Roman Wilson never carved out a role in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense last season, despite entering the year with breakout expectations. Much of the speculation for that centered on his chemistry with Aaron Rodgers. On Monday, Rodgers explained what held Wilson back—and why he thinks the young receiver is in a much better place now.
“Roman’s grown a lot,” Rodgers said Monday via The Pat McAfee Show in Latrobe. “I think he’s done a nice job in the spring, and he’s had some plays as well. The difference last year, I felt like he was kinda like a deer running around, bouncing around. And now he’s like a very finely tuned fast guy. I feel like he’s playing almost more under control with that top-end speed. And he’s had a really nice spring and a nice start to camp.”
Without saying it directly, Rodgers strongly implied that Wilson did not play under control a year ago. He has the physical gifts but wasn’t buttoned up on his details. Aaron Rodgers is a notorious stickler for precise routes and timing, and Mike McCarthy’s offensive system demands it as well.
The good news for Pittsburgh is that Wilson appears to have turned the corner. Rodgers no longer views him as a deer bouncing around the field, but a “finely tuned” NFL receiver — and one with a unique skill set that can help the team.
“He has a different skill set. I say, to stick in the league, you have to do something well. And to have a long career, you gotta have an excellent trait, and his is speed,” Rodgers said. “He is legitimately one of the fastest guys on the field at all times, if not the fastest guy. So when he’s using that speed, he’s dangerous.”
DK Metcalf also has long speed, but teams were able to scheme that out of games last year by rolling a safety over the top in double coverage. It’s much riskier to do that if two receivers are able to blow past the defense.
Pittsburgh drafted Germie Bernard in the second round. Many expected him to carve out a starting role over Wilson sooner rather than later, but the early indication at camp suggests the opposite. Based on the division of labor so far, and what Rodgers is saying about Wilson, he may finally be in for a breakout season in Pittsburgh’s new-look offense.