Rookie TE James taking on larger role for Steelers

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Jesse James can admit it now. The first few months of his NFL career were just kind of weird.

The Pittsburgh Steelers rookie tight end did everything that was asked of him during the week. Then gameday would arrive and he would find himself on the inactive list, wearing sweats instead of his No. 81 jersey. The last time that happened, James was a freshman at South Allegheny High a short 40-minute drive south of Heinz Field.

Standing around on the sideline, adrenaline pumping with nowhere to go, took some getting used to.

“I tried to make it into a good thing,” James said.

Don’t get James wrong, he totally understood. When you’re a rookie playing behind veterans Heath Miller and Matt Spaeth, there isn’t a lot of playing time to go around. So the fifth-round pick basically attached himself to tight ends coach James Daniel and soaked up whatever wisdom Miller and Spaeth threw his way.

“He was too heavy when he got here,” offensive coordinator Todd Haley said. “He got himself in really good shape now. He is running faster. He has much better stamina. He is hanging around two of the couple best teachers from a player standpoint in Heath Miller and Matt Spaeth, so if you just pay attention to what they are doing, you have a chance.”

The raw 6-foot-7 James had never been on a team where he wasn’t the best player at his position, so precocious at Penn State that he surprisingly declared for the draft before his 21st birthday. The Steelers viewed him as a bit of a project with hands made for catching but not quite so trustworthy when required to fend off defensive ends or linebackers.

“In our tight ends room, we pride ourselves on being able to block,” James said. “Obviously I had room for growth there.”

When an injury to Matt Spaeth provided James with playing time last month, James responded by showing flashes of why Pittsburgh took a flier on him in the first place, catching a nifty 4-yard lob from Ben Roethlisberger for his first NFL touchdown against Oakland on Nov. 8 and adding a two-point conversion last week in a loss to Seattle.

With Miller dealing with a rib issue that could prevent him from facing Indianapolis (6-5) on Sunday, James could be in line for his first start. James figures anything he can contribute is a direct result of Miller and Spaeth’s mentorship.

“Heath helps me every step of the way,” James said. “They both helped prepare me. I learn a lot just by watching them and the way they go about the week.”

NOTES

LB Ryan Shazier practiced on Thursday, four days after he sustained a concussion against Seattle. Shazier completed the league’s concussion protocol and said he’s not worried about returning to the field so quickly even though he admits he briefly lost consciousness. ... Roethlisberger practiced for a second straight day after completing the concussion protocol. S Will Allen (ankle) and LB Sean Spence (hamstring) did not practice Thursday. Spaeth (knee) and Bryant (hip) were limited.