Big Ben on WR Chase Claypool: He should be "unstoppable."
Traditionally, the Pittsburgh Steelers have always had a strong stable of wide receivers. In the 1970s-1980s, it was WR Lynn Swann and John Stallworth. In the 1990s it was WR Yancey Thigpen and WR Charles Johnson. In 2000-2010, it was WR Hines Ward, WR Antonio Brown, WR Santonio Holmes, WR Plaxico Burress, and WR Mike Wallace.
Present-day--the tradition continues with the trio of WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR Chase Claypool, and WR Diontae Johnson.
13x team captain QB Ben Roethlisberger delivered his thoughts on the receiving core after the team’s Week 1 win over the Buffalo Bills.
Roethlisberger on Smith-Schuster:
“He’s reliable. He’s tough. He’s dependable. He does what you ask him to do. He lowers his head on the play and gets you that first down and shows that physicality.”
Roethlisberger on Johnson:
“I thought Diontae started the game out very well. He got his knee banged pretty bad. I don’t know the old Diontae would’ve came back into the game and kept playing and making plays for us. I think that showed a lot of growth.”
Roethlisberger on Claypool:
“I thought Chase played like a grown-man. I mean some of his catches down the field--it’s either a catch or a penalty. And that’s what we preach to him all the time. He should be unstoppable.”
If you follow the BEASTwriter+ Newsletter--you would know that I broke down every single one of Claypool’s targets and how he impacted the game with a 9.5/10 grade in my grading system despite only making 3 catches.
If you missed it, you can catch the article below:
9/15/21: News, Notes, and Quotes
DE Cam Heyward talks father-time and what motivates him
DE Cam Heyward was next in line to speak with NFL media. My 2019-2020 1st-team All-Pro selection-- as a proud member of the PFWA continues to be overlooked by other players at his position. I don’t know why. He is the best IDL outside of DT Aaron Donald in my grading system.
I started covering the Steelers for Sports Illustrated in 2019 and over the years covering the Niners as a beat writer (2013-2018) for the team, I developed my own grading system.
I don’t rely on PFF, I formulate my own analysis and use my grading system when exercising my year-end voting rights as a member of the PFWA (Pro Football Writers Association) for MVP, Comeback POY, Rookie of the Year, All-Pro teams, etc.
Heyward continues to be the Gold Standard. Just my opinion. I have game grades to prove it and every single snap graded from coaches film on the top DL. Name a better IDL than Heyward other than Darnold? I can’t do it. Heyward is arguably the best in the game.
Heyward was asked what motivated him other than Coach Tomlin talking about father time (aging player). Heyward did not hold back. Why should he? He simply gets disrespected as he had this to say:
“If I could be honest. There are other players that are really good at my position but I don’t see the reason why they’re better than me. That’s just me being honest.”
Heyward on Yinzers providing a home-field advantage
“This isn’t like the Chargers where like everybody goes and has a home game. When you come here its black and gold all day…it’s such an advantage as a defense. When an offense can’t hear--and they got a waste a timeout or they got to take a penalty we thrive off that.”
Heyward on what allows him to excel under Coach Dunbar as opposed to Coach Mitchell:
Second-year phenom OLB Alex Highsmith was next to the podium. He was the main reason aside from cap reasons why OLB Bud Dupree bolted for the Tennessee Titans.
After Dupree tore his ACL in Week 12 vs the Baltimore Ravens, that allowed Highsmith to get starting reps for the remainder of the season. The move paid huge dividends for his growth and maturation process as 3-4 OLB.
Highsmith on the thing he improved on this offseason
“It’s really where it starts. If you don’t have a good get-off, you’re not going to get where you want and challenge offensive lineman. At least for me, that was one of my focuses this offseason--was really working on my get-off and get faster at that.”
How does Highmsmith improve get-off?
Ball key
1st movement
Studying snap count
As the Steelers defense preps for the Raiders--one thing is for sure. Heinz Field will be alive as always as the deep-rich rivalry continues.
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