Pittsburgh Steelers Forgotten Playmaker Is Catching Fire

hey guys the Pittsburgh Steelers have a big time player to watch in this game against the Buffalo Bills and it's not a player that's getting a lot of coverage and the guy that I want to talk about was newcomer wide receiver van Jefferson I mean this guy has only been targeted twice with one reception so far in the preseason but there's plenty of takeaways from the his week one performance and I want to go to the story on a toz sports you guys check it out and what's up this this is Sports Talk Steelers I'm your host Sean hey please hit the Subscribe button we're starting something new here I want to give you really good impartial coverage to the Pittsburgh Steelers you guys deserve it so please hit the Subscribe button so we're looking at the presume presumed wide receiver two right now especially while uh Roman Wilson is out hurt we're looking at this guy he he beat his man on a cross field route on which quarterback just Fields was able to find him for a 20 yard gain in this last game and I think if he can continue his strong route running that's something that he excels at um he he's looking to fill this void that Deontay Johnson left behind and this is really frankly what the Pittsburgh Steelers have been trying to do all this time the the Steelers need a deep threat opposite wide receiver George Pickins it also you know we got to increase the ability to catch the ball after all against all these tough secondaries that we find in this Division and he's going to look to continue to display more of his ability and now he's going to get the opportunity and that's kind of exciting and he might be wide open behind Pickins um with Roman out still he it's just a good opportunity with the number two spot being wide open and uh just a lot of smoke about a trade in Pittsburgh with San Francisco 49ers for Brandon iuk I mean I don't know if there's fire at this point it just seems to go back and forth but how about the Steelers look inside the building how about one of these guys that are already on the team how about one of them rise up and we're looking at George Pickins he's likely gonna get a contract soon I mean I think he has two years left on his deal but that guy's going to look to get paid very soon and Van Jefferson might be the guy so Vander Jefferson he only has one season over 800 receiving yards but the guy's got a ring he knows about winning football games he got a Super Bowl ring and he's been really reliable for fields and Wilson All Summer in Camp and we're looking at just the hope is that he continue to can he can continue to do that against the bills today I mean these questions need to be answered and one thing that I absolutely love about Jefferson he's definitely fitting in with the Steelers and I just love the old school mentality on this team and it's starting to rub off on them and I just want to share something that just came to my attention so this guy he didn't just catch a few balls after recent practice he caught 300 of them yes you heard that right 300 footballs after practice and this is because when he finally did leave the field previously he was asked where this routine came from to the surprise of many he informed the media that he learned about this practice from Steelers in NFL great Antonio Brown and this is what he had to say this is really interesting one of the equipment guys said you know AB used to catch like 300 balls every day after practice and he just took that from them I think he's one of the best ever play in the NFL so man why not follow what he did and that's a great train of thought for him right I mean he's looking to have his best offensive season since the 2021 campaign with the LA Rams and that season 50 receptions for 802 yards and six touchdowns those were all career highs and in the year since his Productions declined steadily but that season is his best opportunity to um that was his best season so far and this season is a great opportunity to change that this is a guy while he's on the Rams that has a lot of bad injury just injury bad luck I mean a knee problem it's it's just been tough and uh this is why this new routine makes sense for Jefferson I mean before he arrived in Pittsburgh catching hundreds of balls after practice was not on his schedule now this old school mentality is sinking in and it's a way for him to show determination it's a way for him to prepare to contribute to a determined group of pass catchers here and I just really like it and I want to share that with you and uh coming into this game I'd be Miss to not mention that you guys know Russell Wilson he slated makeus Pittsburgh Steelers preseason debut Saturday night against the bills and head coach Mike Tomlin he said that Co that Wilson is scheduled to play and get the start if he doesn't have a setback to the calf injury that popped up early in trading Camp I mean the guy was pushing his sled which is just ridiculous but um for what it's worth Justin Fields he opened Thursday's practice with the first team offense we'll see if he can play mistake free following after Wilson against the bills as well and and just another thing rain is in the forecast right now so that might affect things as well so we're looking at uh Wilson he set out early Camp practices he was held out of the preseason opener against Houston uh he was still dealing with a calf injury and the Steelers they have slowly increased Wilson's participation and now having him play against Buffalo that indicates that the team is finally confident in his recovery and this quarterback competition is going to hit a really fevered pitch and Wilson and training camp is the clear favorite to win the starting gig over Justin Fields Mike Tomlin said from the beginning that he was in Pole Position since then that tone has softened and he said in the media that it's an open competition so we'll kind of see um the calf issue open the door for Justin fields to show off his you know he has Superior athletic talent but he had a fumbling issue with Senator Nate herbick in last week's game Tomlin noted at the time that it negated a lot of good things and um some things have changed this week Russell Wilson is going to start looks like Zack Frasier will be the starting center as well so that short up we'll see if it was the center and uh Tomlin noted Thursday he wants to see the Steelers beating themselves less this week and that's very telling it's pretty obvious that he was talking about that situation for with fields and this what the coach had to say this time around I expect this to be much more efficient on possession downplay sounds like a lightly veiled reference to the miscues between fields and herbick so Tamlin added that the first teamers are expected to play roughly four Series against Buffalo and it's it's great to watch some real football we're into the second preseason game I can't watch the game you guys have been I can't wait to watch the game you guys have been so kind and we're starting to grow this channel together super big time appreciate it and you guys if you want to see a profile on a specific player just say the word I'm here for you I got you so enjoy the game and uh we'll talk soon