JuJu Smith-Schuster Says The Way Canada’s Offense Is Built Will Have Him Playing Outside More

One topic that has been a continuing matter of dialog for Pittsburgh Steelers extensive receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster all through the offseason has been his want to spend extra time enjoying on the surface this yr, after primarily being pigeonholed within the slot in recent times.

Showing from coaching camp on NFL Community earlier at this time, he did speak about his position being extra outdoors this yr, however defined that it’s a operate of the Steelers’ new offensive ideas being put in by first-year offensive coordinator Matt Canada.

“Honestly, with Matt Canada, the OC, the way he calls his plays, it’s the outside, too”, he mentioned. “The best way his offense is constructed is that you need to know each place on the sphere. It’s not like, ‘you run the X and that’s what we’re gonna do the entire season’. No, it’s like, ‘hey, you study each place on the sphere as a result of we’re throwing that by ideas”.

Canada spoke to reporters yesterday, and he had one thing of a distinct reply as regards to Smith-Schuster seeing extra time on the surface. Or fairly, to be extra correct, he gave a basic reply, but it surely really matches with what the receiver mentioned about it being a product of the offense.

“I believe there’s an lively effort to make use of all of our gamers and ensure we’re using their skills to the most effective of their talents”, he mentioned. “JuJu is actually proficient, the best way he performs and the way onerous he performs. I’m an enormous fan of JuJu, and we’re very lucky to have him again and we’re going to make the most of all the pieces we will out of it”.

Mainly, he didn’t wish to say particularly that they’re going to play Smith-Schuster on the surface extra, however the core concept to remove is that their motion goes to place gamers all around the subject, whether or not pre-determined within the huddle or as a consequence of studying the protection earlier than the snap, so all people goes to get alternatives in every single place.

Whereas he has spent the vast majority of his profession within the slot, Smith-Schuster has had stretches up to now, typically as a result of harm, when he had the chance to play on the surface extra, and he was capable of carry out in these conditions. The previous two years, as a result of quite a lot of causes, have left one thing wanting in his contributions, although, and he appears to consider that enjoying extra on the surface will assist each his precise and perceived efficiency.

He talked about wanting “to raise my recreation, having the ability to play inside, outdoors, all around the subject, you’re not simply anticipating me to be inside and taking management of the center, but additionally be on the surface, too”. Canada’s offense will assist put him in conditions to benefit from that.