Heading into the season, the Steelers' receiving corps looked like it could be one of the most dynamic in the NFL. Yes, they're a young group, but the level of talent in the receiver room is undeniable.
The problem is this group has taken far longer than expected to make serious impacts on the game.
Now, the receivers are hardly the only ones to blame for the 2-4 start to the season. The offense is sitting at the bottom of the league in yards per play. The Steelers rank 25th in passing and 28th in rushing. Only four teams in football have scored fewer points. That falls on everyone associated with the offense.
But, a big reason why the Steelers were able to upset the Buccaneers was because of Chase Claypool. Not only did he catch seven passes for 96 yards and became the first Pittsburgh receiver to catch a touchdown pass this season, he came through with two critical third-and-long catches on the drive that put the game on ice.
Regardless of how much talent you believe the Steelers actually have at receiver, it should not have taken six games to get one a touchdown pass.
That type of performance is what fans have expected, whether it be from Claypool, Diontae Johnson or second-round pick George Pickens. It's no accident that the Steelers' offense looked the most alive it's been all season when a receiver essentially took over a game. In fact, the Steelers know that's one of the best ways they can be successful.
After all, we heard Mitch Trubisky say it numerous times during training camp and the preseason: He knew his job was all about getting the ball to his playmakers.
"We want to get them all going more. With the weapons that we have, there's probably games that should be like that," Matt Canada said Thursday at the UPMC Rooney Sport Complex. "We should probably have a game where a guy has a bunch, where they're choosing to double (Diontae) or focused on George or focused on Pat [Freiermuth]. That's probably something that shouldn't be that uncommon. We have to have more productivity consistently, however it comes."
Johnson earned a new contract during training camp, but has seen an overall dip in his own production across the board. But, he understands an offense in transition was going to take time to gel. Ben Roethlisberger had his way of running the offense, and the entire unit has had to deal with a quarterback change from Trubisky to Kenny Pickett.
Even so, as the leader of the group, Johnson has kept his finger on the pulse of the receiver room. He knows how talented this group is and that it could be a game-changer for if and when this offense starts clicking.
"I feel like we're coming along good. It may seem like we've started off slow, but it's all part of the game plan," Johnson told me. "Any one of us can make a big play at any time, any moment of the game. When one person makes a play, that makes everyone else hungry to do the same."
Claypool's performance against Tampa Bay could be the catalyst for sparking some life into the receiver room. In turn, that could ignite a spark for the entire offense, regardless of who's at quarterback or how effectively the Steelers run the football. It's up to Canada to figure out how to make all of that work together in harmony.
"There's going to be ebbs and flows in our game as an offense that's evolving," Canada said. "As I've said multiple times, it's not happening fast enough. I'm not running away from that."
There's no denying the receivers have had their bad moments this season. Claypool has lost too many battles on contested catches. Johnson has dropped too many passes in key spots. Pickens could have had a touchdown reception in Cleveland if he puts two hands on the ball.
But, they've also had their good moments too. Sunday was Claypool's. Johnson made catch of the year in Week 1, then Pickens upstaged him two weeks later.
Even with the rough moments -- which are guaranteed to come with a younger group -- it doesn't change what the Steelers need to do: Get the ball to the playmakers. The offense should live or die by it.
MORE FROM THE SOUTH SIDE
• Before he was knocked out Sunday's win over Tampa Bay, Pickett's yards per attempt Sunday was an abysmal 3.7. I asked Canada Thursday if that was by design or if Pickett chose more passes closer to the line of scrimmage.
"In certain situations, it's dictated mostly on coverage. I don't feel like, as we looked at this past game, it was a situation where sat there and said, 'What about this or that?' There was one play where we thought we might have had something different," Canada said. "For the most part, I thought both guys -- we've gotta take what the defense gives us. We have to stay in better situations. We got ourself in some third-and-longs. We were fortunate to get out of those situations and made some plays. We've gotta stay out of those situations. You're trying to stay ahead of the chains, stay in good situations and take what they give you at that point."
• The Steelers's injury report from Wednesday was encouraging, but Thursday's was down right optimistic. Kenny Pickett (concussion), Levi Wallace (concussion) and Pat Freiermuth (concussion), Cam Sutton (hamstring), Ahkello Witherspoon (hamstring), Minkah Fitzpatrick (knee), Myles Jack (ankle), Mason Cole (foot/ankle), James Daniels (ankle) and Chris Wormley (ankle), Larry Ogunjobi (knee). were all limited participants. CB James Pierre (hip) popped up on the injury report and was limited in practice. Steven Sims (hamstring) did not practice again, which puts his week in significant jeopardy.
• Damontae Kazee returned to practice Thursday, but remains on injured reserve. His return to practice begins the 21-day clock for the Steelers to activate him from IR. If they do not activate him and add him to the 53-man roster by the end of that 21-day window, he will miss the remainder of the season.
Kazee's return to the team would obviously be a huge boost to a defense that has had its secondary decimated with injuries. Also, assuming Fitzpatrick and Terrell Edmunds remain healthy, the Steelers would be able to finally deploy the three-safety look they ran during training camp and the preseason, with Kazee and Edmunds over the top while Fitzpatrick plays closer to the line of scrimmage.
• It sure sounds like everyone on the South Side expects Pickett to start Sunday. The only thing getting in the way of that is clearing concussion protocol. If Pickett speaks with the media Friday, he'll have cleared and be deemed "good to go." Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is also making his first start since suffering his concussion, which caused a stir of controversy and some swift changes to the NFL's concussion protocol.
Whatever you do, do not play a drinking game during Sunday night's broadcast where you have to take a shot every time they say "concussion." You will die from alcohol poisoning.
• Speaking of Tagovailoa, he is one of the rare left-handed quarterbacks in the NFL, but it doesn't sound like the Steelers are going to try and reinvent the wheel in preparation.
"I don't think, in terms of schematics or anything like that is going to change," Austin said. "We're (just) playing ball."
• Malik Reed wasn't credited with a sack of Tom Brady, but he sure celebrated as if he was the one to bring him down on a critical third and goal. To this point, Reed has yet to become an impact player on the defense. He's totaled only 13 tackles, two quarterback hits and one pass defended since T.J. Watt tore his left pectoral in the season opener.
Pittsburgh traded for Reed right before the start of the season to provide quality depth to the pass rush in the event that a guy such as Watt or Alex Highsmith were to go down with an injury. It's clearly taken time for him to become acclimated with the defense and the scheme that is ran in Pittsburgh, but he feels he's making progress and the team hopes to build off the win over Tampa Bay.
"Coming to a new place and new situation, I feel like it takes a little while to get it all down," Reed said. "The first few weeks, you're not going to have the whole defense down. You're learning things from game to game, teams you're playing against and stuff like that. But, I feel very comfortable right now, and I'm excited with where we are as a team."
• There may be lot of intrigue from the outside about Brian Flores facing the Dolphins for the first time since he was fired from his head coach position last offseason, but Mike Tomlin shut that down during his Tuesday press conference. He further shut it down when a reporter tried to ask about this being the first time a coach is facing a former team while he has legal action against that team, saying tripling down on that being a "non-factor" and "non-story" for the Steelers.
A similar sentiment has echoed throughout the locker room this week. Players have been asked about Flores, and virtually every answer is about the impact he has in Pittsburgh rather than him being a double agent of sorts for facing the Dolphins.
"At the end of the day, we're just desperate for a win. Everybody in this locker room is more focused on trying to get a W," Cam Heyward said. "We're not worrying about farewells or homecomings. We're worried about just trying to get a W and push towards .500."
• Tyreek Hill presents a dangerous threat to the Steelers' defense. He's one of the fastest players in the NFL, and the Dolphins will certainly try different ways to use him and attack a Pittsburgh defense that is hampered with injuries. But, in terms of preparing for his speed, Teryl Austin doesn't have a practical way to replicate it during practice.
"We could put our guys in a car or a motorcycle," Austin laughed. "I don't know if you can get ready for that speed. That speed is unique."
• It doesn't sound like the Steelers will be in a lot of man coverage Sunday night in Miami. The speed from Hill and Jaylen Waddle present a significant challenge in both crossing patterns and deep routes, and Austin made it clear that running with them throughout the game might not be the most ideal way to limit their impact on the game.
"Any time you play teams with speed like that, you're obviously aware of it, but you can't be scared of it," Austin explained. "You know what they're good at. You do things to try and take it away. Obviously, we're not going to be able to cover them all man to man running around all day. That's not going to be the deal. We're going to have to think of some things and put our guys in good positions where they're to maybe catch some of these routes."