Steelers TE Xavier Grimble drops burgers, learns plays, impresses at OTAs

By Jacob Klinger

PITTSBURGH -- Last year, Xavier Grimble could be found in line at Wingstop, Jack in the Box or In-N-Out Burger, and cut by the San Francisco 49ers.

The Pittsburgh Steelers threw him an NFL lifeline when they signed him to their practice squad on Sept. 7, but while the 6-4 255-pound tight end cut a looming figure in his corner of the locker room, he was a scout team player on the practice field.

It left Grimble's football mind split between learning and mimicking the offense of whichever opponents he was supposed to emulate that week and actually memorizing his team's playbook.

Pittsburgh signed him to a futures contract on Jan. 19 though, and through two weeks of organized team activities (OTAs) he's impressed teammates on both sides of the ball with the athleticism he always had, put to better use by knowing what he's doing and losing about five pounds.

"Now he's just got a better understanding, so he's a little more relaxed and he's just kind of - it's slowing down for him I guess," 10th-year tight end Matt Spaeth said.

READ MORE: http://www.pennlive.com/steelers/index.ssf/2016/06/steelers_te_xavier_grimble.html

Love these kinds of stories, hope this kid at the very least earns himself a place on someone's practice squad this season. If he surprises, and does better, well that's even better.

He's got a motor on him

I love it when a talented young player has that light bulb moment and acts on it. He obviously has and I wish him the best. Does anyone think he can be a threat to Spaeth?

solardave wrote:

I love it when a talented young player has that light bulb moment and acts on it. He obviously has and I wish him the best. Does anyone think he can be a threat to Spaeth?

With Green and James, the Steelers have their pass catching TEs. Grimble has decent hands, but he'll have to show he can block to be a threat to Spaeth. Blocking wasn't something he was known for coming out of USC, but maybe a few years of floating around the league and hitting the gym has him ready to stick his nose in there and get the job done.

The interim coach at USC, Ed Orgeron said he believed Grimble had the skill set to be an all pro TE in the NFL. Some thought he should have stayed in college an extra year, but maybe he will develop into something special here.

Still think its going to be tough to make the 53 for him with Green, James, Spaeth and Johnson there, but a young guy that performs well can easily push an aging veteran off the roster.

kirklandrules wrote:

solardave wrote:

I love it when a talented young player has that light bulb moment and acts on it. He obviously has and I wish him the best. Does anyone think he can be a threat to Spaeth?

With Green and James, the Steelers have their pass catching TEs. Grimble has decent hands, but he'll have to show he can block to be a threat to Spaeth. Blocking wasn't something he was known for coming out of USC, but maybe a few years of floating around the league and hitting the gym has him ready to stick his nose in there and get the job done.

I think Green is the only lock right now and James spot is not safe yet. Grimble is also a pass catching TE just like James. It will be a 3-man race for 2 spots. The Steelers would likely look for one pass catching TE and one blocking TE. They know what Spaeth would give them. So it comes down to how much both Grimble and James improve this year.

What surprises me everytime that in this sport where everybody tries to reach perfection in every detail, do teams not have guys who talk about proper food / diet with the players? I mean this is a guy who probably doesn't end up on the roster, but you read the same thing every offseason about guys who are being paid a large part of the available salary cap - is there really nobody telling them that pizza all day long is not gonna make you the best athlete ever?

SteelerMartin wrote:

What surprises me everytime that in this sport where everybody tries to reach perfection in every detail, do teams not have guys who talk about proper food / diet with the players? I mean this is a guy who probably doesn't end up on the roster, but you read the same thing every offseason about guys who are being paid a large part of the available salary cap - is there really nobody telling them that pizza all day long is not gonna make you the best athlete ever?

There definitely is someone telling them what they should and shouldn't eat. However, not everyone can control that movement the hand makes from the plate to the mouth.

In camp, they are fed what the coaches and dieticians tell the cooks to feed them (specific for each player). But once they go home, they are responsible for themselves.