Fear & Loathing
Footballguy
I thought Nate Washington looked very good in the MIA game, and it was obvious that the game plan called for him to get the ball a few times. He looked athletic and physical on the TD catch.
Before the MIA game, all I had to go on were some vague positive reports out of Steelers camp and a few Steelers fans saying he could surprise if Hines Ward is injured. I think we've seen Cedrick Wilson's ceiling [47 rec, 641 yds, 3 TDs], and it's safe to say I'm not a Ced believer as far as fantays impact. He won't be much of an obstacle for a talented WR looking to leapfrog into the #2 role in PIT. Whether that guy ends up being Nate Washington, Santonio Holmes or Willie Reid remains to be seen.
I'm not sold on using a waiver move on Nate Washington yet...I'd like to fill in the knowledge/information gap before making a decision. How much of an opportunity will he get in '06? Just how talented is this undrafted free agent? Right now all I have is that he looked big and athletic against Miami, and previous reports indicate that Cowher really seems to like him. I think going from undrafted free agent to practice squad to #3 WR in less than a year bodes well for his future.
Nate Washington measurables:
6'1", 185 (looked bigger than that to me)
DOB: 8/28/83
College: Tiffin, Undrafted
Nate Washington background from rotoworld.com:
9/07/2006:
Nate Washington caught Pittsburgh's first touchdown Thursday night.
Charlie Batch hooked up with the Steelers' No. 3 receiver on a 27-yard, jump-ball score in the front of the end zone near the start of the first quarter. Washington, who was utilized frequently in three-wide receiver sets and targeted often on third downs, finished up with two catches for 32 yards.
8/19/2006:
Nate Washington caught Pittsburgh's first touchdown Thursday night.
Charlie Batch hooked up with the Steelers' No. 3 receiver on a 27-yard, jump-ball score in the front of the end zone near the start of the first quarter. Washington, who was utilized frequently in three-wide receiver sets and targeted often on third downs, finished up with two catches for 32 yards.
8/12/2006:
As expected, Steelers WR Nate Washington started Saturday afternoon.
Washington scurried for ten yards on a reverse and nearly caught a touchdown from Charlie Batch on Pittsburgh's second possession. He's competing with Santonio Holmes to be the Steelers' No. 3 wideout.
8/08/2006:
Steelers WR Nate Washington may start Pittsburgh's preseason opener.
Hines Ward is suffering from a minor hamstring and will sit out, but this is a good sign that Washington, who has a story similar to Willie Parker, is currently No. 3 on the receiver depth chart ahead of Santonio Holmes and Quincy Morgan.
7/31/2006:
Steelers WR Nate Washington has been impressive in early training camp.
We're skeptical Washington can become a real part of the offense this season but Bill Cowher insists otherwise. Cedrick Wilson has struggled with drops and Santonio Holmes is injured, so Washington should continue to get chances.
5/15/2006:
Nate Washington is Pittsburgh's "No. 3 receiver as of right now."
While Santonio Holmes is likely to pass Washington on the depth chart, it's interesting that the Steelers place him in front of Quincy Morgan. The undrafted free agent made a big impact in camp last year and was on the active roster most of the year.
3/16/2006:
The Steelers are expecting Nate Washington to step up his role in 2006.
It's been surprising how Pittsburgh hasn't dipped into the free agent market at wide receiver. Part of that is their faith that Washington, an undrafted rookie from 2005, can compete for the third or fourth receiver role.
9/23/2005:
Steelers signed WR Nate Washington.
He's the team's sixth receiver.
9/13/2005:
Steelers released WR Nate Washington.
Unless he's signed elsewhere, Washington will end up on Pittsburgh's practice squad
9/3/2005:
Steelers WR Nate Washington, an undrafted free agent out of Tiffen University, made the team's roster.
It's a pretty amazing story that he made the team over fourth-round pick Fred Gibson.
Before the MIA game, all I had to go on were some vague positive reports out of Steelers camp and a few Steelers fans saying he could surprise if Hines Ward is injured. I think we've seen Cedrick Wilson's ceiling [47 rec, 641 yds, 3 TDs], and it's safe to say I'm not a Ced believer as far as fantays impact. He won't be much of an obstacle for a talented WR looking to leapfrog into the #2 role in PIT. Whether that guy ends up being Nate Washington, Santonio Holmes or Willie Reid remains to be seen.
I'm not sold on using a waiver move on Nate Washington yet...I'd like to fill in the knowledge/information gap before making a decision. How much of an opportunity will he get in '06? Just how talented is this undrafted free agent? Right now all I have is that he looked big and athletic against Miami, and previous reports indicate that Cowher really seems to like him. I think going from undrafted free agent to practice squad to #3 WR in less than a year bodes well for his future.
Nate Washington measurables:
6'1", 185 (looked bigger than that to me)
DOB: 8/28/83
College: Tiffin, Undrafted
Nate Washington background from rotoworld.com:
9/07/2006:
Nate Washington caught Pittsburgh's first touchdown Thursday night.
Charlie Batch hooked up with the Steelers' No. 3 receiver on a 27-yard, jump-ball score in the front of the end zone near the start of the first quarter. Washington, who was utilized frequently in three-wide receiver sets and targeted often on third downs, finished up with two catches for 32 yards.
8/19/2006:
Nate Washington caught Pittsburgh's first touchdown Thursday night.
Charlie Batch hooked up with the Steelers' No. 3 receiver on a 27-yard, jump-ball score in the front of the end zone near the start of the first quarter. Washington, who was utilized frequently in three-wide receiver sets and targeted often on third downs, finished up with two catches for 32 yards.
8/12/2006:
As expected, Steelers WR Nate Washington started Saturday afternoon.
Washington scurried for ten yards on a reverse and nearly caught a touchdown from Charlie Batch on Pittsburgh's second possession. He's competing with Santonio Holmes to be the Steelers' No. 3 wideout.
8/08/2006:
Steelers WR Nate Washington may start Pittsburgh's preseason opener.
Hines Ward is suffering from a minor hamstring and will sit out, but this is a good sign that Washington, who has a story similar to Willie Parker, is currently No. 3 on the receiver depth chart ahead of Santonio Holmes and Quincy Morgan.
7/31/2006:
Steelers WR Nate Washington has been impressive in early training camp.
We're skeptical Washington can become a real part of the offense this season but Bill Cowher insists otherwise. Cedrick Wilson has struggled with drops and Santonio Holmes is injured, so Washington should continue to get chances.
5/15/2006:
Nate Washington is Pittsburgh's "No. 3 receiver as of right now."
While Santonio Holmes is likely to pass Washington on the depth chart, it's interesting that the Steelers place him in front of Quincy Morgan. The undrafted free agent made a big impact in camp last year and was on the active roster most of the year.
3/16/2006:
The Steelers are expecting Nate Washington to step up his role in 2006.
It's been surprising how Pittsburgh hasn't dipped into the free agent market at wide receiver. Part of that is their faith that Washington, an undrafted rookie from 2005, can compete for the third or fourth receiver role.
9/23/2005:
Steelers signed WR Nate Washington.
He's the team's sixth receiver.
9/13/2005:
Steelers released WR Nate Washington.
Unless he's signed elsewhere, Washington will end up on Pittsburgh's practice squad
9/3/2005:
Steelers WR Nate Washington, an undrafted free agent out of Tiffen University, made the team's roster.
It's a pretty amazing story that he made the team over fourth-round pick Fred Gibson.
