With Antonio Brown out of the picture, Steelers receivers check their egos at the door
It seems like forever ago that the Antonio Brown drama was going down, which ultimately resulted in him getting the boot.
Brown’s production can’t be replaced, but I think Steelers Nation is glad he’s not around anymore. Too much baggage with that guy. The Steelers don’t need a selfish “me” player who constantly begs for targets.
This is Ben Roethlisberger’s first season without the AB effect, so it’s something he’s still getting accustomed to. There are a lot of cooks in Pittsburgh’s kitchen now, and it’s been to Big Ben and the team’s benefit.
“I feel like we have so many weapons that you never know who is going to have a day,” James Washington said to the Steelers media on Monday. “With as many mouths as we have to feed on offense, you can’t just key on one guy or two guys. I feel like everyone is capable of having a big game.”
With AB gone, there’s clearly been a weight lifted off the wide receiver room, and it’s translating to the field of play.
“I don’t really see any individuals on this team,” said James Washington to the Steelers media on Monday. “I feel like we’re all working toward one goal. I just feel that no matter who gets into the end zone, we’re all going to be happy for the other as long as we leave with a ‘W’”.
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On Sunday, Washington caught a 28-yard touchdown off a well-timed Roethlisberger pump-fake to put the Steelers up 24 to zip.
“We kind of worked it a little bit, but I wasn’t sure if it was in the gameplan,” said Washington. “Mason (Rudolph) and Dobbs on the sideline, those guys are always checking coverage to give us a little extra thought to help us out on the field. It worked out perfectly. Even though those guys don’t actually play on Sunday, their effort really helps.”
In a postgame press conference, Roethlisberger added, “It didn’t feel like we were doing a lot on offense, though we ended up scoring 31 points. I know the defense got a touchdown for us, but it just never really felt like we did much. That’s what is special about this team and the offense where everyone contributes, everyone makes plays. Today, James [Washington] made a big play with a touchdown for us.”
Everyone is stepping up as coverage dictates, which, in turn, has made the offense successful. In Week 1, it was JuJu Smith-Schuster, who scored two touchdowns. In Week 5, it was Chase Claypool with four scores. James Conner found paydirt four times since Week 2.
There’s no “I” in team and, without Antonio Brown around, the team has really started to show its selfless side. It’s that kind of mentality, not the toxic one lingering when AB was a Steeler, that’ll benefit Pittsburgh as the season progresses.
