First, how has then offseason gone for you so far?
I think the OTAs and camp went really well for me. I made a lot of plays and did my part when I got the opportunities.
Some changes in the receiver room … how have those affected you?
Yeah – Allen {Robinson} came in and gelled right away in the room. He’s been in the league a while and has seen a lot. He’s a good person. You could tell right away he was going to fit in really well and show us some things. I’ve been picking up some nuggets from him – you want to do that any time you can with a guy like that.
What has he shown you so far?
A lot of it has been off the field stuff – how to be a good person and do things the right way. On the field too – he’s helped with things like releases and taking the right angles at the position. He’s been a big help already.
How does having Pickett being named the starter – no flux at quarterback – help you this season?
It all comes down to comradery with your quarterback. When Kenny came in you probably noticed the chemistry was off a bit. He didn’t have many reps with the receivers. But as we got closer to the end of the season and finishing the year, the chemistry got much better. I feel like we didn’t lose a game during that period. Knowing he’s the guy now and getting those reps – that makes a big difference with that chemistry.
What’s different about Kenny so far, from what you’ve seen this offseason?
He’s taken a big step. You can see he’s much more prepared for year two. Physically he’s gotten much bigger. But mentally too – he’s bringing guys together and being a leader. That will make a big difference.
Kenny brought all the wide receivers together and is building those relationships with everyone. He got us together in Florida and in Pittsburgh to build that comradery.
What does it mean to you to see a guy like Mitch Trubisky who’s been so supportive of Kenny and the team?
It just shows how great of a dude he is. He put the team above himself – he took a back seat for the rest of the team and is still that high-energy guy the team needs at times in the locker room.
How does the offense take that next step this year and put more points on the board?
We saw a lot of emphasis on situational football in OTAs. In the redzone and other situational football. We just had too many missed assignments and penalties last year that hurt us. We worked a lot on stopping those this offseason so far so we don’t kill ourselves. We want to score touchdowns not kick field goals.
What do you think you need to do to contribute more next season?
I just have to keep taking advantage of the opportunities I have to make plays. My goal is to make the 53 and I’ll do all I can do make that happen.
I worked on creating more separation in OTAs and I think I showed that. Another big step is special teams – showing them what I can provide there. Doing that in practice and in games is huge. Me and Danny talk all the time about that.
What role do you see you taking on in the offense?
For me, the slot is one of the spots I think I can help at, but I’m versatile. I can play on the outside – I can play all the positions.
Do you feel like you’ve become somewhat of a mentor as well as mentee for some of the guys now?
A little bit. A lot of guys see me as a vet but I’m still one of the younger dudes on the team. Me and Austin came in the same class – I just have more NFL experience. But anything I can help with I do.
Read more by former Steelers via the book Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades. To order, just click on the book:
