Welcome aboard Jonuu Smith

I've shown that it's not. If it was scheme, the amount of targets wouldn't fluctuate so much from Qb to Qb.

 

I think in the short term he will be a multi-role guy. After a year or two, I certainly see him moving full time to Safety. I think this is a B+ move (just the Minkah for Ramsey move). It gets us a solid corner for longer than 1 year that can play slot as well, and then the eventual move to safety will be the way the last 2-3 years play out. I think we have him playing decent ball until about 34 years old. Charles Woodson is the plan. 1-2 years CB and 2-3 years S.

 

I kinda disagree that one is needed... A quality season for a #2 WR is generally 60-70 catches and 700-900 yards with like 5-7 TD's. Jonnu just got 88 catches, 884 yards, and 8 TD's last season. Now, I know we shouldn't expect a repeat of those numbers, but add him in with Calvin Austin and we might have something. We also have a second year player in Wilson that missed his whole rookie year due to injury (similarly to Austin the year prior). We have to get a look at what that kid can bring to the table as well. I am not sure that we're getting any FA or roster cuts that are going to be much better than those two.

I actually like what OK and AW are doing with the team. We are very obviously building the trenches and trying to do the "Eagles" method of building the defense. Get good man CB's, beef up the DL with talent, and get quality/rangy ILB's. Top it off with a really nice Edge Rusher room.... I'd say we look pretty good defensively. Offensively we just need to mature. OL is very young. We have two mid round WR's that are talented but young, a young RB room, etc. Let things play out before panicking on the personnel.

 

I don't pay too much attention to people's charts of where they need to be. I get it Burrow and Lamar and excellent QBs and opponents.

Every year the Steelers surprise me with what they can do with what they got.

Certainly if they go in thinking they are only the 3rd best team in the division they will be.

I'm certainly looking forward to some balls out defense that knocks people around a little to help them know their place like in previous years.

Effective running the ball with a QB that can work play action and actually throw the ball in the middle of the field and there might be something there.

 

If the two young WRs weren’t so tiny & fragile, I’d be 100% on board with you. But, both guys have missed an entire season & they don’t have 5 years of service between them.

Smith has been in the league 8 years & has one good season to show for it. He never came close to those numbers prior to last year. Was last year an aberration, or, did something click that caused his huge leap? Tua missed a lot of time last year & the backups used their TEs like security blankets. Just too many variables for me to count on WR2 or WR3 numbers from him.

20-30 years ago, it wouldn’t be such a big deal, IMO. But, now, with the game built around offense & passing, in general, I think a legit WR2 is mandatory for teams who are serious about winning.

It’s just baffling to me why they’d go all in on winning now & sign AR, make all these other moves & then totally ignore such an important position, for the 2nd straight year. I probably wouldn’t be so bothered if they hadn’t done the exact same thing last offseason.

I agree with most everything else you said. I love the focus on the lines, but, they’ve done all that thru the draft, which I did credit OK for. Just seems like most of his moves create holes as fast as they fix them. I don’t like how he’s handled the QB position, either.

But, the WR2 thing just sticks in my craw. Personally, I’m higher on our roster than most & I honestly think we’re a SERIOUS SB contender with a complete set of weapons for AR. IMO, AR still has enough left to provide what we need for a deep run.

And, it’s frustrating me to no end that there is seemingly zero urgency to fill the need. I pray that I’m wrong. I’ll happily tell anyone who will listen how big of an idiot I was if they prove me wrong. I hope they make me look STUPID. I just can’t see enough proven/reliable receiving weaponry as things currently stand.

 

Who was the Chiefs WR2 when they won those Super Bowls? With the Steelers having two receiving TEs a big name WR2 becomes less of a need, there is still time for them to get another WR though.

 

Well if a pundit says they are “Really Really Excited” then it’s a done deal

 

Tough to compare. They had a mobile Mahomes in his prime & offensive minds that are in a different league than Tomlin & Arthur Smith. I think AR has a little more left in the tank than most seem to, but, he’s still gonna be a statue in the pocket if he can’t get rid of the ball, quickly.

Mahomes’ ability to scramble & improvise was/is responsible for lots of their big plays, too. We won’t have that luxury. It’s one thing for the best QB in the league, best TE (receiving) in the league & an all time offensive genius to pull that off. But, I wouldn’t expect just anyone who lines up in 12 or 13 personnel to replicate that success. Arthur Smith is no Andy Reid.

As I’ve said, I hope I’m wrong. I have no ego with this stuff & will gladly credit you & anyone else who disagrees if nothing changes & our passing game doesn’t suffer. But, I agree that they still have time & could add someone. Hopefully they will & this discussion is moot.

 

I will be surprised if they added a big name WR2 after getting Jonnu Smith, there has been talk Gabe Davis will sign with them later on.

 

That is one way to look at it. Another is that with so many sets with only two receivers, having two strong starters is even more important.

 

Yeah, that lack of speed on the field will really play well in the modern NFL.

 

Jonnu Smith is a tight end in name only. Watch his tape and you see him run routes and make catches like a big WR. Also, it was mentioned earlier that he was highly ranked (top 15) in pass protection.

I have thought about it:

Jonnu Smith and Jalen Ramsey > Minkah


Big fan of Minkah, no question, but this trade helps us both offensively and defensively

 

Playing bully ball requires an excellent offensive line and stud running back or backs. The Steelers have question marks at both tackles and two more as their top two running backs.

 

These teams featured a TE as the 1st or 2nd most targeted receiver last season. One was in the SB, several were playoff teams.

1. SF
2. BUF
3. TB
4. ARZ
5. KC
6. WAS
7. DAL
8. MIA
9. NE
10. LVR
11. NOR
12. PIT
13. HOU
14. TEN

TEs are a key part of a modern NFL offense. Also, you need to define 'legit' because the Steelers have several WRs that can fill the role as WR2 (a role that will likely get less targets than one or even two TEs on this team).

 

Sure, Dulac they're paying Jonnu 12 million to be the third TE .

 

Once again just go with the Dulac effect. If he says that Jonnu will be the 3rd string TE then that guarantees that he will start.

 

Yeah, those Muth fans are crazy thinking Jonnu Smith is not right now TE #1.


I am still not certain on the Salary, as this report says Jonnu just signed with the Steelers on a 1 year $12 million contract.
https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/player/_/id/21842/jonnu-smith

 

sigh...square peg... round hole again....

 

Muth and Jonnu will both be making 12 million this season, I expect their targets to be about the same.

 

Real players adapt.