The Pittsburgh Steelers wide receivers coach, Frisman Jackson spoke for a few moments about his wide receiver group recently outside the facilities during Organized Team Activities (OTA’s). He was asked about the smaller receivers in his group, specifically Calvin Austin III and Gunner Olszewski.
"Everybody is pretty much playing everywhere. What have you seen out of them? They have made some big man plays it looks like?”
“Yeah, both of them have made some catches down the field, it kind of shows they’re not limited by their size. I been impressed how they’ve worked. They have been able to line up inside and outside, showcase their ability, so that’s, they just got to continue to do that. These next couple of days are important for them, so if they continue to work and continue to showcase those skills, we should be alright.”
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (19) participates in Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Tuesday May 31, 2022 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Abigail Dean/Pittsburgh Steelers)
Jackson has two tall wide receivers in Chase Claypool at 6 feet 4 inches tall, and George Pickens, 6 feet 3 inches tall. Diontae Johnson at 6 feet 1 inch tall and Olszewski at 6 feet even, with Austin at 5 feet 9 inches tall, the smallest of the group.
The smaller receivers, particularly the blazing fast Austin, getting work on the outside and performing will give the Steelers tremendous flexibility in their receiving group if they can make plays down the field. The group followed up by asking:
"They are not putting pads on by any means right now, but one thing that was talked about Calvin was his toughness. How have you seen that just in these first few practices?” Jackson replied:
“For him, it’s been more of a mental toughness thing. Just because we haven’t seen him put the pads on and see what he can do in the run game. But just me being able to challenge him, seeing how he responds to that challenge, show that mental toughness that we saw on tape, and we saw, we realized when we talked to him during the draft process, so I been impressed by some of the things he’s shown from a mental standpoint.”
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Gunner Olszewski (#89) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2022 Minicamp, Tuesday, June 7, 2022. (Abigail Dean/Pittsburgh Steelers)
Austin and Olszewski are dynamic players that Matt Canada should be looking to get involved in the offense, and if defenses cannot pigeonhole the pair as limited to jet sweeps, bubble screen type opportunities in space, that they may actually take off on deep routes, it could open up some easy throws early in the season for whoever is under center for the Steelers. Both players based on their college performance are bigger threats in the offense than Ray-Ray McCloud ever was for the black and gold.
Finally, Jackson was asked “Chase Claypool talked about taking on a bigger leadership role?”
“Oh yeah, he is coming early for meetings, he stays late after practice. He comes in and meets with me after practice. I see him out on the field when practice is over with getting with the young guys, just showing 'em how to do things, showing them different routes and releases those type of things. He’s starting to take those strides I’ve acknowledged that, you know I have let him know that I love the progress you're making, I love the progress you're making, the strides you’re making as a leader, continue to do that.”
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver, Chase Claypool (#11) practices at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex during the 2022 Minicamp on Tuesday, June 7, 2022. (Karl Roser/ Pittsburgh Steelers)
Claypool has recently stated he expects to be a top three receiver in the NFL and based on what Jackson is saying, at least during OTA’s, he is accepting the challenge of being a leader and a role model for his teammates. The Steelers receiver room is very crowded and if it is as deep as Steeler Nation believes it is, Claypool may very well be ready to take a huge leap in production.
The Steelers need Claypool to emerge to give them flexibility in dealing with the upcoming negotiations with Johnson. Jackson is an impressive coach, and should Canada's tenure with the Steelers turn sour, may be a solid candidate to be promoted to offensive coordinator in the future.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Are you excited to see how Austin and Olszewski fit in during camp for the Steelers? Please comment below or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.
