Steelers TE David Paulson still a work in progress

One of the more quiet additions to the Steelers roster was their 3rd string tight end David Paulson. He probably only caught the seven passes listed on his stat sheet for 51 yards because Steelers tight end/fullback David Johnson was lost for the year during preseason. He's also smaller than the injured starter Heath Miller, listed an inch shorter and ten pounds lighter.

That size disadvantage may seem insignificant on paper, but it was apparent when he needed to block for Pittsburgh during last season. That was also apparent when matched up with Steelers rookie first round draft pick Jarvis Jones, as the former Georgia player tossed around Paulson with ease. Tomlin got on Paulson after Jones beat him, but the soft-spoken tight-end kept his cool and took it in stride.

Paulson was drafted for his soft hands that he showed off while at Oregon University where he put together over 1,000 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in his last two seasons. Tight ends coach James Daniels saw him as a solid pickup for a seventh rounder, and maybe he was, but to be effective in the Steelers offense as a tight end, you have to block.

Granted that Jarvis Jones was drafted so high specifically so he could beat better blockers than Paulson, but that doesn't excuse the tight end from any losses he may take on the line of scrimmage. If he wants to be a player who shoulders part of the load while Miller is injured, he can't afford to be a liability in run blocking schemes or pass protection.

His soft hands show promise that he may be a receiving threat for Ben Roethlisberger, and his quiet demeanor is a signal that maybe he could keep his head down and develop into a solid role player for the team. But as of today, this tight end needs to continue working on his skills at the line of scrimmage.

ICYMI today on BTSC:

• Steelers Jarvis Jones: 'I brought it' in Backs on 'Backers drill
• Alan Baxter excited to be in Nikes, on Steelers
• Steelers TE David Paulson still a work in progress
• Steelers offense will still emphasize the run in 2013
• Steelers 53-man roster locks through early portions of training camp
• Steelers Roethlisberger confident in his receiving group without Mike Wallace
• Steelers training camp recap: First day in pads
• Steelers Injury Report: Absences from training camp not 'precautionary'
• Mike Tomlin considers Mike Adams fortunate to be ready for Steelers Training Camp
• Don't sleep on Hebron Fangupo during Steelers Training Camp