By: Jared Villani / @JVillain10
SteelerNation.com
During JuJu Smith-Schuster's appearance on Good Morning Football this past Friday, the Pittsburgh Steelers number one wide out spoke candidly about the upcoming season and the diversity the team went through last season. Smith-Schuster praised the team's draft picks including fellow receiver Chase Claypool, but emphasized Ben Roethlisberger's highly-anticipated return.
"Honestly, I think it's going to be a big year for us. I was very happy with the draft picks we got, being able to draft a running back, being able to draft (Chase) Claypool. Good defense. We already had a solid defense. Our missing piece was Ben. I think coming up this year, it's going to be a great year for us. ... Just wait. Honestly, I just gotta say just wait and let our pads do the talking."
Aside from Big Ben's early exit last season, Smith-Schuster fell victim to injuries for the better part of the season as well. The return of Pittsburgh's offensive stars should drastically turn the team's 2019 woes around. It's highly likely with Roethlisberger and Smith-Schuster coming back, the Steelers could find their way back to the postseason.
Smith-Schuster found out how hard it would be filling the role as the team's number one pass-catcher and losing his quarterback did not do him any favors as Mason Rudolph and Devlin "Duck" Hodges struggled to play at a high level last season. When asked what we can expect to see from Roethlisberger in the 2020 season, Smith-Schuster stressed that Steeler Nation will see Roethlisberger back in fine form.
"You're getting a version that we all expect that he will be at. He's back. He's doing what he's doing. He's throwing NFL passes, there's nothing more to that. I'm excited, James Conner is excited, Ryan Switzer is excited. We're doing things, we're supposed to be doing. And with the great defense we had last year, and this upcoming season I can't wait to play with him."
