The addition of JuJu Smith-Schuster to the Steelers' receiving corps via the second round of the NFL Draft added yet another talent to a group already overflowing.
A year ago, it wasn't quite like that. The absence of Martavis Bryant opened up opportunities for younger receivers, and the biggest breakout of the group was Eli Rogers, whose first season saw him evolve as a target Ben Roethlisberger favored as a safety valve over the middle of the field. He's 5-10 and doesn't have elite speed, but he totaled 594 yards with three touchdowns. To make his name, he's had to play within his limits -- he struggled to get open against faster, more physical defensive backs -- by winning contested battles with solid route running and beating people out of his breaks.
Entering this training camp, Smith-Schuster and Rogers likely will go head to head.
Rogers' strength, his connection with Roethlisberger, has yielded big moments such as this drive-sustaining, full-extension catch against the Ravens in Week 16:
Rogers starts this play by running a simple in-route, then continues it when he sees his quarterback rolling to his right. Sticking with the play and finding ways to get open behind zones is key to being a successful slot receiver with Roethlisberger. Rogers follows through by stretching out and pulling in the pass that's over his head. Put Rogers in the slot and his footwork allows him to chop up cornerbacks who are caught off guard.
Because Rogers is one of the Steelers' lesser names, he often gets matched up with defensive backs lower on opponents' depth charts. That puts more pressure on lesser-disciplined defenders and creates opportunities like this:
Notice how Rogers doesn't blow his opponent off the ball, but instead uses stutter steps to freeze the Bengals' Josh Shaw and fakes an out-route to get open with a post pattern to the middle of the field.
Out of the slot, Rogers can get open and create solid throwing windows for Roethlisberger over the middle. But when the Steelers were forced to rely on him more in the AFC Championship game, the Patriots were able to key on Rogers and neutralize the advantages he normally had through the season.
Smith-Schuster can use his size and speed to win battles for the ball. When you look at his college tape from USC, you see several instances of catching passes in significant traffic.
Below is an example when he went up against UCLA's Fabian Moreau, another pick in his draft class. Smith-Schuster uses his footwork to gain the initial separation, then takes off and makes an adjustment on the pass:
The Steelers have plenty of smaller speedsters and potential solid route-runners in Rogers, DeMarcus Ayers, Darrius Heyward-Bey and Cobi Hamilton. But what could benefit Roethlisberger more is a target who will win jump balls in tight windows.
Smith-Schuster displays intense focus in traffic and follows through despite his opponents getting hands in his face or making contact prematurely:
This camp battle will depend a great deal on how well Smith-Schuster adjusts to working with Roethlisberger. If they find a rhythm, it will lower Rogers' value, as Smith-Schuster is closer to the build of a prototypical wide receiver. But this is no open-and-shut case. Smith-Schuster will get opportunities, but he'll need to produce from the slot. That's the only receiver position that's in play.