Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Nick Vannett might be new to the team, but he won’t be new to quarterback Mason Rudolph.
According to Vannett on Thursday, he spent 2-3 months this offseason training with Rudolph.
“So funny thing with that is that we actually trained in the offseason, like right after the season last year,” Vannett said Thursday, according to audio on 93.7 The Fan. “So, I spent probably two, three months with him. Kind of throwing with him and working out at him. So, I kind of already knew him a little bit. And I remember when it was made public, you know, the trade, he hit me up and he was excited.”
Even though Vannett has only had one practice so far with the Steelers he said Thursday that he and Rudolph are quickly getting to know each other even more and as quickly as possible.
“And whenever when the defense is out there, I was next to him just kinda watching and throwing with him, trying to get a better feel, Vannett said. “Having him help me, like, what I need to do or what I should do on the play. And that’s going to continue. I’m just going to get in the film room with him and just keep developing that relationship with him.”
With Vannett being new he’ll obviously have to attempt to catch a moving train in terms of learning the entire offense and everything else that comes with that such as signals and checks. On Thursday he was asked if he has any idea as to a realistic time frame regarding how quickly he can get himself fully caught up with everything he needs to know.
“That’s a good question,” Vannett said. “All I’m gonna do is just continue to keep my eyes in the playbook and keep studying. And you know, I have to get up to speed by Monday. I don’t have a choice.”
Vannett obviously doesn’t have a choice because he let it slip on Thursday that he’s likely going to see quite a bit of playing time Monday night against the Cincinnati Bengals.
“They plan on playing me a good amount and I’m not going to go in and have any doubt of what I’m doing, Vannett said. “I want to go in and feel comfortable that way so I can play fast, play confident and that’s how you get results. And so, I’m just going to do wherever it takes to be comfortable by then. So just gonna study the hell out of the game-plan.”
