Steelers Extra: Chase Claypool Opens Up the Middle of the Field (+)
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh did not have a knack for finding the middle of the field open for the majority of their games this season. But on Sunday, in the fourth quarter, that seemed to all change on the account of one man — Chase Claypool. Claypool racked up 7 receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown, and his route tree looks like nothing we have seen this season from a Steelers wide receiver.
Look at that route tree! pic.twitter.com/xWIqO9pwgn
— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) October 16, 2022
A combination of deep hitches, crossers, dig routes, and a scramble drill give Claypool one of the most diverse route trees a Pittsburgh wide receiver has had in the Matt Canada era. Not only can it be something that the Steelers showcase in the coming weeks, but they need to diversify the route tree in earlier down scenarios as well. After all, the third and long conversions prompted these deep middle-of-the-field route trees. That is part of the aggressive mindest that Chase Claypool was a benefactor of from Canada’s playcalling.
“Especially with Tom [Brady] on the other side, we couldn’t play safe,” Claypool said. “We had to go try to score and that was the mentality. We couldn’t run the clock out, they had too many timeouts, so that was kind of our mindset.”
Claypool is the highlight receiver of the game, but the same route tree can apply to players like George Pickens and Pat Freiermuth. Diontae Johnson can operate on a deep middle-of-the-field plane more than anyone else on the team, too. Pittsburgh now has a level of comfortability with both Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett. It is time to open up that part of the playbook a bit more. Claypool’s implied level of comfort with these quarterbacks means the training wheels need to come off sometime soon.
“Mitch [Trubisky] started the season with that, so we had that confidence in him, that timing with him,” Claypool said. So, it wasn’t like we had to figure things out. We were calling the same plays. Hats off to him because he was very poised, and he did his thing.”
So, what does this mean for Pittsburgh’s offense moving forward? To not mince words, the Steelers do have more problems than a just an offensive coordinator, but a route tree like this that utilizes all of the field can help assuage those other concerns.
Claypool’s size and athleticism are massive boons to his stock if he can stay consistent. The Steelers and Claypool need to be forthright with his skillset and get him into a groove. If Sunday is any indication, maybe this can be a springboard for both Claypool and the offense.
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