Vance McDonald Looking To Bounce Back In 2020

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Vance McDonald had career highs in receptions (50), yards (610) and touchdowns (4) in 2018.

Compared to that, the 2019 season was a massive disappointment. Vance McDonald failed to capitalize on the opportunity afforded to him by the departure of Jesse James. 

On the season, Vance McDonald had just 273 yards for 38 catches and three touchdowns. Those numbers represent a career-low 7.2 yards per reception for the 29 year old.

“I think I took some steps backwards unfortunately as a player,” McDonald said.

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“I don’t even need a coach to give me criticism because I have too much of it already. I think of it as having almost that edge in 2018, being known for having that play with the stiff arm, the run after whenever I would have a reception, I didn’t have as many of those. It makes me want to attack this offseason and next season that much harder.”

However, McDonald wasn’t the only Steeler to struggle in 2019. The entire team did in the absence of signal caller Ben Roethlisberger. Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges were inadequate replacements for Big Ben, and Pittsburgh also had to deal with injuries to JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Conner. It was a shadow of the Steelers offense from the year before.

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“I think offensively it was a much different team. It forced players to take a hard look at where we are, our personnel, the ever-changing lineup because of injuries and so forth,” McDonald said. 

“They can all be excuses, but at the same time, they all present specific things we have to overcome and adjust to. It took some adjusting.

“I think overall there was a stretch where we had a lot of success as a team. For me looking back and analyzing it all, I wish I would have done more.”