JuJu wants to play outside receiver this season

In a zoom call with the media this week he said wants to play outside, and Ray Ray would take his spot in the slot . JuJu is concerned about his stats for next season, and how it will affect his free agency in 2022, his yards per catch in 2020 was a little over 8 yards. Something to keep an eye on and see how this plays out.

 

Did he really say he’s concerned about his stats, or are you speculating?

 

Sports is a business for players, coaches, and owners. Owners and coaches are just as concerned with performance and production by players.

 

This is exactly why I wanted him to expand his route running the off-season before drafting DJ. They are so infatuated with the X receiver after getting lucky with AB and revolve the whole offense around it. I've been screaming for years James Washington would be better in the slot like a Larry Fitz or Hines Ward role. He's not beating anybody in the pros down the sidelines and he's too short to go up and make a play.

 

Yeah I’d like to see JW in that role I was happy enough for Juju to move on this offseason tbh, James did well there when Juju was in and out of the team in 2019. JW will probably move on next year in free agency without ever really getting a proper chance which is a pity. He is a very nice WR 3/4 in any case

 

Exactly, that's why it was best they just let him go. Give others guy a look and see what we got. It's only the off-season and he's asking for a different role and talking about next years contract. This is going to end horribly. Steelers are prioritizing fan sentiment over Championships. It's become a complete clown show.

 

I was with you at first, but your point came off the rails pretty quick. JuJu is a media whore. He wants outside because it's sexier. I don't think he's trying to juggle the WR positions for stats. He is about his brand and being seen. And he's also a team guy...not in team success as much as team/family. I really think he wants all the receivers to eat. The more the passing game flourishes, the more his brand flourishes. He can video his WR brothers going off and glom off their successes as well as his own. I also think he has proven himself on the field. He takes hard hits, gives hard hits, and plays with joy and swagger. I don't care if he's in the slot or outside. He, Claypool, and DJ can all run routes over the middle, up the seam, and on the outside. He's a good WR and we're lucky to have him for Ben's last season. Because he did say he was going to kill Ben after this season is over...I mean, he said this would be Ben's last.

 

He was asked about his biggest goal: "Playing more outside, simple as that, playing outside you add more to your craft. Look at my year two, probably my best year I've had, I played more outside than inside. I had another threat player on the other side. We have Ben and those type of players all around."

"Honestly, I haven't even had a conversation with Matt about playing outside, but then in practice and OTAs, he's put me outside and getting the ball, but it's not just me, it's all of us. It's Chase, Diontae, James, RayRay, everyone is going to get touches and moved around. This offense is going to open up a lot for us to make plays on balls down the field, I really believe in this offense."

"I want to be a security blanket when I'm on the field, I do play inside and I've got it down pat, but the person who could play behind me in that is RayRay McCloud. He's a guy you haven't seen him enough in the slot because he's explosive and in practice he makes plays. You'll see him play more in the slot this year."

"But as far as third down plays, I still don't mind playing the inside or outside. We have our formations set up where we move around whether I'm F, X, wherever I'm at, it would make it tough to tell if I'm the number three receiver as slot or playing outside. It all matters."

EDIT: looks like the Steelers block the embedded link. The question is asked at 2:00

 

If he had a long term contract I doubt he would be talking about playing outside, he knows averaging 8 per reception last year hurt him in free agency.

 

He put up some of his best numbers from the slot, but he got no big free agent offers, outside receivers make the most money.

 

I would say they are prioritizing Ben sentiment over championships but your point is still valid.

 

Hope it isn't a problem. Ray Ray will barely see the field, so that isn't happening.

If the Steelers start out poorly and he's unhappy, he'd be the first guy I'd look to move before the trade deadline.

 

That would be the smart move but I can't remember the last time the Steelers moved a "disgruntled" player in the middle of the regular season. As long as they're on pace to that winning season, they wouldn't even consider it.

 

I am assuming this is what he was told multiple times when he was unemployed looking for work. He failed miserably when he tried to move outside when Brown left. He can't beat the double team outside.

Right now he would be behind Johnson and Claypool for the true #1 Wr on this team.

This may give Washington some more time on the field if JuJu doesn't mind spending more time on the bench waiting inline to go in for Johnson and Claypool.

I for one am hoping to see more 2 TE and 2 RB sets with the QB under center this year.

 

That depends on JuJu's new attitude about not playing the Slot.

Are you going to take Johnson or Claypool off the field so JuJu can play outside?

 

don't they already play outside? except for a couple of dome teams.

 

Is Juju in on 2 WR packages?