Steelers News: The young, and wise, JuJu Smith-Schuster

It has been a one-of-a-kind offseason for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2020. With the start of training camp now behind us, it looks like we’ll have to wait until opening weekend to see the Steelers take the field. Just because the NFL has cancelled the preseason doesn’t mean we stop providing you with features, commentary and opinions to tide you over throughout the offseason!

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at how JuJu Smith-Schuster, although young, is wise beyond his years.

Let’s get to the news:

• JuJu Smith-Schuster isn’t old, but he sure is wise.

Still young, JuJu Smith-Schuster brings Steelers ‘wisdom’

By: Chris Adamski, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

JuJu Smith-Schuster’s public persona largely is built via platforms such as TikTok, Instagram Live and his personal Youtube channel. On them is portrayed a fun-loving young man who plays video games, dances and engages in other exuberant hi jinks.

It’s an image that’s gained the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver millions in endorsements and made him one of the NFL’s most marketable players.

It’s an identity that could be described as outgoing, jovial, carefree or, in Smith-Schuster’s own parlance, “lit.”

Now, contrast those descriptors with some of the words coach Mike Tomlin used this week when describing what Smith-Schuster brings to the Steelers.

“Experience.” “Wisdom.” “Guidance.”

“He’s very sturdy,” Tomlin said. “Strong hands. He’s a very good combat-catch guy. But I’m more concerned about the intangible things that his journey to this point brings.”

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Why a fast start is essential for the Steelers in 2020.

Tim Benz: September Mourn! Steelers need to get off to faster start in 2020

By: Tim Benz, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Here’s one way the Steelers need to get better in 2020.

And no, this has nothing to do with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger returning. Because he’s been on the field for much of this problem in recent years.

The issue is starting better in September. The Steelers’ failure to win a playoff game — or reach the postseason at all — the last three years can be directly traced to bad starts in the first month of the regular season.

Since the opening of 2017, the Steelers are 4-6-1 in the month of September. Stretch that to include the first five weeks of each season, and the Steelers are 6-8-1 to begin these three campaigns that have led to their playoff-victory drought.

Last September, the Steelers went 1-3. They lost the first two games with Roethlisberger as the starting quarterback before he was replaced at halftime by Mason Rudolph in a Week 2 loss versus the Seattle Seahawks. Then the club lost a fourth quarter lead in San Francisco. And they needed to surprise the Cincinnati Bengals with the wildcat in Week 4 to scrape out a win.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• “He’s a Watt.” What else is there to say?

Camp Blog: ‘He is a Watt’

By: Teresa Varley, Steelers.com

He is a Watt: It doesn’t take a lot to get special teams coordinator Danny Smith excited. Enthusiasm and energy are part of his natural DNA.

But when talking about new fullback Derek Watt, who has made a career out of being a special teams standout, that excitement goes to another level.

“He is a Watt. He is a Watt,” said Smith. “His mom and dad ought to be writing books and we should all be reading it.”

Smith is salivating just thinking about what he can do with Watt on special teams this year after he signed with the Steelers this offseason, joining his brother T.J. Watt in black and gold. Watt was a Pro Bowl special teamer with the Los Angeles Chargers and the prospect of what he can bring to the Steelers gets Smith blood pumping.

“He is special. He just is,” said Smith. “His makeup, his understanding of the game, his work habits, he is special. That is what makes him special. I’ve got plans for him. he has been successful in this league. We hope to continue that success.

“I am glad we got him.”

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

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