Vance McDonald split snaps at tight end last year with Jesse James, but could he be the Steelers number two receiving option in 2019?
Vance McDonald has only 21 starts over the past two seasons for the Steelers. While splitting snaps with Jesse James, McDonald managed 610 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns last year.
McDonald was truly a part time player for the Steelers last season – playing just 50.54 percent of total offensive snaps.
With Jesse James and Antonio Brown no longer part of the picture in Pittsburgh, could Vance McDonald be the number two receiving option on the Steelers?
Vance recently spoke to the media about the Steelers offense trying to ‘be creative’ without Antonio Brown. Here’s what he had to say:
"IT'LL BE FUN AND INTERESTING TO SEE HOW WE CAN BE CREATIVE" -- Vance McDonald (@VMcDonald89) expects the Steelers offense to explore new ways to replace Antonio Brown's production pic.twitter.com/Vp1pk6lC8t
— Chase Williams (@chasepwilliams) May 28, 2019
Vance McDonald expects the Steelers offense to get ‘creative’ in trying to replace Antonio Brown’s production. pic.twitter.com/VaqcNUnjk7
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) May 28, 2019
Despite only playing half of the teams’ total offensive snaps, Vance earned a respectable 610 yards in just 14 starts last season.
Antonio Brown and Jesse James saw a combined 207 targets last season. Ben Roethlisberger is not going to throw the ball 200 less times this season, so these targets will be distributed to other payers on the roster.
Vance is a surprisingly shifty route runner who is a bear to bring down after the catch. I expect Ben to look his way often as a reliable underneath option with good run-after-the-catch ability.
I recently wrote an article on why I think it is possible that Vance McDonald could be an elite tight end in 2019. The big tight end can line up all over the field, and his flashes have been as good as any tight end in the league.
It still remains to be seen how the Steelers will use Vance McDonald in 2019, but with targets to go around, Vance could see a major increase in production. If he can stay healthy this season, my money is on him as Pittsburgh’s number two receiving option this season.