will we see each Washington and Pat Freiermuth as offensive weapons this yr?
Historical past argues no. Mike McCarthy could resolve to disregard his personal historic offensive philosophy anyway. In any case, it’s not yearly you get to teach a unicorn like Darnell Washington whereas additionally having a confirmed receiving menace on the identical roster like Pat Freiermuth.
