Steelers Now
UNITY TWP., Pa. — The Aaron Rodgers to DK Metcalf connection for the Pittsburgh Steelers is still very much a work in progress, midway through the third week of training camp at St. Vincent College.
But they are getting some things down. The one that seems to be cropping up the most often is any kind of in-breaking route from the quick-throwing Rodgers to the big receiver. In seven shots on Wednesday, they hooked up twice for touchdowns on such plays. They’d have had a third if Yahya Black hadn’t batted down the pass.
Metcalf is replacing George Pickens in the offense, but he’s a very different player. Pickens was all go balls and back-shoulder fades. He was not a route-running artist, and in fact his ability to separate was probably the worst part of his game. He was just always able to come down with the ball, no matter how covered he was.
That works 20 yards down the field. It’s hard to run quick game that way. Metcalf’s route tree is much more well-rounded. He uses his size and the threat of his deep speed to create separation. Of the Steelers’ cornerbacks, only Jalen Ramsey has routinely been able to run with him, and even Ramsey has been on the wrong end of Metcalf breaking off a route once or twice.
Slants alone aren’t going to make the Steelers and explosive offense, but gaining ground on some easy yards is a big step forward for a unit that has really struggled to do that over the last few years.
Connor Heyward made a meal of a seam route pass from Rodgers on Tuesday, getting his head turned around late and having it clang off his facemask into the arms of Patrick Queen for an interception.
I asked Heyward if he heard from Rodgers about the play, given that he has a reputation for being curt with receivers when they make an error that impacts the team.
Heyward said Rodgers just told him to get his head around quicker and that he’d come right back to him. Rodgers did just that, finding Heyward later that practice.
Rodgers said he has an open-door policy in his dorm room at St. Vincent, and that several players have taken advantage, spending their hours at night talking ball, and going over details.
“I think that’s an important part of it, just letting those guys know that there’s no dictatorship here,” Rodgers said. It’s not Art [Smith]’s dictatorship or mine. We want to talk about all the issues and all the things you’re seeing, and whether it’s a text message or coming to my room and having a conversation. Those are invaluable times to get on the same page with the guys. When I’m out there, I don’t want anything to be left unsaid, so I’d rather hit it on the front end, and if something comes out of the practice hit on the back end instead of trusting...
