Steelers News: How James Washington’s work is far from finished this preseason

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 the season starts!

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at how despite a great showing in Week 1 vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, James Washington must continue this style of play leading up to the regular season.

Let’s get to the news:

• James Washington was one of the stars of the Steelers preseason win over Tampa Bay in Week 1, but his true role during the regular season won’t be based off of one exhibition performance.

Kevin Gorman: Steelers need James Washington to build on preseason performance

By: Kevin Gorman, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

James Washington knows what you’re thinking, even shooting a side-eye to the suggestion that his performance in the preseason opener was exactly what he needed.

That the second-year receiver had four catches for 84 yards and a touchdown in a 30-28 victory over Tampa Bay on Friday night at Heinz Field was just what the Pittsburgh Steelers needed.

Not only did Washington catch the Steelers’ first pass of the game — for a 43-yard gain — but he also pulled in a pivotal 22-yarder on a third-and-long from Josh Dobbs and scored their first touchdown on a back-shoulder throw from Mason Rudolph.

Washington caught everything thrown his way, even when he officially didn’t. He almost scored another touchdown on a Santonio Holmes-inspired tiptoes catch at the same spot of the end zone as the Super Bowl XLIII winner, if not for Washington’s front foot skimming the white line.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• How Devin Bush stole the show of the two ‘Devins’.

Tim Benz: Unbalanced ‘Duel of the Devins’ goes to Steelers’ Devin Bush

By: Tim Benz, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

From a comparison standpoint with Tampa’s Devin White, Bush’s fellow top-10 inside linebacker draft choice, it wasn’t a fair analysis.

White barely got a chance to play. He only stayed on the field halfway through a second defensive series for the Buccaneers. Meanwhile, Bush played the entire first half for the Steelers.

White registered just one tackle. He wasn’t asked to do much, and the action of the play didn’t come his way very often.

Things were different for Bush. He registered 10 tackles. Four came on the first drive where Bush showed an ability to flow across the field, close ground and help out on tackles when plays went away from him.

“That’s something I do,” Bush said after the game. “I’m good at flowing and getting out of the way of the trash. Not getting stuck on blocks.”

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• An outsider’s look at the Steelers’ Week 1 preseason win over the Buccaneers.

What we learned in Friday’s preseason double dip

By: Grant Gordon, NFL.com

Though the Bucs offense looked efficient in the early going, Steelers linebacker Devin Bush Jr. was stellar in his preseason debut, showcasing a nose for the ball, range and textbook tackling. Tampa Bay was moving the ball well at the onset, but a Bush fourth-down stop on the Bucs’ second drive proved to be a highlight and perhaps a foreshadowing of highlights to come for the linebacker. Bush was everywhere, no matter if it was in coverage or against the run, as he ended the first quarter with six tackles. For the game, Bush’s tackles matched his No. 10 selection in the 2019 NFL Draft as he concluded his first action with a game-high 10. As first impressions go, Pittsburgh has itself an impressive young linebacker.

”I was less concerned with his productivity and more concerned about his demeanor, and I really liked his demeanor,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said in the postgame press conference. “He was present, it wasn’t too big for him. He handled the communication responsibilities associated with his job. He was alert and those were good signs.”

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

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