JuJu Smith-Schuster takes ‘professional’ approach to kick off important year in his Steelers career

JuJu Smith-Schuster had a transparent path to the ball. Bother was, so did a few of the 9 New York Giants gamers intent on maintaining it from him.

The race was on to recuperate Benny Snell’s fumble late within the third quarter of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 26-16 victory towards the New York Giants on Monday night time at MetLife Stadium.

If the chances weren’t aligned in his favor, Smith-Schuster’s willpower actually supplied a countermeasure, and it didn’t shock his quarterback that the fourth-year vast receiver emerged from the underside of the pile with the soccer wrapped round his arms.

“He’s an expert,” Ben Roethlisberger stated, “and that’s one of many issues that’s particular about him.”

Smith-Schuster was trailing the play alongside the fitting sideline when Giants cornerback James Bradberry dislodged it from Snell’s grasp after a 21-yard acquire. In a second coach Mike Tomlin highlighted in movie examine two days later, Smith-Schuster needed to preserve the ball away from nearly each Giants participant on the sphere. All 11 had been within the neighborhood of the ball, and all however two had been someplace within the scrum combating Smith-Schuster for possession.

“All I might really feel had been folks punching,” Smith-Schuster stated. “My left knee was about to bend, and my finger was twisting the alternative method. I had the ball on my proper rib, and all I might do was apply strain on the ball to maintain it there.”

The fumble restoration on the Giants’ 46 was a pivotal second for the Steelers, who had simply stopped a 19-play drive with an interception ultimately zone and had been driving the opposite method to attempt to construct on a 16-10 lead. After sustaining possession, the Steelers acquired a area objective to construct a nine-point cushion early within the fourth quarter.

“To me,” Roethlisberger stated, “that exhibits the unselfishness of a workforce and of a participant in JuJu.”

The restoration was as vital as any of the six receptions or two landing catches Smith-Schuster contributed to the season-opening win.

“He got here in able to play, and he carried out effectively,” Tomlin stated. “However we’ve got seen that from him more often than not that he has been right here. I don’t know if any of us had been shocked by what he delivered.”

Maybe Tomlin wasn’t shocked, nevertheless it had been some time since he had seen such an entire efficiency from the fourth-year vast receiver. In 2019, with out Antonio Brown drawing double protection and with Roethlisberger lacking the ultimate 14 video games, Smith-Schuster battled via accidents and inconsistent play.

And so it was that Smith-Schuster had some motivation — and monetary incentive — to show 2019 was an aberration in his profession.

“Coming into this season, I had a chip on my shoulder,” he stated. “I needed to come out right here and show myself. I’ve had to do this earlier than. I really feel like yearly it’s going to be my greatest yr taking part in soccer.”

The Steelers had an opportunity to increase Smith-Schuster’s rookie deal previous to kickoff Monday night time, however defensive finish Cameron Heyward was the one participant to obtain a brand new contract. Meaning Smith-Schuster will change into an unrestricted free agent in March until the perimeters discover frequent floor after the season. It is going to come at a value, as 10 vast receivers make at the very least $16.2 million this yr.

Roethlisberger, although, didn’t see a participant motivated by monetary acquire take the sphere within the season opener.

“You noticed a man that was blocking, that made the powerful catches, that dove right into a pile,” he stated. “What number of guys which might be ‘on the lookout for a contract’ and making an attempt to receives a commission would dive right into a pile and danger their physique and damage to recuperate a fumble that he didn’t fumble? To me, that simply exhibits what sort of a workforce man he’s.”

Joe Rutter is a Tribune-Overview workers author. You’ll be able to contact Joe by e-mail at jrutter@triblive.com or by way of Twitter .