PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Being prepared for losing a player like George Pickens doesn't happen in the week leading up to a game. It's a mindset and a plan that started in March when Arthur Smith became partners with Russell Wilson.
Smith has been innovative where he's been. The offensive coordinator has used players in different ways and hasn't been afraid to allow players deeper on his roster to impact a game. With that as a background, when Wilson became a Steeler, it played right into his strengths.
It's a philosophical approach that the offensive coordinator and quarterback share about spreading the ball around. Not that you don't throw more targets Pickens way, he has 48 more than any other receiver. But you don't limit yourself to staring down one option.
Smith believes it helps a quarterback and an offense get into a rhythm. He believes there is a natural tendency to become obvious, but spreading it around, it makes it harder for defenses to know what you are doing.
"It opens up things," Smith said. "I think it improves morale, too. A lot of guys don't take for it granted. When you put installs in, human behavior, everybody feels like they've got a chance."
"You know what the primary options are (in a play), but you never know when that ball goes up in the air," said receiver Scotty Miller. "He gives us confidence. We just feel the belief he has in all of us, no matter who is out there. He will throw it up to anybody. He doesn't care. As long as we are out there working with him. It allows us to play fast."
Wilson makes it a point to mention most if not all of his players when asked about a specific one. For example, Thursday reporters wondered about filling in for the loss of Pickens. He mentioned, in one answer, Mike Williams, Calvin Austin, Miller, Ben Skowronek and Van Jefferson. Later when asked about it another way he named all of the tight ends and running backs.
You might say it's just talk, but he's done that in every interview and then also by his actions. He targeted 10 different receivers against Cincinnati and nine against the Browns.
"I've just got great confidence in our guys," Wilson said. "And so there's never a time where I look left or look right, and I don't believe. I've just got great confidence in who we have and those situations. And just, I think Arthur [Smith] has done a great job of putting guys in all different spaces and places, so that way we can facilitate the ball to different guys."
"You are not out there feeling like you shouldn't be," Miller said of how that effects the entire wide receiver group. "He makes you feel like you belong just as much as anybody else. I think we all have that feeling. Alright, next man up, step up, make plays. This is what we do."
This is not ideal in any manner. Going to a place you haven't won in nearly six decades and play without your top playmaker. They need George, but because of their offensive system. Who they have a quarterback. This group of receivers buys into what Mike Tomlin said about 'the strength of the pack is the pack'.
"These are the moments you live for," Miller said. "We've all been playing this game all of our lives at a high level. Some of us haven't had opportunities in a while and it's just like, when that opportunity strikes, you have to be ready. That's why you play the game."
"We love each other and love watching each other make plays."
Someone is going to have to make those plays. Who will it be? Wilson believes any of them can.
