PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Even playing for the two-time defending national champions, tight end Darnell Washington is finding out he’s got more to figure out in the NFL.
“I played at Georgia,” Washington said Wednesday. “I thought I would come here and know a lot of things already. But I still got tons of things to learn.”
Washington has been working with the Steelers tight ends, one just one more year of experience than him in Connor Heyward, to learn the nuances of the position. How to get off the line of scrimmage. Using your hands, legally. How a little head movement can throw a defender off. Little things like that Washington said could lead to big things.
When you are 6’7”, 264 pounds, you can have your way with a lot of defenders, even playing in the SEC. Washington could work his way open just because of that size, or defenses didn’t have players who could handle him. He said he found out quickly, even in OTAs, the challenge of the next level.
“I can’t remember what day it was (but) there was press man,” Washington said. “I was like ‘it’s real’. In college most teams didn’t really try it. Now, it’s grown men with guys that have been in the league 10 years, a lot of football in their background.”
Washington is also learning he needs to be more precise with his routes. It’s much different at the pro level. Every throw is on target in the NFL, in college and more so in high school, not every throw is perfect, as he put it.
“When you are here, it’s a timing thing,” Washington said. “I have to be right. I have to get my routes right just to get my timing right for offensive plays.”
The Bulldogs fifth learning receiver in 2022, Washington did have at least one catch in every game but one last year and averaged a team-best 16.2 yards per catch. He had five receptions, 60 yards and a touchdown against Mississippi State. Washington finished his career with 45 receptions for 774 yards and three touchdowns.
Mike Tomlin referred to him after the NFL Draft as a sixth offensive lineman. Steelers top pick and Georgia teammate Broderick Jones praised Washington’s blocking. As Steelers center Mason Cole said, he’s a cheeseburger away from being a tackle. The rookie is cool with all of that talk as he enjoys a physical approach to the game.
“The mindset at tight end, we are not just catching balls and scoring touchdowns,” Washington said. “We also have to block. If you can’t block you aren’t going to play in the league for a long time.”
Steelers appear to have options with the offense this year. If Washington can better learn the position and continue to excel at blocking, there is a role for him his rookie season.