by Bo Marchionte
Plenty was expected out of JuJu Smith-Schuster last season.
Four-time All-Pro Antonio Brown was traded leaving the spotlight on the then third year receiver.
The offense spiraled out of control as Ben Roethlisberger, James Conner and Smith-Schuster would combine to play in 24 combined games last season.
“Those things were all unexpected, but at the end of the day, we worked with who we had,” Smith-Schuster said on the first day of padded practices for the Steelers. ”We go out there and we play at the end of the day. One thing with me, I never had experienced injuries where I’ve been out for multiple weeks for that long. That was something I knew I had to learn as a young guy and also being the No. 1 receiver for a team.”
Once again Smith-Schuster enters the season as the No. 1 receiver that coincides with him entering the final year of his rookie contract. It is not uncommon for the Steelers make extensions during training camp and remember Hines Ward and Antonio Brown are the only receivers to sign those type of deals in recent memory.
Smith-Schuster knows the stakes are high but remain steadfast in his fun spirited attitude that has made him a locker-room and fan favorite in Pittsburgh. Despite being the most seasoned receiver on the roster he is only 23-years old.
His personality trends towards the opposite of the spectrum when thinking about the diva in Brown during his last few years in the Black-N-Gold. His youthful persona endears him to all but at the end of the day production is going to be paramount if he wishes to stay in the good graces of Steelers Nation.
“I would say, yes, this is probably the lightest I have been. I would also say that I’m a little quicker,” Smith-Schuster replied in response to his off-season training. “But with the tools that I have in my box this year, just doing my job and knowing the defense. Being able to be smart and play in situations like that. but like I said, it is going to take all of us to win games and come out of stadiums with Ws. It is something I have been looking forward to. Hopefully we do follow through with the season.”
While injuries ruined the chance to prove he is worthy of taking the mantle and replenishing the Steelers offense with the mass production that Brown left behind, Smith-Schuster made every effort to enter the 2020 season in the best conditioning of this young career.
This year, I changed my routine of working out to 1-on-1 with Corey Calliet, a guy who’s a high-performance coach, teacher,” Smith-Schuster said to local Pittsburgh media during a Zoom call. “Pretty much, I wanted that 1-on-1 session where I could tone down my body, get more lean, get more ripped and pretty much become stronger. What helped me a lot was the individual work and having that 1-on-1 session instead of being with a big group. It’s definitely helped me out so much in the long run.”
If his preparation for the up-coming season translates into big numbers for Smith-Schuster, it will be hard for Pittsburgh to keep him from larger offers from opposing teams when free agency arrives.
Amongst the more productive receivers the Steelers have had over the last few decades, that includes Plaxico Burress, Hines Ward, Mike Wallace and Brown. Only Wallace has had more touchdowns (24) and receiving yards (3,206) than Smith-Schuster after three seasons, but the former USC star is No. 1 in receptions (211). Burress (40) and Wallace (34) are the only others in the group to have more starts than Smith-Schuster (32).
Being only 24-years when free agency begins next year, Smith-Schuster agent Kim Miale (Roc Nation Sports) is likely being peppered with extension talks via the Steelers brass.
Per speculation on my behalf, but his long-term upside surely must be something Pittsburgh recognizes as a strength for the franchise for years to come.
Hopefully that smiling No. 19 is in the Black-N-Gold for years to come.
Photo Credit Frank Hyatt