By Justin McGonigle
www.SteelerNation.com
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a big, strong, down the field type of tight end. His name is Vance McDonald. He made his living on catching passes, and out running defensive backs. He's a sure fire #1 tight end for any team in the NFL. But he's making his living by blocking in his seventh season in the NFL.
His blocking has improved in each of his seasons in Pittsburgh, and that's crucial for a team that still loves to pound the football. A team that needs to be able to run the ball.
Insert Eric Ebron. He's also of the same mold as McDonald. Tall, strong, fast, and a deep down the field playmaker. He isn't the blocker that McDonald is, though.
"I love watching Eric succeed, and I will bend over backwards to make sure that happens each week," said a smiling McDonald. "I am going to do whatever the coaches ask me to do. I told Ebron I would rather block all day than catch one pass and I mean that. I live through Eric's success in the passing game. If that's all it ever is, I will be as happy as can be."
The Steelers brought in Ebron this past off-season to help a thin tight end position. McDonald, while solid when he's on the field, him being on the field has sometimes been an issue. McDonald has missed time in each of his past three years, and it didn't hurt as bad when they had veteran Jesse James to fill his role, but they had issues last year without James.
"I'm not an idiot. Eric [Ebron] is a better pass-catching tight end and threat than I am," McDonald told reporters via Zoom on Thursday morning.
McDonald and Ebron have embraced each other. The offense has embraced both of them. Ebron's presence has allowed Diontae Johnson and JuJu Smith-Schuster to see more single coverage and help them get off to fast starts in 2020.
