PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin benched Chase Claypool during the game Thursday after an unsportsmanlike penalty. It was a short time away from the field, but Tomlin hopes his 23-year-old receiver got the message.
Later in the same game, Claypool would waste some of the waning seconds in the game pointing for a first down instead of quickly getting back to the line of scrimmage. Teammate James Washington said Monday that play was addressed in a team meeting. On Tuesday, Mike Tomlin said those issues are discussed during workouts before the season even begins.
"He had a misstep in that area," Tomlin said. "He had missteps in other areas. He's a young guy that's growing and developing in a lot of ways."
"It can't happen fast enough for him. It can't happen fast enough for us. We are going to continue to push that growth and development as long as he is a willing participant. He has been."
The ability and athleticism are obviously there. He's made some of the toughest catches in his short time with the Steelers and had 11 touchdowns his rookie year. The second-year player from Notre Dame also showed the bad. Claypool is among the league leaders in drops and has more penalties than any non-offensive lineman or one defensive back and one defensive lineman in the NFL.
This season, Claypool has eight penalties for 83 yards, far and away the leader from a skilled position. The one against the Vikings for unnecessary roughness.
Tomlin said the reality is many players come to the Steelers, or bigger picture the NFL, as unfinished products. Whether it's from Notre Dame or anywhere.
"That's another component of coaching that I embrace and we collectively embrace," Tomlin said. "There is a reason why we make what we make and there are so many of us. These guys are less than finished products in most instances when we get 'em. There is a growth and development that has to take place."
He points to the growth and development of third-year receiver Diontae Johnson, saying not only in the quality of his play, but in his maturity. Tomlin notes Johnson is a year older than Claypool. The Steelers head coach notes there are inconsistencies this year with rookie punter Pressley Harvin and what he called 'less than ideal plays' from rookie tight end Pat Freiermuth.
"We know that we are pouring into something with all of those guys," Tomlin said. "Although there is some short-term negativity associated with the pain and discomfort they are go through in terms of growing and learning and often times it's negative."
"We know the benefit individually and collectively of staying on task and them gaining that expertise and it's reasonable to expect that some of those hiccups to disappear and some of those quicker than others."
