The change in his role appears to be minor from what he balked at last season, but JuJu Smith-Schuster is saying all the right things about his responsibility in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense.
“I was very happy with our playcalling and the position they put us in,” Smith-Schuster said Friday in his first comments to media since Sunday’s season-opening win at Buffalo. “I think what (offensive coordinator) Matt Canada is doing is right and good for the team. Whatever I can do to help.”
According to Pro Football Focus, Smith-Schuster last season took roughly four times as many snaps from the slot as from outside (798-209, or 79.2%). Over the offseason, he openly opined that he wanted to run routes from the outside more.
In the 2021 opener, the ratio of slot-to-outside was relaxed — but only slightly (39-12, 76.4%).
“Whether I’m outside or inside, I’ll take the double teams, I’ll take being a decoy, the motion stuff, the blocks,” Smith-Schuster said. “It doesn’t bother me. As long as we win, that’s all I care about.”
Six of the eight passes intended for Smith-Schuster were when he was in the slot; all four of his catches for 52 yards came with him starting his route in the slot. Only six receivers in the NFL had more targets from out of the slot during Week 1; only nine had more catches.
Two of Smith-Schuster’s receptions went for first downs, and his 24-yard catch was tied for longest of the game from any Steelers pass catcher.
The Steelers believe they have a high-caliber group of four wide receivers and two tight ends. None, though, caught more than five passes or totaled more than 52 receiving yards in the opener.
“There was no negativity on the sideline about the receivers getting tough balls,” Smith-Schuster said. “We kept our composure.”
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