Options down the depth chart are going to come into play for Randy Fichtner, Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers' offense. One of the most important depth players for 2019 could easily be Jaylen Samuels, the only running back not named James Conner with experience in a Steelers uniform.
Samuels was drafted as an H-back from his North Carolina State days as a utility player that filled various roles for his ACC offense. But last year he was strictly a running back who got several snaps in the final games of the season. There are a few components to his game he must improve for 2019, and today we focus on what he brings as a receiving threat:
Samuels caught 26 passes on 29 targets for 199 yards with three receiving touchdowns in 2018. The vast majority of those targets came as screen passes or quick dump offs from Roethlisberger out of the backfield. Although those are simple plays, turning an low risk target for Roethlisberger into a significant gain is a good value.
That was a natural fit for Samuels in the Steelers' offense. If nothing else, Samuels showed good vision and field awareness for how to set up defenders with different moves and keep gaining yards while looking for the line to gain. What impressed me was how right after he made a defender miss his head was always up and looking to the next player he can make miss.
Here's an example when Roethlisberger's play was busted, but he checked down to Samuels who released late and was covered by Nicholas Morrow. Morrow quickly attacks Samuels after the catch, but Samuels dips his shoulder to make him miss, quickly assesses the field before making a cornerback miss and running out of bounds only after he's gained a first down:
When I compiled all of Samuels' grades for War Room after the season, I noticed he had several good games, but no bad games in particular. Part of that is because he came on late in the season and no defenses were keying in on stopping him when Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Conner and Vance McDonald were the primary threats.
Samuels benefited from being that easy option underneath who didn't need to work hard to get open and usually didn't have an elite defender keeping tabs on him. What Samuels has to show in 2019 is that he can win in those situations, and especially as a receiving back.
Where Samuels can improve with that is his production working further upfield against defenses and presenting different threats. One play in particular reminded me that Samuels could pull this off, and it was his improvised wheel route against the Patriots.
Watch how he goes from being a pass protector, to a running back waiting in the flat, to a sideline option that puts linebacker John Simon on an island. Once Samuels works far enough up the field, Simon has to choose to help against Roethlisberger's scramble to the sideline or commit to covering Samuels. Once he hesitates, Roethlisberger fires to Samuels:
Roethlisberger has highlights like that play throughout his career, but he needs players who know how to work to get open once a play breaks down. Samuels must learn to do more of that along with increase the routes in his repertoire.
Conner increased his receiving skills to line up in the slot on occasion and catch 55 passes for 497 yards and a touchdown last year. But with his power running style, the Steelera might look to switch it up with Samuels as a receiving threat to give Conner the rest.
The last time the Steelers won the Super Bowl, Mewelde Moore filled that role behind Willie Parker. It wouldn't be too farfetched to think they might go that route with their current situation.
