Steelers receiver Chase Claypool embraces running routes out of varying spots
Chase Claypool didn’t explicitly take over JuJu Smith-Schuster’s role during Smith-Schuster’s first game following season-ending surgery, and Claypool likely won’t ever be a full-time slot receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
But that doesn’t mean Claypool doesn’t like getting deployed there.
“I like playing all positions but especially being able to play multiple positions in the same game,” Claypool said after Wednesday’s practice. “I don’t like being in the same position all game.”
Steelers offensive coaches seem to agree in regards to the second-year receiver. Claypool has taken 19% of his offensive snaps out of the slot this season, getting 17% of his targeted passes from there and coming down with 23% of his receptions. (All route statistics courtesy Pro Football Focus).
Claypool has been targeted 12 times running routes from the slot over the Steelers’ past two games — the first of which was when Smith-Schuster suffered a shoulder injury.
Smith-Schuster’s primary duty was from the slot the past two seasons, and Claypool said Smith-Schuster has been free with offering tips about running out of the slot. Claypool lined up in the slot 22% of the time as a rookie in 2020, and he said that as a sophomore at Notre Dame the slot was his primary role.
At 6-foot-4, 227 pounds, Claypool has the strength to win battles in contested territory. But with his 4.4 speed in the 40-yard dash, Claypool also can win outside.
Chase Claypool on renewing the rivalry with the Browns and if the playoff loss is a motivating force this week pic.twitter.com/kjEAGmVP9T
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) October 27, 2021
“I think we can get a lot of mismatches if we move me around, and I think they have been doing that,” Claypool said. “It makes the defense work a little harder. Doesn’t make it so easy for them to defend me where they think I’m going to play.”
Claypool has the size to dwarf defensive backs but the speed to cause issues for linebackers and strong safeties. That’s part of his joy in playing different spots.
- “I just feel like you can manipulate defenses,” Claypool said.
“Some type of mismatch somewhere.”
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Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.
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