McDonald’s big play may end up as turning point of Steelers’ season
PITTSBURGH — If you don’t believe one play can turn around a game, which in turn could turn around a season, you didn’t watch the Steelers’ sideline behind Vance McDonald’s stiff-arm of Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Chris Conte.
To re-set, the winless Steelers trailed the undefeated Bucs, 7-0, with six minutes left in the first quarter, when, on a third-and-10 play, Ben Roethlisberger took a snap at his own 25. Here’s what he saw:
“I know when they went in cross motion, I saw Vance was going to be open. I knew what route he was running and I was kind of saying, ‘Hurry Vance, turn your head, turn your head.’ Got him the ball, and then it kind of got jumbled in front of me with the line and stuff.”
McDonald caught the pass for a first down, and then he stiff-armed Conte with such brutality that Conte hit the ground. McDonald, who recorded the third-fastest Steelers play last season for NextGen Stats (the tackle of the blocked field goal in Chicago), turned near midfield and bolted into the clear. Seventy-five yards later he was in the end zone for a spectacular touchdown. The play sparked the Steelers to a 30-3 run through the rest of the first half and the big lead held up for a 30-27 win.
So inspiring was the play that Mike Tomlin used it during Wednesday’s play review.
“It’s the only play he brought up from last game because obviously it’s a short week and we have to move on,” said Roethlisberger.
What was the reaction?
“Nothing crazy,” Roethlisberger said.
But the reaction at the time was every bit crazy. One by one, yard by yard, the exultation on Steelers faces along the sideline grew to the point at which a wide-eyed Cameron Heyward went to one knee and pointed at the vanquished Conte.
“You don’t see many things like that in person,” Heyward said two days later. “It was an awesome play because we knew if he beat him, he was off. And he destroyed him.”
The Steelers scored there, and on their next possession, the possession after that, on an interception late in the half, and on another offensive possession in the final seconds for a 30-10 halftime lead.
Was it the McDonald play?
“I don’t know,” Heyward said. “I know we got a lot of turnovers, too, but I definitely think it was a game-breaker moment for us. To hit them right like that with that type of play, it can definitely be a confidence builder.”
The man standing behind Heyward on the sideline was a bit more restrained at the moment of impact. Or at least David DeCastro appeared to be calm.
“I was shocked,” said DeCastro. “I was like ‘Did that really just happen?’ It amazed me. It was five yards in front of me and I was like ‘Did anyone else see that?’
“Yeah, I was stunned. I literally had my eyes opened. I don’t get shocked by much anymore, but that was pretty impressive.”
DeCastro and Heyward had opposite outward reactions. They also seem to differ on the effects.
“It definitely was a spark. I think it ignited the whole team, to be honest,” DeCastro said. “Seeing a play like that was really cool, especially a guy like that, Vance, who’s been dealing with the injury. To come out and have a game like he did is great. It bodes well for us.”
Exactly. While all parties agree the play ignited the Steelers at the moment, some, such as DeCastro, feel the play, as well as the entire game by McDonald, gives the Steelers a legitimate weapon in the middle of the field.
Yes, Jesse James, the other tight end, has played well while McDonald has been in and out with a variety of injuries the past year and a month, and James Conner appears to have ably replaced Le’Veon Bell, and James Washington is developing into a quality No. 3 receiver, but McDonald, maybe for the first time, put it all together and appears as if he can be that rough-and-tumble – not to mention speedy, as proven by a computer chip – weapon in the middle of the field the Steelers have lacked since Heath Miller retired.
McDonald caught four passes for 112 yards to match his career-high in yardage set in the last playoffs when he caught 10 passes for 112.
That gives McDonald two 112-yard games sandwiched around a foot injury. The pre-2017 trade acquisition appears to be a true find.
Not that McDonald will ever admit it. Roethlisberger said McDonald’s “a little humbled/embarrassed a little bit” by the attention, and that may be so. But in a different way.
“Humbling? No, it was just a play of football,” McDonald said. “It’s always going to be one of the things I remember for the rest of my life, my career. But it was just another play of football. It doesn’t change anything.”
That remains to be seen.
NOTES: JuJu Smith-Schuster (abdomen) was limited at Thursday’s practice, putting his appearance Sunday night against the Ravens in question. He missed Wednesday’s practice entirely. … Morgan Burnett (groin) dropped from full participation Wednesday to limited Thursday. … Mike Hilton (elbow) confirmed his injury is a hyperextension and he hopes to play Sunday, but was limited Thursday. … Maurkice Pouncey was given a day off as the rest of the starting line returned to strength.