First, what’s the offseason looking like for you – what’s the plan?
The process for me is to take a month off and let my body rehab – let those bruises get back to normal. Then, it’s back to the grind. A lot of lifting and running – you name it. I just want to take a step up from last season – to take a bigger step in my special teams play and and get more opportunities in the offensive part of the game – to get more reps there.
What are the things you have to improve upon most to get there? What have the coaches told you?
The biggest thing is to just be more consistent. In my footwork in the run game, and hand placement and route running. My releases off the line. There’s so much you can always improve on.
The film study is big, too. The offseason is an opportunity to watch what other guys are doing in my position and to learn from them.
Looking back on it – what brought you to Pittsburgh as a free agent in 2019?
I was cut right after preseason by the Packers and I was at home for most of the rest of the reason – actually at my parents’ house. That last week of the season, right after the Steelers-Bengals game, Pittsburgh called. I actually had interest from Cleveland first and visited them two times and was close to signing with them but they never pulled the trigger.
Then, on that Wednesday after the Bengals game the Steelers had me come in and work out with James Daniel and they signed me after that. It’s funny – the two teams that had the most interest were the ones closest to my hometown.
Anyone help mentor you when you first got there – and how so?
Xavier Grimble and Vance McDonald – they were always there when you needed them with help with the playbook. They taught me the ropes – the day-in and day-out stuff. The biggest thing was watching the the way they approached film study and the playbook. Vance showed me that knowing the playbook would help me to get ready faster at the line of scrimmage so I could see more of what the defense was doing.
When did you realize you had taken that step from just learning and figuring things out?
I think that was my mindset in camp this year. I learned the scheme and knew the offense well. It was my third year in Pittsburgh and it hit me when I was still on the practice squad – it was frustrating at first. But I told myself once I got the opportunity to be on the active roster I’d take full advantage of it.
What was your mindset, being on the practice squad?
The hardest thing was just keeping a positive mindset. You’re a practice squad guy and you have to accept that you’re there to get better. It can be hard to do.
On certain plays I’d be responsible for blocking Cam Heyward in the C-gap, or TJ. In my mind those were opportunities to get better and to show that if I could prove myself to the coaches in those situations against Cam or TJ, that I could do it in a game.
What experience from last year do you remember most – what stands out to you?
It’s not a funny one – but the maturity of the rookies who came this year in stood out. You could tell it was very different, the way they showed up. Halfway through the season you couldn’t even tell they were rookies. Just the way they carried themselves.
What was behind that do you think?
I think they bought into the scheme and listened to the coaches and players. It’s just who they drafted.
In terms of leadership, with Ben and other veterans leaving, who steps up that may surprise some folks?
Well Heyward is the for-sure leader of the team now. He’s the head guy. Offensively, Derek Watt is a leader – and the special teams captain. He stays on top of guys. And J.C. Hassenauer at center – he has good leadership skills – he carries himself very professionally.
The tight ends room – you a competitive group?
Very competitive. When we step on the field we are all trying to get better all the time. We compete with each other but we’re also like brothers now on the field. We’ve bonded and got close – we get together off the field to get closer and get the bond tighter.
You’ve had two tight ends coaches now in Pittsburgh. How are James Daniel and new coach Alfredo Roberts similar – and different?
They are very similar. In fact when J.D. retired Mike T. told us our new coach was a younger version of J.D. – we laughed at that. Fredo is similar- the way he hands out assignments and fines guys if we don’t meet certain criteria of play.
Fines for what?
Like if we don’t make the expected play, or don’t make the first defender miss, or take the grass back instead of running out of bounds – things like that.
Any differences?
I like the way Alfredo handles the individual periods – we run focused drills on things like running after the catch, working on your vision when the football is in your hands – very specific things.
J.D. was always about the fundamentals. In big games it always comes down to the little things – we saw that in the Kansas City game. He was more of a physical coach – he had us on that sled every single day! We’d watch tape of Heath Miller and Matt Spaeth on how they moved people off of the line of scrimmage and ran with the ball.
Speaking of the Kansas City game and Ben’s upcoming retirement- what’s the mindset of the team right now?
We’re upset. When you get to the playoffs your goal is always to go to the Super Bowl. Whether you lose the first game or you’re one game away, it’s upsetting to lose.
Next year it’ll be tough to fill Ben’s shoes. They have to fill that spot and find out who QB1 will be. Whoever it is we need to put our arms around them and support them.
What are you hearing about that?
I think it’ll be Mason and Haskins battling for the number one spot in camp. That’s what I’ve heard.
How do you improve the running game – I know it had its ups and downs over the year?
I think it’s about chemistry. Another year with the same guys and knowing what that person next to you is thinking. And a year of getting better.
And what does success look like for you next season?
For me, more strides on the offensive side of the game. I have to prove it in camp and earn those opportunities. I want to get more involved in the passing game and help spring some big plays on third down runs.
You a fan of playing on special teams?
I know it sounds weird but I love playing on special teams. I played defense most of my football life – I didn’t play tight end until I was a Sophomore in college. So I definitely love playing on special teams and getting to hit people.
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