Pittsburgh Steelers Vernon Davis, Lawrence Timmons

Then-San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis (85) runs against the Pittsburgh Steelers and inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons (94) in San Francisco, Monday, Dec. 19, 2011. Current Steelers tight end Xavier Grimble has gotten to learn from both Davis and recently retired Heath Miller. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

(Marcio Jose Sanchez)

LATROBE -- Though he's three years into his NFL career without having made an active roster, Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Xavier Grimble has gotten to study under two of the best tight ends of his generation: Vernon Davis and Heath Miller.

The latter's retirement this past offseason left a void in the Steelers locker room at minicamp and organized team activities (OTAs) that was unbelievable for some of Miller's longtime teammates. Grimble, who was on Pittsburgh's practice squad for much of last season said playing with Miller was like having an extra coach around. The same was true for Matt Spaeth, he said, a veteran blocking tight end who was released with a failed physical designation last week.

Working under Davis for parts of two seasons was the only comparable experience, Grimble said. Grimble has also been with the New England Patriots and New York Giants. But learning under Miller and Spaeth was more comprehensive.

"The kind of deal with him is he was more of a skill set on-the-field type of guy who would teach you how to beat guys and get your leverage and how to get open," Grimble said. "So I tried to take as much knowledge as I could from him."

Davis would show Grimble techniques like picking which shoulder of defenders to play off.

Joining up with Miller and Spaeth after getting signed to the practice squad on Sept. 7 hammered home the same lessons, Grimble said, among others.

"When I got here with Heath and Spaeth they were kind of like wizards out there," Grimble said. "They know everything. They knew the offense inside and out, know the defense really well, know how to read things very quickly, know how to prepare really well."