McDonald to Steelers

[ninotoreS]

Eli Rogers and Bell are gonna dominate targets between the hashmarks. That doesn't leave much work for McDonald, in theory. His best bet is as a seam threat, I guess, but Rogers has been running those routes from the slot, too.

[Plank]

Guys on the 49ers Rival podcast are elated Vance is gone often talking about how he could never catch ...

Here's Alex Kozora's film breakdown on Steelers Depot:
http://www.steelersdepot.com/2017/08/fi ... lers-need/

Also on the Terrible Podcast pre-draft David was in love with George Kittle praying the Steelers would draft him in the 4th, but they ended up going Dobbs...

Kittle now seems to have the starting role in SF in Shanahan's offense ..

I would definitely want Kittle here by a country mile or two.

[ArrylT]

Vance McDonald had a NFL team (barely because it was the 49ers)
E-I-E-I-O
And on his team he had little help at QB
E-I-E-I-O
With a dropped pass here
And a missed block there
Here a drop, there a fumble
Everywhere a mistake made
Vance McDonald now has a better NFL team
E-I-E-I-O

Who says mediocrity cannot be rewarded.

[DLF3000]

Vance McDonald had a NFL team (barely because it was the 49ers)
E-I-E-I-O
And on his team he had little help at QB
E-I-E-I-O
With a dropped pass here
And a missed block there
Here a drop, there a fumble
Everywhere a mistake made
Vance McDonald now has a better NFL team
E-I-E-I-O

Who says mediocrity cannot be rewarded.

I chuckled!

[Valhalla]

I thought I heard he was one of the better blocking tight ends in the league. Was that a mistake? Am I remembering wrong? Or is this a plus for Bell?

[dm1129]

I thought I heard he was one of the better blocking tight ends in the league. Was that a mistake? Am I remembering wrong? Or is this a plus for Bell?

McDonald is an excellent blocker. Bell may be the biggest winner out of this trade.....

[DLF3000]

Man, the Steelers are really going for it this year with all these last-minute moves. Starting to really look like Ben's last.

For that reason alone, maybe Vance is actually good this year... but still skeptical.

[saw061600]

I have him in deeper leagues. Think he may be Fleener; that's not a compliment.

[ninotoreS]

Guys on the 49ers Rival podcast are elated Vance is gone often talking about how he could never catch ...

McDonald has move-TE athleticism, and playing in the slot is practically all he did in college, but he's always had issues with his ball-skills. When I studied him coming out, I noted him dropping or double-catching one or two targets nearly every Saturday. Apparently that hasn't changed much as a pro.

McDonald is an excellent blocker. Bell may be the biggest winner out of this trade.....

Less so in-line, though. He's better blocking in space. That still helps the RB on outside runs, but a dominant in-line blocker is always more helpful overall.

Regardless, I don't think it matters much for Bell, because even in the weeks last year when Ladarius Green -- also not a great in-line blocker -- played a lot of snaps and was a featured receiver, the Steelers were still very effective running the ball. Even with LG on the field, they were still committed to getting Jesse James or David Johnson (obviously not the Arizona DJ) on the field too as effective in-line blockers for Bell.

[Fantasyfanatic11]

I know its not headline news, but wondering what everyone makes of McDonald's big game vs the Jaguars and his future going forward?

Team high 16 targets, 10 catches for 112 yards. Could be a solid stash for next season?

[WhatWouldDitkaDo]

PIT went out and traded for McDonald for a reason. I'd say he's a stash worth an early 3rd.

[ericanadian]

His hands are still a big ole question mark. Could be a Jermichael Finley type.

[ArrylT]

I think he is still worth stashing for free (despite my song above) but not worth buying except in TE premium or Start 2 TE leagues.

[slaughterrt]

I have him in a 16 team deep roster superflex league. It’s a rebuild and I have him, Fleener, and Vannett. I think McDonald could carve out a decent role in Pitt. It obvious that the Jesse James experiment has failed, so there really isn’t another TE there to steal catches. That being said, TE is probably 4th or 5th read in this offense behind AB, JuJu, Bryant, Bell, and Rogers.

I’m more so holding him to flip him. I like him as a player, but don’t think he will be that TE1 in that offense.

[lukkynumber13]

I think he is still worth stashing for free (despite my song above) but not worth buying except in TE premium or Start 2 TE leagues.

x2