Steelers News: Randy Fichtner not concerned about JuJu Smith-Schuster at all

The Pittsburgh Steelers are moving into Week 8 of the NFL regular season, and as the team prepares for the Miami Dolphins this week we continue to provide you with features, commentary and opinions to tide you over until the next game starts!

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at how despite a slow start, and not much production, offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner isn’t worried about JuJu Smith-Schuster.

Let’s get to the news:

• JuJu Smith-Schuster’s production has been down in 2019, but it isn’t necessarily all on him. After all, playing with two young quarterbacks after Ben Roethlisberger’s injury isn’t necessarily ideal.

Worried about JuJu? Fichtner sure isn’t

By: Hunter Homistek, DKPittsburghSports

JuJu Smith-Schuster isn’t having his best year. At all.

Through six games, Smith-Schuster’s caught 25 passes for 340 yards and two touchdowns for the Steelers. That’s just 56.7 yards per game, the lowest of his career, and it pairs with a 65.8 percent catch rate, also the worst in his three seasons as a pro.

Couple that with the fact he fumbled after a late catch in overtime against the Ravens, a mistake that ultimately cost the Steelers the game, and to say it’s been a rough go for Smith-Schuster early in 2019 is an understatement.

Fans and fantasy football owners alike are worried about him.

But Randy Fichtner, his offensive coordinator, has no doubt a bounce-back is coming.

“He’s been great. He’s been tough,” Fichtner said of Smith-Schuster at the Rooney Complex. “I challenged him a week ago, I told him, I said, ‘Look.’ — he was very disappointed when he put the ball on the ground against Baltimore — and I said, ‘I wouldn’t change that call one time. We want to go to you. We’re going to go to you.’”

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Is Devin Bush’s tackling going to be an ongoing problem?

Carter’s Classroom: Tackling Bush’s tackling

By: Chris Carter, DKPittsburghSports

Devin Bush has made waves with his rookie season, leading the Steelers with 52 tackles -- 10th-most in the NFL -- in their first six games, in addition to two interceptions and six recovered fumbles.

The defense desperately needed an inside linebacker to step up in this regard after Jon Bostic and L.J. Fort struggled across from Vince Williams. But Bush isn’t just playing like a rookie trying to make every play. He’s displaying veteran-like tendencies that are a much higher floor to work with than anyone could’ve expected.

Let’s take a closer look at his tackling:

To read the full article, click HERE ($$)

• Former Steelers wide receiver Eli Rogers is getting a look around the NFL.

Buccaneers working out Eli Rogers in search for new returner

By: Curtis Crabtree, ProFootballTalk

After Bobo Wilson dropped a pair of punts in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Carolina Panthers, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are looking for a new punt returner.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, that search will include former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Eli Rogers.

Rogers was released by the Steelers as a part of their roster cuts at the end of training camp. Rogers appeared in 30 games for Pittsburgh over the last three seasons. While not handling return duties last season, Rogers returned 26 punts for 191 yards during his time with the Steelers. However, he also had three fumbles in the role as well.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Mason Rudolph media availability

• Social Media Madness