Steelers News: JuJu Smith-Schuster vs. Joe Haden is living up to the hype at camp

The Pittsburgh Steelers returned to the gridiron this week when they reported back to training camp. With practices underway, the news surrounding the black-and-gold is just starting to heat up. As the team returns from their summer break, we continue to provide you with features, commentary and opinions to tide you over until training camp starts!

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at how the JuJu Smith-Schuster vs. Joe Haden battle at training camp as been living up to the hype every day of the week.

Let’s get to the news:

• In the past training camp was always built around one main camp battle, and it usually involved Antonio Brown. Antonio Brown vs. Ike Taylor. Antonio Brown vs. Artie Burns. Now the camp battle to watch is clearly JuJu Smith-Schuster vs. Joe Haden.

Steelers Inside the Ropes: JuJu Smith-Schuster vs. Joe Haden this camp’s marquee matchup

By: Chris Adamski, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Things change quickly in the NFL, but the 2019 version of No. 1 WR and shutdown cornerback features, arguably, an even better matchup: JuJu Smith-Schuster against Joe Haden. Though Haden’s reps are limited — likely because Tomlin wants to preserve the 10-year veteran’s body (and in part because the Steelers want to give Burns reps) — Haden on Smith-Schuster always catches eyes when a ball is thrown that way.

On Wednesday at Saint Vincent, it was during the first rep of the first drill of practice after the completion of seven shots that Ben Roethlisberger targeted Smith-Schuster in a one-on-one route-running drill down the sideline. Smith-Schuster tipped the ball to himself on a pass 25 yards downfield, pinned it to his helmet, maintained possession over top of Haden — who was in good coverage — then ran into the end zone.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• It happens every year, but the Steelers are starting to deal with some of those nagging training camp injuries.

Ryan Switzer injures quad on steamy day of Steelers practice at Saint VIncent

By: Joe Rutter, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Offensive lineman Derwin Gray, the team’s seventh-round draft pick, was a casualty of the heat, leaving the two-and-a-half hour practice early because of fatigue.

In addition to Gray, wide receiver Ryan Switzer was “banged on the quad,” according to Tomlin, and cornerback Herb Waters, who spent time on the practice squad last year, left with a shoulder injury.

Tomlin downplayed the injuries, calling them “some of the bumps and bruises associated with this time of the year.”

Also sitting out practice was outside linebacker Anthony Chickillo, who had been practicing with the starters in the wake of T.J. Watt landing on the PUP list. Tomlin didn’t specify Chickillo’s injury but didn’t consider it “anything significant.”

With Chickillo out, Ola Adeniyi took over at left outside linebacker with the first-team defense.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Devin Bush has a lot of pressure on him. Not just being a son of a former NFL player, but being a first round pick, and a player a team traded up 10 spots to get you...that is some pressure. Devin Bush thrives under such pressure.

Devin Bush embraces the pressure of his role

By: Darin Gannt, ProFootballTalk

The Steelers drafted Devin Bush to replace a great player who has become an inspirational figure.

They also gave up a bunch of stuff to get him/

So the rookie linebacker knows the expectations of him will be high, and that he has a lot to prove.

“That I belong in this league,” Bush said, via Jarrett Bell of USA Today. “That I was the right choice for this team. To give up that many picks and put that many high hopes on me. . . . I’m out to prove I’m not a bust.”

The Steelers’ struggles since the spinal injury to Ryan Shazier were dramatic, and Bush is viewed as the kind of player who can replace him in the middle of their defense.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

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