Steelers Analysis Steelers Gameday
Much-Maligned Steelers Depth Receivers Have Their Day
PITTSBURGH — The Steelers’ ancillary receivers proved Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin right on Sunday.
With George Pickens sidelined during Pittsburgh’s 27-14 win over the Cleveland Browns, Van Jefferson, Scotty Miller, Ben Skowronek, and Mike Williams did their part.
“You guys were asking us about our lack of quote, unquote, ‘No. 2’ in team development,” Tomlin said. “The guys made plays. Whoever we throw the ball to makes plays. The strength of the pack is the pack. We’ve got a bunch of guys that want to be the reasons why we’re successful and, when given an opportunity, I think they continually prove that — whether it’s Scotty or Mike or Calvin (Austin) or whoever. Van. We believe in our group. I know I’ve said that to you guys repeatedly. Maybe you’ll start believing me.”
Nine different players caught a pass for the Steelers, led by Pat Freiermuth’s three grabs for 48 yards and a touchdown. Miller and Williams also had three receptions each, for 38 and 36 yards, respectively. Jefferson had a 10-yard touchdown catch, while Ben Skowronek fell on a Kadarius Toney muffed punt late in the fourth quarter.
“There’s guys that we trust,” veteran quarterback Russell Wilson said. “Obviously, we want to be able to facilitate the ball to everybody and just make it really hard on the defense.”
Pickens was expected to suit up for the game despite being considered questionable with a hamstring injury suffered late in the week.
“We didn’t want a small problem to become a big problem, so we put the helmet on Scotty Miller,” Tomlin said. “Most of the time when you put the helmets on the healthy guys, they take care of the rest. Scotty made some plays for us.”
Miller said he’s had to keep a game-ready mindset while waiting for his time to come.
“It’s a fine line between being an inactive — being on the practice squad — from something happening, you being right up there in the thick of it, and the team is depending on you to make plays,” Miller said. “That’s kind of the mindset I’ve always had. I always have great belief in myself and I’m just waiting for opportunities to take advantage of because I know when I do, I’ll get more.”
Pickens has 850 receiving yards on 55 grabs, both more than double any other Steelers wideout. Sans the NFL’s ninth-leading receiver, Miller had three catches for 38 yards, including a 21-yard toe tap falling backward in the fourth frame. Williams had as many receptions for 36 yards.
One of Miller’s grabs was a 21-yard left-sideline toe tap while falling backward in the fourth frame.
“I thought so,” Miller said when asked if he was sure if he got both feet down inbounds. “But there’s always a chance you don’t, so I was really hoping I did. I (haven’t) got one of those opportunities in a while, so I needed that one. I’ll take it.”
Williams had a hard-earned third-quarter grab on the left sideline for 22 yards, setting up Wilson’s 20-yard scoring connection with Pat Freiermuth that made it nearly a three-touchdown lead.
“In a way, he kind of helped seal the game this week, too, with some big catches on third down,” Wilson said of Williams, whose first Steelers catch was the score that won Pittsburgh a road game against Washington on Nov. 10.
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