Bench Washington for DHB

We never needed him to play with Bryant. Washington is no threat anywhere on the field especially deep. At least DHB can run a go route all game and demand a double team and open stuff for AB or Juju.

 

Why would any team double Heyward-Bey given how little he produces when he does get to play?

 

Because most teams try to keep everything in front and don't want to give up big plays. DHB burns the corner a few times and gets some big plays on tape. Teams will start to double him.

 

So you are suggesting that with both AB, and JuJu in the game, teams will double DHB?

 

Not ready to give up on him just yet. Not sure what he was doing on that long pass attempt, maybe he got the jitters. Who knows. I do have a problem with Ben calling him out in public. I know Ben is doing it to get him going, but it could have the opposite affect too. Who's going to call Ben out for that awful interception at the end? Two people had a shot at that interception and neither was wearing Black and Gold.

 

Eventually yes. If he burns some corners and makes some plays. It will keep the safety off AB and Juju just like how Bryant use to.

 

I don't know about drawing a double team but the fear of a WR getting behind your defense is real for sure. All it would take is DHB running right past a corner once or twice and they will be on notice. Sometimes a little indecision is all you need to open things up.

The worrisome part about Washington is the deep ball is supposed to be his specialty and it's not looking special right now. Even Coates was successful as a young WR on bombs and his hands were suspect as well.
I know you guys are sick of me clamoring for Rogers but we need a more reliable option. I know he's not gonna fill the deep role but he offers a lot more versatility than Washington does right now. Unless they are gonna trust Washington to do more than running deep and out patterns his lack of versatility in his young career is hindering our O. His lack of being able to learn and run the entire route tree is the issue right now. The predictability of what they are asking him to do is not helping him create any separation. DBs are sitting on his out routes and have been dangerously close to picking some of them off.

The reason he was wide open on the deep ball was because of a double move. In none of the previous attempts was he able to gain separation. I'm not giving up on him. He just seems mentally exhausted right now. I honestly think that Ben and Randy aren't doing him any favors either. I know he's not a advanced route runner right now but I have a hard time believing that he can't run a slant or a shallow cross. As far fetched as it may seem and some of you might think it's a ridiculous notion. I'm not so sure Ben is doing his best to help JW succeed. They sure aren't putting him in the best position to. C'mon the guy can't run a slant,a cross or a post?

With all that being said.....We already have DHB on the roster. I don't think it's too much to ask to let him run a few GOs a game. It might not work .He might not catch it. I guarantee it will loosen things up.

 

I know he's our QB and we go as far as he takes us but you can never be too sure about where Ben is going with some of his comments. He has that whole passive aggressive thing down to a science....just sayin.

 

Agreed. He's not responding to being handed the job. Hines, AB, and everybody besides Juju had to earn it and play specials. Juju spoiled us. Washington is a hard working country guy. Maybe he needs this kick in the butt to get going.

 

Bryant was a much better receiver than Heyward-Bey. You really need to rediscover your connection with reality on this one. You're acting as if nobody ever gave Heyward-Bey a chance. The guy was a first-round pick. He proved consistently over time that he can't get the job done.

 

In Oakland. He's changed that narrative here in Pittsburgh. He's made big plays. I don't get the DHB hate. I don't remember him ever dropping an easy touchdown like Washington last weekend. They just need somebody to take the top off a defense or every team is going to do what the Broncos did and double AB and Juju all game and watch Grimble fumble the game away.

 

It's not hate. He's a useful player on special teams. He has dropped quite a few easy passes over the years. It's not as if he doesn't get playing time. He does. He just doesn't make plays and he doesn't draw extra attention when he is out there because he has proven he isn't a good receiver over a long period of time.

Also, Heyward-Bey hasn't changed that narrative at all. He still only has one season in his career that he produced anywhere close to what you might expect from a high draft pick and that was with the Raiders in 2011.

 

Doesn't matter how open anyone gets it they cant catch. DHB has dropped a lot of passes in his career.

 

Eli Rogers is back practicing . Coincidence? Or are they legitimately concerned with the WR room outside of JUJU,AB and Switzer?

 

What we need to do is bench Big Ben and put Boswell in at QB! He was the true GOAT in Denver!

 

I for one hope the some team is stupid enough to double team DHB. You can't double everybody. If you double DHB then that means AB has single coverage. If that ever happens, bet the over on the game, because AB and Ben will have a field day.

 

Switzer and Eli are the same player imo. I don't see how you bench Switz for Eli right now but always good to have a back-up ready. They need a deep threat.

 

Nobody said bench Switzer for Eli. They need another option if you're gonna dress 5 WRs and right now a healthy Rogers could be that guy. AB and JUJU can play all over the field including being a deep threat. Switzer and Rogers can work the middle of the field and the others including DHB can be used as a "threat" to stretch the field vertically on occasion. You can never have too many good receivers and IMO Rogers>Washington/Hunter right now if Rogers is completely healthy. He just started practicing....lets find out one way or another.

 

So when you were a wr in college and the nfl you never dove for the ball.......oh wait you were never one as I was never one. So who is to say when a guy should dive or not or better yet why a guy decides to dive? What Ben said was BS and the only good that will come out of it is the next time JW tries to catch a ball he will be a lot more nervous......great job veteran QB!!!!

As for the whole AB thing it is not ridiculous, AB has a 58% catch rate and that is by far the worst ever. It has nothing to do with the double teams, or what he has done in his career or him being the best wr in the game. If he is double so bad why is mr. perfect Ben throwing to him?????

The other thing I would like to know and maybe you can't help or maybe someone else can. How many of JW's targets were actually catch able or at least should have been catches? Is there a website I can go to and see all of the targets and judge myself? I would like to know if I am over reacting or if I am seeing it right.

 

Washington said he agreed with Roethlisberger. He said it was a mistake to dive for the ball and he should have caught it.

Craig Wolfley played in the NFL. He said Roethlisberger was absolutely in the right to say what he did.

Now you're reading Washington's mind? You don't know what Washington is thinking or how he will react any better than I do. By your own argument, Roethlisberger knows better how to handle something like this than you do. So does Washington, and he agreed with Roethlisberger.

 

Aren't you the one that was calling for DHB at safety?

 

I think because he has been in motion so many times in every game this season that he is doing decoy duty as the rookie, I think they know they have a decent player but Ben also has so many other options, Juju, AB, Switzer, Conner, and at least 2 tight ends (maybe three if Xavier "Superman" Grimble realizes he is not "Superman" after talking to a doctor in a tent, go low not high at the goal line bro). I think that is reason for targets and less about not good enough route running

 

No he doesn't how many times has he caught passes??? Of course Ben is gonna say that he threw them. I am not mad that Ben said something to JW I am mad that it went public.