Depth at receiver should help Steelers
LATROBE – Scouts normally have all the answers, but this particular Pittsburgh Steelers scout came up a few bricks shy of a load when asked which receivers he’d keep this season. “Hines Ward, Plaxico Burress and the second-rounder,” he said of the starters and rookie Antwaan Randle El.
But is that it?
“That’s all I can see right now,” he said and walked away.
Hey, Ray Charles can see that. But the coaching staff won’t be able to walk away from this decision. The cuts at wide receiver are shaping up to be the most difficult on the team this season.
“I just hope they keep performing the way they have been,” said receivers coach Kenny Jackson. “But it is going to be tough to make those decisions.”
Of course, the list starts with Ward, the unquestioned leader of the group, but Ward doesn’t think there’s any way he’ll duplicate his 94-catch season of a year ago.
“It would take too many things going the right way,” he said, but Jackson isn’t so sure.
“He doesn’t know. Nobody knows,” Jackson said. “And it’s not about the number of catches. He could have 20 less catches but 10 more touchdowns and that’s what it’s all about – somehow figure out a way to score. We want to win, so whatever it takes.”
Burress, though, could be the one putting up the big numbers. After a troubled off-season, young Burress has a hungry look.
“He’s a third-year guy,” said director of operations Kevin Colbert in agreement. “And I like third-year guys, especially when they came out (for the draft) as juniors. It could be his time.”
“Plax can be as good as he wants to be,” said Jackson. “If he continues to work every day, he can be as good as he wants to be.”
How is Burress’ work ethic?
“To me it’s fine. As long as he keeps doing what he’s been doing he’ll be fine,” Jackson said.
The receiver having the best camp so far might just be Troy Edwards. The former No. 1 pick was thought to be in line for the chopping block this camp, but, judging by the way he’s playing, Edwards is not about to go quietly.
“He’s a competitor,” Jackson said. “He did a lot of good things last year. He really was a competitor. He helped us in a lot of areas. He hustles and on game day he did a lot of things to help us win football games. That’s what it takes, everybody doing everything because it’s not just going to be catching passes. You have to block and a lot of things people don’t look at, but we as coaches know.”
The little things have made Lenzie Jackson another receiver with a chance to make the team. Jackson has soft hands, can block and plays well on special teams. The Steelers liked his contributions in that area late last season.
Randle El is certainly a lock for one of those spots. Fellow rookie Lee Mays should be another lock. The sixth-round pick looks and plays bigger than his 6-foot-2 roster listing. He would also be snapped up quickly if cut, so the Steelers can forget about keeping Mays on the practice squad.
Another receiver likely to make the team is slot man Terance Mathis, unless, of course, those 35-year-old legs begin showing their age.
“He doesn’t seem 35 to me,” Jackson said. “I mean, he’s smooth, comfortable, talented. They’re all talented guys. It’s a good problem to have. They all can play. They really can.”
But they can’t all make the team. Stay tuned.