Steelers-Ravens * Saturday, January 3 * Heinz Field
AFC Wild Card Round
Gates open at 6:15 pm * Kickoff at 8:15 pm
It's barely been 48 hours since running back Ben Tate signed with the Steelers, but he already has a feel for what the team is like and understands why the Steelers are a playoff team.
"It's a very welcoming team. Guys are great. The locker room is great," said Tate during a break on Thursday morning. "You can tell these guys are together, there is that camaraderie. Everyone is together, everyone is talking, and there is a really good vibe here. I was telling people it reminded me of back when I was with the Texans and how we had that good vibe. Good teams have that. It's good to be back around something like that."
Tate, who spent three years with the Texans after they drafted him in the second round in 2011, was with the Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings earlier this season. He is quickly making the transition to the black and gold.
"You see the attitude, how everyone is together, how they go out and work," said Tate. "The will and the want, you can tell these guys want to win. When they hit the field it's all business. Being around that earlier in my career when I was in Houston, you can tell that is the makeup of good teams."
The Steelers signed Tate after Le'Veon Bell suffered a hyperextended knee against the Bengals. While Bell said Wednesday his knee feels better than he expected, he is still a question mark for Saturday's Wild Card game against the Ravens. Rookies Josh Harris and Dri Archer are expected to see playing time if Bell can't go, and Tate was brought in for veteran depth.
T
ate, who has rushed for 2,368 career yards and 14 touchdowns, is doing some quick work to get up to speed with the Steelers offense, including spending a lot of time studying the playbook so that he is prepared for whatever is asked of him.
"I've been in it a lot, but you want to have a good balance," said Tate. "You don't want to do too much and things start to run together. While I am here throughout the day I am always in it. You have to take a break here and there. I took a break when I got back to my room yesterday and then I was back in it before I went to bed.
"I just want to show that I am here and willing to do whatever it takes to help this team advance, to get to the goal. I am willing, ready. I want to show why I have been successful in this league running the ball. I want to put my best foot forward."
