PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – The video of Darnell Washington stiff-arming one Cincinnati Bengals defender Sunday, running through another and then knocking a third down, on one play, has millions of views on social media this week. He’s received all kind of recognition for his play.
“Well, they're getting scared of him, for sure, which they should be because he's a mammoth,” said quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
The 41-year-old has been a big believer of Washington since his first days as a Steeler and marveled at that 31-yard reception in the second quarter Sunday.
“I just think that the play, with a catch and run, the awareness level that he had to know I got a guy close to me, I'm going to catch this and I'm going to turn then I'm stiff arm this guy, and he's faster than people probably think because he's so
tremendously large, and he's also shifty,” Rodgers said. “Third and 17 to drop it off on a check down, have him make a guy miss and then kind of fall forward and get a first down, it's not what you expect, but those are game changing plays.”
“I’m not a Calvin Austin kind of guy, you pretty much know what is coming, the shoulder or hurdle,” Washington said. “I guess they got to go in with a plan.”
At 6’7”, 311 pounds (estimated), with a head of steam, he does make defenders have to think. Not only will he push you down, run through you or knock you over, he can also jump over you. Washington has the athleticism to hurdle guys going for his legs. The third-year pro said it’s not to create highlight plays, rather it’s there for self-preservation as much as anything else.
“Just protecting myself, me taking I don’t know how many hits to the legs, it can do some damage in the long run,” Washington said.
Even though it was illegal in high school, he would still hurdle defenders occasionally. You can see plays like that on his highlight reel at the University of Georgia.
Mainly what seems different for Washington this year compared to his first season was just his knees weren’t 100%. He’s also just come a long way in a few other areas this season.
“The knowledge of the game,” Washington said. “My rookie year, I really didn’t know what to expect. It’s NFL, stands for ‘not for long’, I didn’t know how long I would continue to play.”
He feels he’s just now learning the rules, truly understanding the playbook, improving how he runs routes and the part of his game where he is elite, blocking. Washington believes along with his size and power, he knows the details of blocking much better now.
All of this has caused him to be the Steelers current number one tight end in terms of snaps. He’s coming off a career-best 67 yards on four receptions. Those 67 yards are more than he totaled his rookie season (61).
“Yeah, man, I'm just so proud of him, just his approach, and really the growth I've seen since training camp,” Rodgers said. “He's continued to get his body in shape, get his mind in shape. He's a guy, you don't worry about the details at all. I mean, he is very detail oriented, super smart player.”
Washington is truly appreciative of the support, he already has more yards this season than he did all of last year and has nine receptions for 125 yards in the last three games.
“Somebody with that name, that status just believing in me, it’s been fun working with (Rodgers) and being his teammate,” Washington said.
If you are a defender and thinking that Washington has a plan for what he’s going to do to you, he said he really doesn’t.
“I just go out there and do it,” Washington said. “I don’t really think ‘alright on this play, I’m going to do this’. I take what they give me. Really depending on how I’m feeling.”
The hope for defenders is he’s feeling generous because if not, look out.
“He's a special athlete,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “He has unique talents. He's certainly a tough guy to deal with in one-on-one tackle circumstances, and it makes him a force to be reckoned with.”