‘Elite’ receiving TE Eric Ebron showing Steelers he’s willing to block, too
It is said that “chicks dig the long ball” for baseball players, and while there is no catchy colloquialism for NFL tight ends, make no mistake: catching passes gains more notoriety than run-blocking prowess.
And make no mistake, elite receiving skills are what made Eric Ebron a top-10 draft pick six years ago. They also are what compelled the Pittsburgh Steelers to sign him to a $12 million contract.
As Steelers tight ends coach James Daniel put it, “Ebron’s calling card for the time he’s been in the league is pass-catching ability.”
At 27 and entering his seventh season, Ebron is well aware of his strengths as a player.
So imagine Ebron’s surprise during his first week of padded practices with the Steelers that not only were the tight ends taken to the blocking sled, but the head coach was among those who had a keen eye on the drill.
“From what I hear, Mike Tomlin is always over there. I think it’s fun,” Ebron said during a video conference call Sunday.
“As far as hitting the sled, it’s fun. It’s new. I haven’t hit a sled in a while.”
Remember, Ebron has been in the NFL since 2014. Yet he hasn’t hit a blocking sled “in a while?”
Ebron indicted he never did over his past two seasons with the Indianapolis Colts.
“You usually don’t hit a sled anymore,” Ebron said. “I think they kind of get rid of that in college. In Detroit (where Ebron played from 2014-17), we did it. It was more of a heavy bag, but we hit something. It’s just something that you don’t do often.
“You think you’d get rid of it when you get to the NFL, but I guess not. (Daniel) is my coach, and he’s been here longer than most people,” Ebron said of the Steelers’ 67-year-old, 25-year NFL coaching veteran.
So, how has Ebron acquitted himself in this apparently antiquated skill of “blocking?”
“From what I’ve seen so far, he’s been able to do the things that we’re teaching him, as far as fundamentals, as far as being a blocker,” Daniel said. “We’ll see how that transpires in (games).
“We’ve also seen him make some splash plays in the passing game. I know the talent the guy (has).”
New Steelers TE Eric Ebron on what, in particular, is nice about playing with Ben Roethlisberger and more in general why it’s advantageous playing with an elite QB pic.twitter.com/ODPD8YI9VU
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) August 23, 2020
If the 6-foot-4, 253-pound Ebron still is being taught how to block, there are no such worries when it comes to running routes, showing speed (4.6 in the 40-yard dash) or making plays (18 receiving touchdowns over his past 30 games).
“He is very elite,” said Steelers linebacker Devin Bush, tasked at times to cover Ebron during camp. “Just with his athleticism and how rangy he is, he has receiver-like movements. His cuts are receiver-like. His speed, the way he catches a ball, he is good at using his body. He is a mismatch at any position you put him at.”
Ebron’s best season came in 2018, when he set career bests in catches (66), yards (750) and touchdowns (13). Not coincidentally, that was one of just two seasons in which Ebron has stayed healthy and appeared in all 16 games. Last season ended for him after injuries to both ankles that required surgery.
Ebron said Sunday his “ankles are good.”
“(Steelers coaches) like the way that I run, so I guess I’m pretty good,” he said with a smile. “As far as being 100% healthy, I was. The first day of practice, that went out the window. I’m not 100% anymore, but I’m healthy.”
Ebron and Vance McDonald give the Steelers an intriguing tight end duo. McDonald last week gushed about Ebron’s talent, saying Ebron is “the missing link” in a top-flight offense.
“Everyone is going to thrive with Eric on the field simply because of the fact that he’s going to have to pull a certain bit of amount of attention from the defense,” McDonald said. “It’ll definitely be fun seeing what he can do this year.”
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Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.
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