The Pittsburgh Steelers know a thing or two about drafting superstars at the wide receiver position. Former GM Kevin Colbert may have retired this off-season, but he also gave the Steelers a set of parting gifts as he left his general manager seat. It's obviously just the second week of training camp, but two rookies have been standing out since the moment they put on a Steelers uniform in Latrobe at the end of July. WR's George Pickens and Calvin Austin III have been meeting expectations in Latrobe to say the least.
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In a recent article published by Steelers.com, website writer Teresa Varley gave some insight on how Steelers wide receivers coach, Frisman Jackson feels about his stellar rookie wide outs:
"They've been able to show some of the down the field stuff that we saw on tape. George, Calvin showing that speed, that explosiveness to get down the field vertically and challenge the defense," said Jackson via Varley's article. "They've also shown that ability to make people miss in space. We saw some plays where Calvin has gotten the ball and outrun the defense or made some guys miss and get extra yards.They've pretty much been showing a lot of the things that we saw on tape that we expected to get out of these guys when training camp starts, when the season starts. So, I've been impressed with the way they've been working."
Jackson pointed out Austin III's speed and ability when the ball is in his hands when detailing the former Memphis standout's skill set that he's been impressed by.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (@JSKO_PHOTO, Twitter)
"He gives us a threat with a guy with the ball in his hands as far as our jets and things of that nature," continued Jackson in the article. "He obviously gives that component down the field of being able to run. He's a 4.2 [40-yard dash] guy. So, when he's out there on the field, you got to respect his speed.I am so not saying we didn't have fast guys in the room before, but he gives the jet element of the game, the vertical push down the field element of the game. And he also does a really good job with the ball in his hands as a guy that can get us yards after the catch or yards after contact. I've been impressed with some of the skills that he's been able to showcase for us."
We all know how much Steelers Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada loves using jet sweeps. That should increase this year as the offense unleashes Canada's offense a little further. Austin III can be dynamic with the ball in his hands and the Steelers will surely look to get him the ball in open space and let the speedster go to work!
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (@JSKO_PHOTO, Twitter)
While Austin III flashes his speedy and shifty skill set, Pickens is really impressing Jackson in another way.
"He has impressive body control," stated Jackson on Pickens in the article. "You rarely see a guy his size be able to sink his hips coming out of the breaks and be able to push and get out of breaks. It's been really impressive to see. For him it's just going to be the little, small detail things that we continue to hone in on."
The organization may have hit two home runs in the 2022 NFL Draft, we'll have to wait and see how they perform in-game, but they've surely impressed their position coach thus far!
What do yinz think about Pickens and Austin III standing out in training camp? Sound off in the comment section below, or on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram!
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