Ben Roethlisberger has long had an infatuation with taller receivers. Maybe it was having Plaxico Burress on the roster early in his NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, or the fact all of his other receivers were smaller in stature, but Roethlisberger has always wanted tall receivers.
When Burress left the Steelers via free agency, Roethlisberger pined for that large target, but it wasn’t as if the organization didn’t try to appease their future Hall of Fame quarterback. The Steelers were always trying to replace Burress, and give Roethlisberger what he wanted.
Just look at some of the names of receivers who would be considered “tall wide receivers” by NFL standards (6’ 2” and up) the Steelers have employed:
Plaxico Burress (6’ 5”)
Derek Moye (6’ 5”)
Limas Sweed (6’ 4”)
Justin Hunter (6’ 4”)
Martavis Bryant (6’ 4”)
Johnny Holton (6’ 3)
Deon Cain (6’ 2”)
Sammie Coates (6’ 2”)
Cobi Hamilton (6’ 2”)
Darrius Heyward-Bey (6’2”)
Some of those players were drafted by Pittsburgh, and others have simply been players picked up off the scrap heap in hopes of turning them into the latest cast off turned star for the Steelers.
Either way, Roethlisberger knows not all tall receivers are built the same, and Chase Claypool (6’ 4”) is not built like those aforementioned players. Roethlisberger was asked about just that during his Wednesday media availability.
“Well, he’s big. He’s thick. He’s strong.” Roethlisberger said.
“He’s not like a 6’5” 180-pound guy. He’s got good thickness to him. He can run. Sometimes you get big receivers that don’t high point a ball, reach up and grab it. He does that. He knows how to use his hands. I assume that is some of the old basketball skills that he has.”
While those skills are certainly noteworthy, fans shouldn’t assume Claypool is a finished product. There are still areas of his game where he needs to improve, and so far he has made tremendous strides in areas like route running.
Roethlisberger is seeing it every day in practice.
“I think he is gaining a knowledge and understanding of route running and how to get open at the top of routes.” Roethlisberger continued. “I know he kind of had that crazy offensive pass interference call a couple weeks ago, but it’s those kinds of moments that he knows when to use his hands and when not to and how to get open. I just think he is going to continue to grow and continue to get better, and I think we are all excited to see that.”
When it comes down to it, Claypool is unlike any receiver the Steelers have ever had during the Roethlisberger era. Not only is he tall, but he is strong. There was a reason why some teams were talking about making him a tight end coming out of Notre Dame. In fact, according to Pro Football Reference Claypool has the highest listed weight of any wide receiver in Steelers history. He’s listed at weighing 238 pounds. The next closest receiver would be Plaxico Burress at 232, who was an inch taller.
Claypool is an athletic specimen in every sense of the word. Height, size, speed, strength and overall athletic ability. Roethlisberger sees it, and has been targeting him more and more as the season progresses. Will defenses get wise and start doubling the rookie? The Steelers are likely waiting for that to happen, and when they do they will look for Diontae Johnson, James Washington, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Eric Ebron to win their matchups in that instance.
Chase Claypool has burst onto the scene, and it exactly what the Steelers’ offense needed: A big target who can be a deep threat to draw attention away from players like Smith-Schuster. Claypool is doing what Martavis Bryant did for the offense when he was in Pittsburgh, and those were some of the Steelers’ most dynamic offenses.
The good news? It should only get better from here...
Stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the black and gold as they prepare for the Tennessee Titans in Week 7.