Creed Humphrey - what could have been

[TimmayLake]

In the 2021 draft the Steelers selected Pat Freiermuth with pick 55 overall, in the 2nd round. Pat has been a below-average, often injured TE so far. After a somewhat promising rookie his season his stats look far closer to Matt Spaeth than Heath Miller.

2021: 60 rec, 497 yards, 7 TDs
2022: 63 rec, 732 yards, 2 TDs
2023: 32 rec, 308 yards, 2 TDs


The Chiefs selected Creed Humphrey with pick 63 overall. Humphrey was immediately a top center, has won 2 Super Bowls, has been to 2 Pro Bowls and made All-Pro in 2022. The Chiefs just made him the highest paid center in the NFL.

Meanwhile the Steelers have struggled to find a viable center, having gone through 3 different players before selecting Frazier this year. Hopefully he works out...

[Deebo]

In the 2021 draft the Steelers selected Pat Freiermuth with pick 55 overall, in the 2nd round. Pat has been a below-average, often injured TE so far. After a somewhat promising rookie his season his stats look far closer to Matt Spaeth than Heath Miller.

2021: 60 rec, 497 yards, 7 TDs
2022: 63 rec, 732 yards, 2 TDs
2023: 32 rec, 308 yards, 2 TDs


The Chiefs selected Creed Humphrey with pick 63 overall. Humphrey was immediately a top center, has won 2 Super Bowls, has been to 2 Pro Bowls and made All-Pro in 2022. The Chiefs just made him the highest paid center in the NFL.

Meanwhile the Steelers have struggled to find a viable center, having gone through 3 different players before selecting Frazier this year. Hopefully he works out...

There was no one on the board when they selected Harris that was a game changer. I was suggesting they traded down. They theoretically could have gotten both Muth and Humphrey. Then signed nearly anyone else as a FA to go ahead and get killed behind that atrocious Oline they trotted out. Including 1 Kendrick Green playing woefully out of position.

[955876]

Jibbs has never figured out how to properly build a roster.

Putting Kendrick Green in front of Ben Roethlisberger was severe malpractice.

[Pabst]

Pat has been a below-average, often injured TE so far. After a somewhat promising rookie his season his stats look far closer to Matt Spaeth than Heath Miller.

2021: 60 rec, 497 yards, 7 TDs
2022: 63 rec, 732 yards, 2 TDs
2023: 32 rec, 308 yards, 2 TDs

2005: 39 rec, 459 yds, 6 TD
2006: 34 rec, 393 yds, 5 TD
2007: 47 rec, 566 yards, 7 TD

Sure, if you just gloss over the fact he has more receptions and yards thru 3 seasons than Heath, then yes this is accurate. And that doesn't even get to the dumpster fire at QB and OC we've had.


I get that Humphrey was a board darling and yes he would have been the better pick. That doesn't mean we need to make shit up about Freiermuth.

[TimmayLake]

Pat has been a below-average, often injured TE so far. After a somewhat promising rookie his season his stats look far closer to Matt Spaeth than Heath Miller.

2021: 60 rec, 497 yards, 7 TDs
2022: 63 rec, 732 yards, 2 TDs
2023: 32 rec, 308 yards, 2 TDs

2005: 39 rec, 459 yds, 6 TD
2006: 34 rec, 393 yds, 5 TD
2007: 47 rec, 566 yards, 7 TD

Sure, if you just gloss over the fact he has more receptions and yards thru 3 seasons than Heath, then yes this is accurate. And that doesn't even get to the dumpster fire at QB and OC we've had.


I get that Humphrey was a board darling and yes he would have been the better pick. That doesn't mean we need to make shit up about Freiermuth.

So you're satisfied with Friermuth's performance so far? Would you extend him?

[Pabst]

So you're satisfied with Friermuth's performance so far? Would you extend him?

Satisfied? Overall yes, I think he's been fine. It's not his fault the Steelers made the wrong pick.

Would I extend? Depends on the term/price.

[zeke5123]

Pat has been a below-average, often injured TE so far. After a somewhat promising rookie his season his stats look far closer to Matt Spaeth than Heath Miller.

2021: 60 rec, 497 yards, 7 TDs
2022: 63 rec, 732 yards, 2 TDs
2023: 32 rec, 308 yards, 2 TDs

2005: 39 rec, 459 yds, 6 TD
2006: 34 rec, 393 yds, 5 TD
2007: 47 rec, 566 yards, 7 TD

Sure, if you just gloss over the fact he has more receptions and yards thru 3 seasons than Heath, then yes this is accurate. And that doesn't even get to the dumpster fire at QB and OC we've had.


I get that Humphrey was a board darling and yes he would have been the better pick. That doesn't mean we need to make shit up about Freiermuth.

Longer season. Significantly more passing attempts. Easier to get passing yards. Add in Heath was a better blocker.

[Pabst]

Longer season. Significantly more passing attempts. Easier to get passing yards. Add in Heath was a better blocker.

Heath was playing with prime Big Ben, prime Hines, an elite O-Line, a very good OC, and a top RB duo. Muth is.....not.

Also, I'm not arguing that Muth is better than Heath. I'm saying that he has comparable number thru 3 seasons and the initial comparison is asinine.

[Ice]

Nostalgia is a helluva drug where Heath Miller is concerned.

[W&M_Steeler]

In the 2021 draft the Steelers selected Pat Freiermuth with pick 55 overall, in the 2nd round. Pat has been a below-average, often injured TE so far. After a somewhat promising rookie his season his stats look far closer to Matt Spaeth than Heath Miller.

2021: 60 rec, 497 yards, 7 TDs
2022: 63 rec, 732 yards, 2 TDs
2023: 32 rec, 308 yards, 2 TDs


The Chiefs selected Creed Humphrey with pick 63 overall. Humphrey was immediately a top center, has won 2 Super Bowls, has been to 2 Pro Bowls and made All-Pro in 2022. The Chiefs just made him the highest paid center in the NFL.

Meanwhile the Steelers have struggled to find a viable center, having gone through 3 different players before selecting Frazier this year. Hopefully he works out...

It's pretty amazing to see the drop-off in TDs after Ben retired. Even with Ben being at the absolute end physically, and despite being hampered by an incompetent OC in Canada and a dogshit C in Kendrick Green, Muth still had 7 TD receptions in 2021 and Diontae Johnson had 8. Ben retires, and in 2022 Muth has 2 TD receptions and DJ has 0!

I understand this offseason has not inspired much hope, but its hard to imagine that the 2024 offense won't be better than the 2022-2023 offense. With the exception of the Mason Rudolph games at the end of the season last year, the 2022-2023 offense is the worst NFL offense I have ever seen.

[stillthere]

Creed may have already been traded to LA and getting an extension from his new team.

What player has this staff over the last few years developed as far as the OL goes?

What players go elsewhere and look good?

Are we the only team in the league teaching the independent hand-striking blocking style?

[Mick]

If we drafted Humphrey, he probably would have taken the Dotson path of underachieving for three seasons before being traded to the Chiefs a year ago for a late round pick, looking great and becoming the highest paid center in the league this week. A man can dream.

[shellwagnerblount]

Creed may have already been traded to LA and getting an extension from his new team.

What player has this staff over the last few years developed as far as the OL goes?

What players go elsewhere and look good?

Are we the only team in the league teaching the independent hand-striking blocking style?

Excellent points.

I remember back in my youth talking to an NHL scout (he worked for many teams over the years). He was always talking about how some teams know how to develop players and others have players "making the same mistakes you saw them make in Jr. B" I think this may be one of the root problems with this team. I know Munchak wasn't perfect but you could see the improvement in players and scheme during his tenure. We don't hire guys like that anymore and that goes back to our two headed leadership of Rooney/Tomlin.

Is that technique used anywhere else in the NFL or college? I am ignorant on that subject.

I am going to go into this season with a forced optimistic smile on my face. I dread what I will be thinking after the first 4 games or so though..

HOpe you are all having a great summer...Looking forward to your comments during the upcoming season.

[Steelperch]

Can somebody explain to me why people spend so much time crying about taking Freiermuth, a good NFL TE, over Humphrey but not taking Kenny fucking Pickett, an hideous QB, over Tyler Linderbaum?

[stillthere]

In the 2021 draft the Steelers selected Pat Freiermuth with pick 55 overall, in the 2nd round. Pat has been a below-average, often injured TE so far. After a somewhat promising rookie his season his stats look far closer to Matt Spaeth than Heath Miller.

2021: 60 rec, 497 yards, 7 TDs
2022: 63 rec, 732 yards, 2 TDs
2023: 32 rec, 308 yards, 2 TDs


The Chiefs selected Creed Humphrey with pick 63 overall. Humphrey was immediately a top center, has won 2 Super Bowls, has been to 2 Pro Bowls and made All-Pro in 2022. The Chiefs just made him the highest paid center in the NFL.

Meanwhile the Steelers have struggled to find a viable center, having gone through 3 different players before selecting Frazier this year. Hopefully he works out...

It's pretty amazing to see the drop-off in TDs after Ben retired. Even with Ben being at the absolute end physically, and despite being hampered by an incompetent OC in Canada and a dogshit C in Kendrick Green, Muth still had 7 TD receptions in 2021 and Diontae Johnson had 8. Ben retires, and in 2022 Muth has 2 TD receptions and DJ has 0!

I understand this offseason has not inspired much hope, but its hard to imagine that the 2024 offense won't be better than the 2022-2023 offense. With the exception of the Mason Rudolph games at the end of the season last year, the 2022-2023 offense is the worst NFL offense I have ever seen.

I will say that Ben knew what he had with Muuth. He still talks about wishing he had more time with him. Randyland and No O Canada had no idea what to do with his skillset. The first game after Canada was gone Muuth ate the Cinci D down the middle as he pleased. The second game against them that D did all it could to not allow Muuth to beat them and other players made them pay.

We have 3 NFL caliber TEs on the roster now. If we cannot stress the edges of the D and take advantage of the personnel matchups we deserve to be relegated to the XFL or UFL or CFL.

[.Kodiak]

We have 3 NFL caliber TEs on the roster now. If we cannot stress the edges of the D and take advantage of the personnel matchups we deserve to be relegated to the XFL or UFL or CFL.

Tomlin has one of the best kickers in the league, and finally got himself a real field-flipper at punter. This offense is going to be even more conservative.

[K_C_]

Can somebody explain to me why people spend so much time crying about taking Freiermuth, a good NFL TE, over Humphrey but not taking Kenny fucking Pickett, an hideous QB, over Tyler Linderbaum?

They took Pickett because they knew it was time to take a shot at a franchise QB.

Obviously it didn't work out the way they hoped, but QB's drafted much earlier than Pickett bust all the time, including Mitch Trubisky, a former #2 overall pick who finished his Steelers career with an unbelievable 4-10 record.

We're going to take another shot at a franchise QB in round 1 next April. Absolutely guaranteed and that's why I keep saying the worst thing that can happen to this franchise is another Mike Tomlin Special. Another 9-8 season.

If that happens, the next guy we take picking around 20 could work out like Jordan Love or Kenny Pickett. The whole thing is a crapshoot.

[Orangesteel]

Can somebody explain to me why people spend so much time crying about taking Freiermuth, a good NFL TE, over Humphrey but not taking Kenny fucking Pickett, an hideous QB, over Tyler Linderbaum?

This isn’t serious. People have complained about the Pickett pick on here almost to the point that even I got sick of it.

Even KC who spent two years juggling Kenny’s nuts has admitted he was a total bust and it was a terrible pick.

[K_C_]

Can somebody explain to me why people spend so much time crying about taking Freiermuth, a good NFL TE, over Humphrey but not taking Kenny fucking Pickett, an hideous QB, over Tyler Linderbaum?

This isn’t serious. People have complained about the Pickett pick on here almost to the point that even I got sick of it.

Even KC who spent two years juggling Kenny’s nuts has admitted he was a total bust and it was a terrible pick.

Pickett was the top rated QB in that draft. The Steelers needed a QB with Roethlisberger hanging 'em up. This isn't rocket science and the draft is a crapshoot. Christ, ask the fucking 49ers. Where did they pick Trey Lance and how's that going? What pick did they use to select Brock Purdy?

It wasn't about juggling Pickett's nuts. I pulled for the guy like I would any Steelers QB and thought he had potential. Pickett wasn't a turnover machine and that's why he finished with an unimpressive, yet winning record of 14-11. I believe Pickett was ruined by Matt Canada and Mike Tomlin. I think with better coaching he could have developed. Obviously not to a top tier QB but a quality starter.

That isn't going to happen so....NEXT.

On paper this year's QB room should be a lot more successful than Pickett, Trubisky and Rudolph but I do not think they will be.

[stillthere]

On paper this year's QB room should be a lot more successful than Pickett, Trubisky and Rudolph but I do not think they will be.

They should have rolled with Mason back when Ben hung 'em up. If that was a spectacular failure then we would have had a top 5 pick. If Mason was decent to good the team would have had an opportunity to grow around him. They had enough confidence in him to draft him and start him when BR7 was hurt but then just fucked him over every opportunity.

Ramon Foster speaks highly of him still to this day. I believe they were locker mates or camp roomies or road trip roomies or all of that shit.

All of that is moot though because No O Canada was calling plays that were approved of by Gut Instincts Tomlin. Mason, Kenny, Mitch, Duck, Dobbs, Ben, etc were all doomed from the Randyland era forward.

[jebrick]

In the 2021 draft the Steelers selected Pat Freiermuth with pick 55 overall, in the 2nd round. Pat has been a below-average, often injured TE so far. After a somewhat promising rookie his season his stats look far closer to Matt Spaeth than Heath Miller.

2021: 60 rec, 497 yards, 7 TDs
2022: 63 rec, 732 yards, 2 TDs
2023: 32 rec, 308 yards, 2 TDs


The Chiefs selected Creed Humphrey with pick 63 overall. Humphrey was immediately a top center, has won 2 Super Bowls, has been to 2 Pro Bowls and made All-Pro in 2022. The Chiefs just made him the highest paid center in the NFL.

Meanwhile the Steelers have struggled to find a viable center, having gone through 3 different players before selecting Frazier this year. Hopefully he works out...

There was no one on the board when they selected Harris that was a game changer. I was suggesting they traded down. They theoretically could have gotten both Muth and Humphrey. Then signed nearly anyone else as a FA to go ahead and get killed behind that atrocious Oline they trotted out. Including 1 Kendrick Green playing woefully out of position.

Thanks Colbert.