PITTSBURGH — Despite leading the Pittsburgh Steelers in yards and catches, JuJu Smith-Schuster said Antonio Brown still very much sets the tone for the receivers.
“There’s no consideration about me having better numbers than him,” said Smith-Schuster when asked about any complications with outpacing Brown in those categories.
On the same weekly radio show where quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said Brown should have run a more “flat” route on a goal-line interception in the final two minutes of Sunday’s 24-17 loss at Denver, Roethlisberger said he wished he would have thrown to Smith-Schuster on all four downs for a game-winning attempt.
Smith-Schuster has 1,055 yards, 77 catches and four touchdowns after a 97-yard score in Denver, while Brown leads the Steelers with 11 touchdowns along with 71 catches for 874 yards.
Offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner said Thursday that Smith-Schuster is doing what he needs to do as Brown draws a safety to his side of the field. Smith-Schuster, too, credits Brown with opening passing lanes.
“Obviously, AB’s been here, what, 8-9 years? He’s getting double-teamed, triple-teamed. It’s hard,” Smith-Schuster said. “But he still makes his plays. And he still has explosive plays that he’s making and for me to be a young guy, just like me, James (Conner) and some of the other guys who are able to eat off his plate based on what he’s done in the past.”
Smith-Schuster called his pregame ritual with Brown “G.O.A.T. Time” as the two celebrate the performance they are about to have.
“Goats come alive,” Smith-Schuster said. “Every day he goes out there in practice and catching all these crazy balls, route running and all that. I’m trying to be right there next to him.”
But while Brown is still the top option on opposing team’s scouting reports, Roethlisberger clearly supports the JuJu movement, which could continue to affect Brown’s production line.
“He’s reliable, dependable and trustworthy,” said Roethlisberger after Sunday’s game.
Roethlisberger, who also criticized rookie receiver James Washington on his radio show Tuesday, said as a 15-year veteran he’s earned the right to publicly critique teammates when necessary but doesn’t abuse it.
Smith-Schuster said his quarterback is “100 percent” correct in his approach and will talk to receivers individually, as well.
“They call receivers divas. I don’t know why. We could be. I can see that,” Smith-Schuster said. “But we have to learn to take criticism and be better not only for the individual but for the team.”