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James Washington is among the few Steelers huge receivers worthy of reward in current video games.
The third-year Oklahoma State product caught a clutch cross from Ben Roethlisberger late within the victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Dec. 2. He caught two passes for 80 yards together with a landing within the loss to the Washington Soccer Staff on Monday night. And he has largely averted the drop epidemic that has plagued the franchise over the previous two weeks.
And when he was requested about all of the drops surrounding the wideouts, Washington might have given the very best rationalization as to why they appear to be occurring so typically.
“I feel a number of us are eager about our subsequent transfer as an alternative of catching the ball first,” Washington mentioned.
Which will sound like a typical receiver trope each time drops grow to be a problem — blame it on operating earlier than you catch it.
Like a hitter in a stoop pointing at his timing. Or a pitcher having management issues fixating on his mechanics. Or a basketball participant speaking about ensuring he’s getting his legs into his soar shot.
A generic catch-all to elucidate away a bigger drawback.
However within the case of the Steelers receivers, that outdated truism could also be extra true than even Washington realized. A lot of the crew’s passing sport relies on quick passes in entrance of the sticks that the “run” half in “catch-and-run” is superseding the “catch” half.
Are you able to blame ‘em?
Truly, you’ll be able to. Catch the ball first. That’s a very powerful a part of the job.
That mentioned, there was fact in Washington’s rationalization.
One criticism from Steelers followers — and justifiably so — is that of the 104 passes Roethlisberger has thrown during the last two video games, far too many had been in need of the first-down marker. Even when the receivers didn’t drop 15 of them (by a conservative depend), lots of the performs wouldn’t have yielded the required yardage to remain on the sphere.
Except, in fact, the receivers acquired a number of yards after the catch. So no surprise that’s seeping into the receivers’ heads. I imply, what number of instances have we heard offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner use the phrase “catch quick to run lengthy” when describing receivers who match nicely into the Steelers offense?
Nonetheless, when the patterns are run past the yard to realize, the receivers know their job is completed after they safe the soccer. At the least, at that time, the primary down is attained as soon as the ball is tucked away. Any additional yardage past that’s gravy.
Fichtner was somewhat extra generic in his description of the drop challenge Thursday.
“Someplace misplaced in it is a little little bit of focus as a result of they’re all skillful sufficient to make magnificent catches,” Fichtner mentioned. “I feel we discuss, ‘Does he catch it due to hand placement or his eyes? He didn’t comply with it in? Or he has simply dropped balls that he has by no means dropped earlier than out of not concentrating?’
“I imagine it’s someplace in between. It’s focus in all probability (that results in) extra drops. Which means focus. Which means preparedness.”
Fellow receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster appears like he’s on Washington’s web page.
“Individuals are attempting to make a play earlier than it occurs,” Smith-Schuster mentioned Wednesday. “Numerous instances, you’ll see a man attempt to run earlier than catching the ball and attempt to stand up discipline. It’s quite simple. These are straightforward passes. Nothing too loopy.”
And for his half, it actually sounds as if Smith-Schuster wish to see the route tree prolonged.
“Ideally, I’ve at all times felt like I can run downfield on these deep passes,” he mentioned. “In comparison with final 12 months or two years in the past, the route tree I used to be operating was so much completely different. Enjoying inside and outdoors. This 12 months, every thing is so much shorter. However no matter they put in entrance of me, that’s what I’m right here to do.”
That could be Smith-Schuster making an attempt to be politically appropriate. However he’s proper, and never simply from his personal standpoint however for all of the receivers. One thing wants to vary in terms of this passing sport as a result of it’s grow to be too straightforward to defend.
And, apparently, too arduous for the receivers and the quarterback to execute, “straightforward” although the passes could also be.
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Assessment workers author. You may contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or through Twitter. All tweets could possibly be reposted. All emails are topic to publication except specified in any other case.
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Sports activities | Steelers/NFL | Breakfast With Benz | Tim Benz Columns
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