Tim Benz: Despite crowded depth chart, off-the-radar receivers drawing praise at Steelers training camp
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If there is one position where the Steelers have depth — and it really may be just one position — it’s wide receiver.
Well, when those receivers hold onto the ball anyway.
The 2020 issue of drops aside, the Steelers can boast four wide receivers who seem to have at least some level of draft pedigree or NFL success.
JuJu Smith-Schuster made the Pro Bowl in 2018. Diontae Johnson (2019) and Chase Claypool (2020) had impressive moments as rookies. And James Washington led the team in yards (735) and yards per catch (16.7) and was tied with Johnson for the lead in first downs (31) during the quarterback-depleted season of 2019.
Throw in Ray-Ray McCloud as a return man and gadget guy along with tight ends Eric Ebron and rookie Pat Freiermuth, and it appears as if quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is in pretty good shape when it comes to options catching the ball.
Again, the operative word is “catching.” Let’s just hope last year was a fluke in terms of the team leading the NFL in drop percentage.
That said, it’s going to be a little harder to identify this year’s “Mr. August” or “camp darling.” Usually, that designation is slapped on a previously unknown player who flashes in the first few weeks of training camp, records a good preseason opener and then turns into a fan and media “must keep” on the 53-man roster.
Often, it’s someone who can sparkle at an easily identifiable position like wide receiver or running back on offense. On defense, it is frequently a safety or pass rusher that can take advantage of some other club’s fourth-string quarterbacks.
So don’t expect as much hype over receivers at the bottom of this year’s training-camp depth chart as we often get once the preseason games start. Because there just may not be anywhere to put them on the final roster.
That doesn’t mean they can’t flash enough to maybe make the practice squad or another NFL team. Because that’s what some of the lesser-known names in the position groups have done in training camp so far.
Rico Bussey was the star of practice last Thursday. The rookie out of Hawaii had two long catches along the sidelines in team drills and two catches (including a touchdown) during a two-minute simulation.
“I just follow the old guys and pick up on everything that they do and learn from them,” Bussey said Thursday.
Old guys? None of those five receivers I mentioned earlier is older than 25. But Bussey — who added a one-handed catch Monday — says he is still picking up some tips, particularly when it comes to getting free against NFL-sized defensive backs.
“You just have to beat them at the line and don’t let them get hands on you, because they’ve got really long arms,” Bussey continued.
It’s not just Bussey. After his interview, head coach Mike Tomlin jabbed reporters for not asking to interview Eastern Michigan rookie Matthew Sexton who had a standout performance on Wednesday. The next day, Tomlin went out of his way to throw some praise toward former Houston Texans practice squad member Tyler Simmons for his competitive spirit as a gunner on special teams.
“We’re trying to foster that type of environment,” Tomlin said Friday. “Those guys are not only vying to become backup wideouts in some capacity, but their contributions on special teams are a significant component of those prospects. And particularly those that are not kick returners. So, Simmons’ work as a gunner and a vice guy is significant in terms of his ability to position himself to be a factor.”
The efforts of those second- and third-string wide receivers have been noticed by the quarterbacks, too.
“They have been making plays every single day,” Mason Rudolph said Friday. “The young receivers, especially the guys we haven’t seen a whole lot of…they’ve been doing a great job making plays for us.”
Two other pass catchers Rudolph noted were Cody White (6-foot-3) and Anthony Johnson (6-2), two taller receivers who may be able to add some size to the mix. That’s something the Steelers receiving corps lacks aside from Claypool.
If this year’s Mr. August ends up being a wide receiver — as the candidates emerging from July suggest could be the case — then it might be harder than normal to make this year’s team even with that attention.
But they could build up enough good tape to make another club or be picked up by the Steelers again midseason if injuries warrant.
The method to reach that status is the same, though. Be good on special teams and make every catch that comes your way in the preseason.
Lessons some of those veterans can learn from when the regular season comes around.