Fansided

5 bold predictions for Pittsburgh Steelers in 2020

By Rucker Haringey

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 08: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers calls a play during the game between the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium on September 08, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 08: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers calls a play during the game between the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium on September 08, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pittsburgh Steelers
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – DECEMBER 22: JuJu Smith-Schuster #19 and Diontae Johnson #18 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrate after Johnson’s touchdown during the first half of the game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on December 22, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

3. JuJu Smith-Schuster will double his receiving total from 2019

Conner wasn’t the only Steelers skill player to suffer through a lackluster 2019 campaign. Smith-Schuster battled injury and the departure of Antonio Brown to a decidedly mediocre season.

Of course, the loss of Roethlisberger was also a major issue. 42 catches for 552 yards just isn’t good enough for a player of Smith-Schuster’s caliber. Expect the former Southern Cal wideout to play with a real sense of purpose in 2020. He’ll want to show the world that he’s capable of being a No. 1 wideout for a team with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations.

At the very least, he will continue to operate as Roethsliberger’s favorite target on deep balls. That’s not a skill that James Washington can really provide this offense on the other side of the formation. Smith-Schuster may not catch 100 balls next year, but he should go over the 1,000 yard mark.

He may never grow into the dominant wideout that Brown was during his prime in the Steel City, but he’s closer to that kind of talent than he showed last season. Expect a crucial bounce back year from Smith-Schuster with Roethlisberger back at the controls.

Home/Pittsburgh Steelers