PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – With the running game struggling, the Steelers are leaning on their passing game and Ben Roethlisberger has a versatile group of targets that he's utilizing.
Six have at least 20 receptions this year and Ben said they don't have the traditional X, Y, Z receivers.
"What we've done this year is throw the letters out the window and just say you are going to go to this spot, you are going to go to this spot," Roethlisberger said Wednesday. "That's a credit to those guys because they don't need to be in that memorized spot. They are able to learn the whole package and understand when things are changed what they are supposed to do."
Rookie Chase Claypool has the most touchdowns, Diontae Johnson is coming off a hundred yard game and has 21 catches for 273 yards in the last three full games he's played, but JuJu Smith-Schuster has the most catches and yards overall. Sixteen of those receptions were on third down that turned into a first down. That's second in the NFL.
"I love and I embrace those moments, I pray about those moments because I want to make a play," Smith-Schuster said. "That's not just me but everybody on the team. They want to make a play. You make plays on third down, you get paid."
"There is a lot of trust there," Roethlisberger said. "He's a guy that's been in the system for a while now. He's a guy that I can line up anywhere and he knows what to do."
"I think what you see from him in terms of his demeanor, his attitude, when the ball is in his hands, his determination. It's unbelievable."
"There have been times in the last couple of games when I've gotten the ball to him on third and whatever and he's caught it a little short of the first down and I have 100% confidence that he is going to find a way to get the first down."
JuJu said it takes time to build chemistry with a quarterback and he believes he has it with Ben. He often asks Roethlisberger advice about life and how he's dealt with certain situations, more so than stuff about football. Although there was one football question he needed him to answer.
"Quick story, I asked 'hey Ben, if you could name your top 10 receivers (all-time) you like go to?'," Smith-Schuster said. "He said 'you might be on the bottom line of the top 10'. That's a funny way of knowing that I'm top 10."
JuJu becomes a free agent after this season. He mentioned getting paid. What is the worth of a receiver who is 8th on the Roethlisberger all-time reception list in playing just over two and a half years with him?
"When you got a guy like JuJu that I know and trust in, it makes you feel pretty comfortable," Roethlisberger said.
In the twilight of his career, will the Steelers continue to do what they can to keep Roethlisberger comfortable?
