Steelers Now
PITTSBURGH — If the Gillette Stadium turf were switched out for hardwood on Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers would be just fine. Well, in theory.
Following the iso grabs DK Metcalf and Darnell Washington made in the end zone in last week’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith offered a cross-sport comparison for the two pass-catchers, physically imposing in their own ways.
“It’s just matchup,” Smith said Thursday before practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “Throw it to Shaq in the post. I mean, you see Darnell out there. He’s not small. He did it in Denver last year. I think we got a DPI against Cincinnati. Certainly it’s, you’ve got to answer in other spots, but you get those one-on-ones, and try to take advantage. Throw it to Shaq in the post. See what he does.”
Washington, who stands above his teammates at 6-foot-7, is six inches shorter than Shaquille O’Neal, formerly the most dominant big man in basketball. MaxPreps statistics had Washington averaging 9.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per game for Desert Pines (Nev.) High School. He even mashed a celebratory one-handed dunk over the goalpost’s crossbar after scoring a preseason touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Washington’s stature and talents also stand out to ninth-year pro and fellow tight end Jonnu Smith, who has a team-high nine catches through two weeks.
“Darnell, man, that’s a different conversation right there,” Jonnu Smith said. “Like you said, that’s basically Shaq out there on an island with any defender you put out there with him. We all carry different, unique skillsets, but that’s his superpower right there.”
Jonnu Smith was then asked who his basketball comparison is.
“If he’s Shaq, I’m LeBron,” Smith said.
Calvin Austin III, listed at 5-foot-9, chose the role of Allen Iverson. Second-year wideout Roman Wilson wanted to be A.I., as well, before being told Austin already called dibs.
“I’m a Steph Curry type of guy,” Wilson said after considering it for another second.
Metcalf rounded out the fictitious lineup by filling Kobe Bryant’s shoes. According to MaxPreps, Metcalf averaged 11.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game during his hoops career at Oxford (Miss.) High School.
“I think it’s a huge compliment, but on the flip side of things, I feel like Shaq when I’m not getting a lot of calls going my way because I’m a bigger receiver,” Metcalf said. “The refs’ excuses are always, ‘Oh, he’s bigger than them.'”
Metcalf, a splashy offseason trade addition, has seven grabs for 103 yards over the first two weeks of the regular season. Tailback Jaylen Warren leads the Steelers with 108 receiving yards on six catches, an indication that the team’s aerial attack isn’t quite ironed out yet.
“We’ve got guys that can play above the rim,” Arthur Smith said. “You’re looking at Darnell. You’re looking at DK. You’re looking at Jonnu. Calvin, who can fit in, but you said he couldn’t. (You) didn’t think I’d fit in Calvin. In all seriousness, it just...
