Steelers News: Ryan Switzer focusing on being the slot receiver, not just a return man

With all of the Steelers’ 2019 offseason workouts in the rear view mirror, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ fan base has to suffer through the dog days of summer until the boys of fall return to the gridon. In the meantime, don’t think the news surrounding the black-and-gold is over. As the team disperses for the summer, we continue to provide you with features, commentary and opinions to tide you over until training camp!

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at how Ryan Switzer is determined to be the Steelers’ slot receiver in 2019, not just another return man.

Let’s get to the news:

• When most people think about Ryan Switzer in 2019, they think of nothing more than a glorified return man. But don’t tell that to Switzer, who is hoping to become the team’s top slot receiver.

Ryan Switzer working to perfect role as slot receiver for Steelers

By: Jonathan Bombulie

Last season ended with New England’s Julian Edelman carrying his Super Bowl MVP trophy to Disney World.

When free agency opened, teams were quick to sign players such as Golden Tate, Adam Humphries, Jamison Crowder and Danny Amendola to lucrative, multi-year contracts.

The evidence has piled up for years. The case is closed. The NFL is in the midst of a golden age of slot receivers.

A movement that was the brainchild of Al Davis with the Oakland Raiders in the 1960s and was popularized by players such as Wes Welker and Troy Brown with Tom Brady’s Patriots in more recent years shows no signs of slowing down.

“They’re getting paid now more than they ever have, I guess,” Pittsburgh Steelers slot receiver Ryan Switzer said with a laugh. “I think Wes kind of jump-started it. People saw the things he was doing on the field. They saw how quarterback friendly he was, and since then, there’s just been a plethora of guys who have come in.”

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• One very prominent former Steeler thinks this 2019 team will be even better than the previous versions.

Former Steeler Merril Hoge thinks team will be better than last year

By: Frank Carnevale, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Golfing at a charity event last week, former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Merril Hoge shared some thoughts about his former team and said he thinks they might be better this season than last.

“I think the key word here is team. Teams win championships,” Hoge said to PennLive on Wednesday while taking part in the Mid Penn Bank Celebrity Golf Tournament at the Hershey Country Club in Dauphin County.

“Quarterbacks don’t win championships, defenses don’t and offenses don’t. They have a lot of weapons there and they feel more like a team now,” Hoge continued. “I like their odds better this year than I did last year.”

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• The NFL’s latest proposal for an 18-game season is getting ripped apart by players and media alike.

Tim Benz: The potential issues that make NFL’s 18-game plan terrible

By: Tim Benz, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

In recent days. there has been increased discussionover the prospect of an 18-16 split for the NFL regular season.

In other words, every team would play 18 games. But individual players would be forced to sit out two of them.

The hope is that the league could increase revenue without exposing the players to increased injury.

This is a stupid idea. S-t-o-o-p-i-d. Stoopid.

That doesn’t mean it won’t happen, though.

The NFL has blindly pushed forward ill-conceived ideas in the recent past. Just look at what they did this offseason with the pass-interference challenge decisions.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

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