Can Calvin Austin III perform because the Steelers’ WR No. 2 in Arthur Smith’s offense?
After the Steelers traded George Pickens, Calvin Austin III is arguably essentially the most certified for the group’s No. 2 function. Whereas he has needed to do it in spots because of damage, it’s by no means a task he has owned. But he completed second final season in touchdowns on the roster, anyway, and there’s Arthur Smith to consider.
Whereas Smith usually prefers bigger-bodied broad receivers, Austin is a prepared blocker. The Steelers are going to run loads of heavy units, anyway, maybe together with extra linemen. In DK Metcalf, they have already got a giant, hulking broad receiver atop the depth chart, too.
What Calvin Austin can provide to Smith and the Steelers is solely velocity and dynamics. No one else behind him on the depth chart can actually try this—however no person has a smaller catch radius, both. In different phrases, loads of this will depend on how they use him, and the way successfully.
If the Steelers consider Aaron Rodgers can constantly hit Austin’s window, then it could work. Austin can get open, and Rodgers can discover the open man. At the very least, he can do it higher than some other quarterback the group has had shortly.
Subsequently, there’s an argument that having Rodgers makes Austin being an efficient No. 2 WR for the Steelers a chance. Maybe with Mason Rudolph throwing the ball, he hits fewer home windows, lowering Austin’s effectiveness. No matter his talent stage, Austin because of his dimension merely has a small catch radius. There’s nothing anyone can do about that except he hides a bit jet pack beneath his uniform. And if he had been to go too excessive, the officers would get suspicious, anyway, in order that’s a slippery slope.
The factor is, the Steelers may need to make use of Calvin Austin as their No. 2 just by default. At the moment, their different choices are Roman Wilson and Robert Woods. Woods is a 33-year-old veteran totally previous his prime and Wilson has primarily executed nothing but within the NFL. Then once more, Wilson is actually the place Austin was after his rookie season because of damage, and now we’re speaking about him.
The Steelers are rebuilding, or reloading, no matter they really feel the necessity to name it, after one other disappointment final season. Although they limped into the playoffs, they as soon as once more embarrassed themselves therein.
Identical to final 12 months, the most important query hanging over the Steelers is the quarterback query. Whereas they in the end traded George Pickens, they produce other selections to make. The 2025 NFL Draft class is now behind us, so many of the roster building is full.
However we nonetheless have an extended offseason forward for Steelers soccer, or soccer in shorts. Sure will-he-or-won’t-he conditions stay in play, which we proceed to watch. Now it’s about evaluating the roster in place and filling holes as we go.
