Beachum's versatility turns him into Steelers' newest center of attention

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By Ed Bouchette / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Kelvin Beachum played strictly left tackle at SMU. The Steelers drafted him last year to play guard. Saturday night, he played tight end. Thursday night, he will play center against the Carolina Panthers and maybe a little tackle, too.

Bill "Spaceman" Lee, 66, played all nine positions on a baseball field in a minor league game last week. Beachum looks to be working on the football version of that.

He will play his fourth position in a game and his second season hasn't begun. What's next? Sending him out on pass routes? Saturday night, the phrase referee Jeff Triplette repeated most often into his microphone was "No. 68 is an eligible receiver."

"My wife said she kind of got tired of hearing it," Beachum said.

"It would be fun to see him do that," Heath Miller said of the chance Beachum might catch a pass. "I don't know if that's in the plans or not, but we'll see what happens I guess."

Coach Mike Tomlin said he liked what Beachum did as a tight end against Kansas City. So did Miller.

"He's definitely a better blocker than me," Miller said. "They didn't give him a chance to get down the field, so that's still a question mark. We'll see what he can do."

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sports/steelers/beachums-versatility-turns-him-into-steelers-newest-center-of-attention-701024/#ixzz2dEe5oZvd

I was a little shocked that Beachum made the team last year. And then he got off to a rough start when he saw some action. But he played well late and has been a pleasant surprise.

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Steelers' versatile Beachum is do-it-all lineman

By Ralph N. Paulk

On Monday, Kelvin Beachum stood near his locker answering a volley of questions about his versatility. At times, he was evasive as he opted to avoid characterizing his fluid role on the Steelers' oft-maligned offensive line.

Beachum has bounced up and down the line of scrimmage like a vagabond. He has no permanent home in the trenches where he's played center, guard and tackle.

A seventh-round pick out of SMU in 2012, Beachum is a natural left tackle, but he's had to adapt to secure a job. He started at right tackle the final five games last season after Mike Adams suffered an ankle injury.

Then, Saturday night against Kansas City, the 6-foot-3, 303-pound Beachum was tossed into the game at tight end in short-yardage situations.

“I liked what Beachum did as an eligible receiver,” coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday.

All that's left for Beachum to do is a catch a pass.

“We work with the tight ends a lot when I'm at tackle, so it's transferable to what I'm doing,” the 24-year-old said. “Whether it's play-action or in the run game, you have to understand what they're doing.

“With me going to tight end helped out the team, and that's what I'm here for. It was a more spacious environment at tight end.”

Beachum, though, knows his limitations. Or does he?

“Wherever they tell me to go, that's where I go,” he said.

Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/4597294-74/beachum-tackle-tight#ixzz2dKeEvsZO

I like versatility, but don't like using it because it typically means someone has been injured.