Pittsburgh Steelers wide receivers George Pickens and Calvin Austin received some flak during the Week 1 game against the Atlanta Falcons after both couldn't secure their blocks during a crucial play in the red zone in the fourth quarter.
Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith called a screen to wide receiver Van Jefferson on a third-and-2 play, but it went nowhere after Pickens and Austin couldn't get the job done blocking.
On his "Footbahlin" podcast, Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger rightly pointed out that if Pickens wants to be great, he's got to secure his blocks, also.
“It may sound overly critical of George, but in that situation, when you have a screen, if he gets that block, it’s a first down. Maybe touchdown. He makes a lot of great plays, but if you want to be great, do the little things that are required as well,” Roethlisberger said.
You just cannot have Calvin Austin III blocking on this play.
— Josh Carney (@ByJoshCarney) September 9, 2024
I know Steelers are limited personnel-wise at WR, but this can't be CA3 blocking on the perimeter on a screen on 3rd and short.
Not a good block from George Pickens, either. Rather see CA3 be the pass catcher here. pic.twitter.com/LOzGhj1vbb
“I know he can do it. I hope what you’re going to see is a guy who goes out there and gets a little bit nasty moving forward. That’s one where Coach (Mike Tomlin) might get on a guy. If Coach is willing to hold him accountable, he’ll get on him.”
There is some debate about whether or not the Steelers should let Justin Fields get another start, even if Russell Wilson is healthy enough to play. Roethlisberger thinks the Steelers will go to Wilson.
"If (Russell Wilson) is healthy... I think it goes back to Russ," Big Ben said. "Russ is your starter. Now, if you're telling me they've won four or five games and then now Russ is healthy, maybe you kind of pause. But your plan is still nothing different. Russ is your starter."
While Fields wasn't terrible, he wasn't great, either, and certainly not good enough to change the Steelers' minds about going with Wilson as the starter. If he's healthy enough to play, we fully expect to see Wilson in Week 2.
