The Pittsburgh Steelers went from being the only undefeated team in the NFL to being completely exposed in back-to-back weeks. Now, they’re still in control of their destiny and boast an impressive record but they need to significantly improve if they want to win in the playoffs.
One of the Steelers’ biggest concerns has been the passing game. Their receivers have vastly struggled with drops and that’s helping defenses completely shut down their running game as well.
So, even if they feature one of the best defenses in the league, they’re just not going to get the job done without being able to move the chains. And, to make things even more strange, they’re decreasing Chase Claypool’s snaps.
Mike Tomlin Says He’s Not Using Chase Claypool Because He Might Hit A Rookie Wall
The standout rookie out of Notre Dame has been one of the best players on the team this season. He’s dominating defenders with his privileged physique, yet coach Mike Tomlin said that he’ll decrease his snaps to prevent him from hitting a rookie wall:
“I’m not acknowledging that he has [hit the rookie wall] but I’m acknowledging that there’s a potential for that. One of the ways you help a young man through that is you reduce his number of snaps. Which is what you see us doing,” Tomlin said, as quoted by Steelers Depot.
So, let me see if I get this straight. He’s not going to use their best receiver this season as much as he could out of the possibility of him losing his rhythm. That doesn’t make any sense at all.
If anything, the Steelers must act quickly if they want to replicate their regular-season success in the playoffs. Ben Roethlisberger isn’t getting much help from his receivers, and Tomlin’s stance on Claypool could backfire big time when it matters the most.
