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There is no shock to what the off-season plans for the Pittsburgh Steelers will be going into the new season. For the first time in just about 18 years, the organization is going to be looking for another quarterback behind center after Ben Roethlisberger announced his retirement after this past season’s end. Therefore, the organization’s sole focus is going to be figuring out what to do at the quarterback position, whether they add veteran talent in free agency, put their trust and faith in a young talent through the NFL Draft, or just go with who has already been on the roster.
That decision is obviously left to the organization to decide. Although all of SteelerNation may have their own varying opinions on who the next Steelers starting quarterback should be, we have no choice but to trust and believe that General Manager Kevin Colbert will gift us with a talented predecessor to Roethlisberger in his last off-season in that position after announcing he will step down following this year’s NFL Draft.
There have been rumblings around the Steelers quarterback situation about the team’s confidence in four-year backup Mason Rudolph circling as of late. Colbert himself was quoted as saying, “If we started the season today, Mason would be our starter,” just last week, but there is a lot of time between here and the start of the new year — and we never know what can happen.
That being said, no matter who the quarterback will be, they still need playmakers that can be on the other side of their throws. Luckily for whoever ends up being under center, the Steelers have four legitimate options in the passing game who will be on the roster in 2022 and as far as the receivers go. I don’t think there is any question that Diontae Johnson is this team’s number one option in the passing game.
He struggled specifically with drops in 2020 and there was no question that particular stat affected his confidence level. Johnson bounced back in 2021 with his best season yet. He posted his first 1,000-yard season in just his 3rd season in the NFL (1,161 total) and led the Steelers in receiving touchdowns with nine. Johnson’s ability to create space with his route running and ability to create yards after the catch is made is what separates him from the rest. If there were any questions on if Johnson was a true number one receiver, those were put to bed with his performance last season.
Chase Claypool on the other hand, struggled last season. After having an absolutely breakout rookie season in 2020, Claypool failed to meet those same expectations in his sophomore season. Although Claypool’s receiving stats recorded between the two years could be seen as comparable, he found the endzone seven more times his rookie year than did last season (9 in 2020 to just 2 in 2021). He failed to be a downfield threat in the Steelers passing game, simply because there was none to speak of. A good reason for that could be the fact that the Steelers were without their starting slot receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster for the majority of the 2021 season. Just having a player like Smith-Schuster on the field allows for this Steelers offense to become more spread out, and allows for other playmakers to get open — something that was clearly missed last season.
The Steelers did their part in trying to “replace” Smith-Schuster last season, with some in-house names with prior experience in the system. James Washington and Ray-Ray McCloud were the two names used in most scenarios where a third receiver was needed alongside Johnson and Claypool. While Washington was underwhelming as an outside receiver, McCloud was getting the majority of the snaps in the slot (in replacement of Smith-Schuster), where he was credited with just 39 receptions for 277 yards, while failing to reach the endzone all season. I think the organization as a whole was looking for more out of that position, especially with budding stars like Johnson and Claypool waiting for their opportunity.
With that being said, who knows what the passing game could have looked like if Smith-Schuster had been healthy all year. People seem to forget how critical that slot receiver is in an offense and the Steelers will continue to be on the hunt for one this off-season. Smith-Schuster himself (although would like to stay in Pittsburgh), along with McCloud and Washington are both unrestricted free agents in an open market and have yet to hear if they will return in 2022. Although there are other holes to fill, I do think the Steelers could benefit from adding to their wide receiver room. Whether that be through the draft or free agency, adding a receiver to the mixture with budding superstars like Claypool and Johnson can only benefit whoever ends up under center next season.
Do you think the Steelers will add a WR through free agency or the NFL Draft? Comment below!
#SteelerNation
Support SteelerNation by clicking here to read the story..
That decision is obviously left to the organization to decide. Although all of SteelerNation may have their own varying opinions on who the next Steelers starting quarterback should be, we have no choice but to trust and believe that General Manager Kevin Colbert will gift us with a talented predecessor to Roethlisberger in his last off-season in that position after announcing he will step down following this year’s NFL Draft.
There have been rumblings around the Steelers quarterback situation about the team’s confidence in four-year backup Mason Rudolph circling as of late. Colbert himself was quoted as saying, “If we started the season today, Mason would be our starter,” just last week, but there is a lot of time between here and the start of the new year — and we never know what can happen.
That being said, no matter who the quarterback will be, they still need playmakers that can be on the other side of their throws. Luckily for whoever ends up being under center, the Steelers have four legitimate options in the passing game who will be on the roster in 2022 and as far as the receivers go. I don’t think there is any question that Diontae Johnson is this team’s number one option in the passing game.
He struggled specifically with drops in 2020 and there was no question that particular stat affected his confidence level. Johnson bounced back in 2021 with his best season yet. He posted his first 1,000-yard season in just his 3rd season in the NFL (1,161 total) and led the Steelers in receiving touchdowns with nine. Johnson’s ability to create space with his route running and ability to create yards after the catch is made is what separates him from the rest. If there were any questions on if Johnson was a true number one receiver, those were put to bed with his performance last season.
Chase Claypool on the other hand, struggled last season. After having an absolutely breakout rookie season in 2020, Claypool failed to meet those same expectations in his sophomore season. Although Claypool’s receiving stats recorded between the two years could be seen as comparable, he found the endzone seven more times his rookie year than did last season (9 in 2020 to just 2 in 2021). He failed to be a downfield threat in the Steelers passing game, simply because there was none to speak of. A good reason for that could be the fact that the Steelers were without their starting slot receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster for the majority of the 2021 season. Just having a player like Smith-Schuster on the field allows for this Steelers offense to become more spread out, and allows for other playmakers to get open — something that was clearly missed last season.
The Steelers did their part in trying to “replace” Smith-Schuster last season, with some in-house names with prior experience in the system. James Washington and Ray-Ray McCloud were the two names used in most scenarios where a third receiver was needed alongside Johnson and Claypool. While Washington was underwhelming as an outside receiver, McCloud was getting the majority of the snaps in the slot (in replacement of Smith-Schuster), where he was credited with just 39 receptions for 277 yards, while failing to reach the endzone all season. I think the organization as a whole was looking for more out of that position, especially with budding stars like Johnson and Claypool waiting for their opportunity.
With that being said, who knows what the passing game could have looked like if Smith-Schuster had been healthy all year. People seem to forget how critical that slot receiver is in an offense and the Steelers will continue to be on the hunt for one this off-season. Smith-Schuster himself (although would like to stay in Pittsburgh), along with McCloud and Washington are both unrestricted free agents in an open market and have yet to hear if they will return in 2022. Although there are other holes to fill, I do think the Steelers could benefit from adding to their wide receiver room. Whether that be through the draft or free agency, adding a receiver to the mixture with budding superstars like Claypool and Johnson can only benefit whoever ends up under center next season.
Do you think the Steelers will add a WR through free agency or the NFL Draft? Comment below!
#SteelerNation
Support SteelerNation by clicking here to read the story..
