JuJu needs to step up

Once again JuJu invisible, except for when he got alligator arms, and tipped the pass to the Colts for a interception. This is supposed to be our #1 WR .

 

Unless he’s gonna run 6 yard routes he doesn’t have a QB to get him the ball.

 

Havnt you heard??? Youngest wr to have 12 100 yrd games. Fastest WR to catch 200 ball's

 

He had the same QB throwing him the ball this game as he did in the Miami game, when he went over 100 yards and a TD .

 

Too inconsistent though

 

Juju is an above average WR that’s it , def not a first tier WR. I think D Johnson has the talent to be elite in a few years and will become the number 1.

 

I think a lot had to do with the game plan, with Conner out MR passed a ton to the Samuels. There just isn't enough passes going down field to make Juju, DJ and JW look like they are studs. JW had a good game today but DJ and Juju were invisible, last week it was Juju with a good game and JW invisible. We need to see more out of the play calling and MR. jmo

 

JuJu needs to talk to Fichtner to get him involved more, he doesn't need to be a diva like AB about it though.

 

He’s taken a step back and needs an offseason to refocus and step up his efforts. Maybe lose some weight and work on his speed , hands, and route running.

In his defense no one has stepped up to help either. Someone else has to do something and this will open things up for juju and Mcdonald.

 

Love the kid but he's lacking the speed off the line to break and he doesn't have the agility to be #1.
He'll be a solid 2 for us for years to come but we need to find another 1. They'll be looking come draft , yet again.

 

Smith-Schuster made yet another killer mistake today. Yes, Rudolph and the play-calling are hurting his production, but there is no excuse for letting a ball clank off his hands for an interception the way he did early today. He put the Steelers on the path to getting run out of their own stadium today until Minkah Fitzpatrick turned the game.

 

That excuses the low number of receptions, but it doesn't excuse turning what should have been a big play for the Steelers into an interception for the Colts.

 

A No. 1 receiver needs to catch that ball. He had both hands on it.

 

He already cost the team one loss this season and he nearly buried them early today. Smith-Schuster's opportunities to step up are way down due to the loss of Roethlisberger and the absence of Brown. He has to come through when he gets the chance and that made twice this season that he blew it in an important spot. Happily, the Steelers overcame the big error today.

 

After this year I have to wonder what the Steelers will do next year with Juju. I assume they'll extend him before the season starts, but what do you pay him?

You can't give him number 1 money, but if they don't he just might walk after next season. I know he's very popular but you can't overpay him for that.

 

I don't think I said that anywhere or mentioned AB, why is everything around here always thrown back to players no longer with us? Tomlin needs to talk to Fitch about it not Juju, not DJ, not JW and not Mason. If Tomlin can't see what we all are seeing them there lies the problem. Mason is getting his feet under him and it is time to get our play makers involved. For Juju to be targeted the 3rd most in this game is crazy. Fitch needs to improve this planning and figure our how to get the ball to our stars. jmo

 

Maybe Smith-Schuster needs to play better to get more targets. Maybe he isn't getting separation. Rudolph did throw it to him in traffic early and Smith-Schuster turned that one into an interception. I don't like all the short passing, whether it is the fault of the coaches, Rudolph or both. (I think it is both.) That said, Smith-Schuster's play is a disappointment as well. People keep talking about Conner's fumbles, but Smith-Schuster is now responsible for two big turnovers, one of which lost the game that will could end up costing the Steelers the division.

 

Me too but you still have to try downfield no? I am not talking bombs either, for example loved loved loved the first play of the game a nice little 5-7 yd slant. That is what I am talking about, I know we can't chuck it 40+ yds like Ben did but we can open it up a whole lot more right?

 

I agree with what you are saying but I will say this unless we know a lot more of the play calling and watching the all 22 we really don't know who is getting opened and who is the top target/hot read. I will say this about all our WR's and this is the point I was making when so many were/are down on JW. When a guy don't get the targets they are use to to get in a groove then they tend to push and try harder sometimes making things worse. The fact that we are on our back up QB should be a reason why Fitch is holding back, I mean look how the Colts handled Hoyer yesterday. They didn't check down with him they came out gunning and imo I think we need a little more of that. If Mason can't do it then next man up and so on until we find someone that can right?

 

Should he have caught that ball? Yes.

Should Rudolph have put it in a better spot? Yes.

The ball was outside and high in the middle of the field. That's a good way to get your receivers killed and QBs that do that on a regular basis don't last long in the league and receivers that go all out all the time on that type of ball don't last long either. I won't say JuJu alligator armed it, but at the same time he knew there was a good chance he was going to get blasted and in that situation your concentration can be just a bit off. If people want to say "a real #1 catches that!" Uh...sure. But not every time as you note.

 

Hey Formerscribe.

Yes, I think we are all getting frustrated with JuJu's "underperforming" this year. Some of it can be attributed to No AB, No Ben, and developing overall chemistry with the new(newer) "O" pieces that are now in place. However, his clunkers are costly and I for one expect better from a so-called #1.

Yes, Mason could have made a better throw yesterday that clunked off of his hands....but Hines would have probably made that catch as well as AB, Santonio, and some others that I am missing. Not every ball is going to be thrown perfect. it is up to the WR at times to make the QB look good.

JuJu needs to step it up and start playing like a leader. I do not want to hear about how young he is. He was young when he put up the great numbers last season. I also do not believe he is a true #1 maybe a #1a at best. However, he does not have to be a true #1 to excel. Just play into his role with the other members of the "O" and he will be just fine IMO.We have a young and exciting WR corp as Washington showed flashes yesterday of what we need more of from him. The crew of Juju, DJ, and JW plus our TEs can be very dynamic. Throw in some solid RB play and I think the future looks bright.

Also, I have been a big Mason supporter and he shows big stones every week. Just alone, the hanging in there up to the last second to throw passes has been impressive. I think the arrow is pointing up for this "New O" that we are seeing develop in front of us. Once Mason really establishes his "level of comfort" with the pieces he has been given, I think the "Changing of the Guard" will be extraordinary. Do not get me wrong, Ben is still my man but I feel the future is bright with Mason at the helm. STEELWINDS

 

That, truly is, 'The Steeler Way'.