Grading Every Pittsburgh Steelers Position Group Performance So Far this Season
By Chris Ross
Receivers and Tight Ends
As noted earlier, the shift from Roethlisberger to Rudolph has resulted in some passing game regression, but it’s the receivers that have really been disappointing so far. As much fun as JuJu Smith-Schuster can be both on and off-the-field, he hasn’t lived up to the hype this season as the Steelers undisputed No. 1 target. With 25 catches and just 340 yards, Smith-Schuster isn’t even on pace for a 1000 yard season. Considering the fact he put up over 1400 yards on 111 catches last season, Smith-Schuster’s regression has been shocking.
Worse than Smith-Schuster’s play has been the performance of offseason addition Donte Moncrief. Between drops and just general poor play, Moncrief has fallen out of favor with the coaching staff. James Washington, thought to be a breakout candidate after Rudolph took over due to their college days together, has yet to make a consistent impact. The coaching staff doesn’t seem to trust Washington completely, and that’s made it tough for him to get into a groove. On a positive note, rookie Diontae Johnson has played well, showing off rare speed and an ability to make plays when it matters.
At tight end, Vance McDonald has been the same player he’s always been. He’s a bit injury-prone, and he’s not going to put up crazy numbers, but he’s a good starter and an excellent fit in the Pittsburgh offense. Behind him, recent trade acquisition Nick Vannett has played well, albeit in minimal action.
The Steelers passing game has gone from one of the most productive units in the entire NFL to one of the most underwhelming. Sure, the change at quarterback deserves a bit of blame, but it’s hard to look at the receivers and tight ends performances so far and feel good about what we have seen.