Tag: Calvin Austin

4 Steelers we expect to see more of in the second half of the season

The Steelers continue to move players around looking for an ideal combination.

Through eight games, the Pittsburgh Steelers are 5-3 despite being outgained in every game this season. Depending on how the weekend plays out, Pittsburgh could be back on top in the AFC North. Pittsburgh has been forced to shuffle the roster due to injuries and changes in play. Here are the four Steelers we expect to see more of in the second half of the season.

Steelers WR Calvin Austin III talks about closed door team meeting

The Steelers are searching for answers as to how to turn the season around.

This week the Pittsburgh Steelers held something of a closed-door meeting in an attempt to stop the spiral the team seems to be in. Wide Receiver Calvin Austin III was asked about it and while he didn’t pull the curtain back too far, he did offer a couple of interesting tidbits, including that it didn’t involve only players.

“I wouldn’t say players only, but definitely some players that voiced how they’ve been feeling,” Austin said. “I think we’ve been on the same page, but we just got even more on the same page and in tune with each other.”

I appreciate that Austin said the team was already on the same page and just got more of the same page, but we aren’t buying it. This group has been in disarray this season, even in the wins. If that is what he considers on the same page, they can only go up from there.

Pittsburgh is preparing to take on the Baltimore Ravens this week. A win would put Pittsburgh in first place in the AFC North heading into their bye week.

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Steelers QB Kenny Pickett gives love to Calvin Austin III

Calvin Austin is healthy and proving to be a real weapon on the Steelers offense.

With wide receiver Diontae Johnson on IR, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett is looking more and more to second-year receiver Calvin Austin III in the passing game. Last week against the Las Vegas Raiders, Austin delivered in a big way with a huge 72-yard touchdown to spark all three phases of the team en route to a big road win.

Pickett talked about Austin and gushes about what he brings to the table.

“Yeah, love Cal. He shows up every day and works really hard. He’s so talented. If we can put him in those positions to be successful and get him downfield, he’s going to do that consistently. So, it’s something that we can continue to work on.”

Steelers own the distinction of the longest touchdown of the season. Pickett discussed the importance of that play on the outcome of the game.

“Yeah, it was big. We needed it. They were doing a really good job with doubling George [Pickens] all night, making it really hard to get him touches. So, that leaves other guys singled up and Cal [Calvin Austin III] had press and he took the post and it was really good. We missed that earlier in the season against San Fran. It was good to hit it tonight.”

Austin’s speed is just ridiculous. I know Pickens steals all the highlights because of his acrobatic catches but Austin’s straight-line speed is impossible for opposing defenses to contend with.

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Steelers WR Calvin Austin III named secret superstar from Week 1

Calvin Austin came up big for the Steelers in its first preseason game.

Last season, Pittsburgh Steelers fans didn’t get the opportunity to see wide receiver Calvin Austin III. A foot injury cost him the season and hit pause on his career. Now, Austin is back, healthy and as fast as ever.

Austin did enough in last week’s preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that our friends over at Touchdown Wire named him one of their Secret Superstars of Week One.

Here’s what they had to say about Austin:

Adding Austin to a receiver group that already has George “Godzilla” Pickens (who was also ridiculous against the Bucs) and Diontae Johnson should provide a whole lot of headaches for defenses if offensive coordinator Matt Canada uses those targets to their full potential. Certainly, Austin adds a new math to that playbook, such as it is.

Austin led the team in receiving yards and rushing yards against the Bucs. His 67-yard touchdown catch was longer than any Steeler had last season. Austin also led the team in rushing yards thanks to a 17-yard gain on his first touch on a jet sweep.

As Pittsburgh heads into the season it is important to remember, Austin wasn’t just a gimmick player in college. In his final two seasons at Memphis, he was the focus of the passing offense. He understands route combinations, how to beat double teams and how to impact an offense as more than just a speed receiver.

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Steelers vs Bucs: WR Calvin Austin turns on the jets for a long touchdown

Calvin Austin showed off his speed in Friday night’s game.

The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted wide receiver Calvin Austin III in 2022 so they could utilize his elite speed to create mismatches in the secondary. Unfortunately, a foot injury cost Austin his entire rookie campaign.

But Austin is back and no sooner did he get on the field in Friday’s preseason showdown with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he made sure everyone knew he was healthy.

Austin took a beautifully thrown ball by quarterback Mason Rudolph and practically walked into the end zone for a 67-yard touchdown reception. Austin just blew past Tampa cornerback Derrek Pitts and Pitts makes a desperate play on the football knowing he isn’t going to catch the speedy Austin.

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2022 NFL draft: Chargers’ biggest positional needs entering Day 2

Laying out the positions that the Los Angeles Chargers still need to address following their selection of Zion Johnson.

After adding Zion Johnson in the first round, the Chargers have filled their hole at guard.

But the show must still go on.

Here’s a look at Los Angeles’ biggest remaining positional needs on the roster entering Friday’s session.

Right Tackle

Tom Telesco and Brandon Staley both said on Thursday night that Johnson was drafted to be the team’s starter at right guard. Matt Feiler was also listed as being in the plans at left guard, which leaves the question of right tackle lingering. The Chargers seem to be comfortable with the thought of Trey Pipkins and Storm Norton battling it out for the starting job, but The Athletic’s Dane Brugler has L.A. selecting Washington State’s Abraham Lucas with the 79th selection. Other possible options in the draft include Louisiana’s Max Mitchell, Ohio State’s Nicholas Petit-Frere, or Penn State’s Rasheed Walker.

Cornerback

Staley’s defense places a huge amount of responsibility on the cornerback position, part of the reason why Washington’s Trent McDuffie seemed like a logical fit at 17th overall if Johnson was off the board. With JC Jackson and Asante Samuel Jr., the Chargers have two building blocks at corner, but the team seems to have lost some of the optimism about Michael Davis that resulted in his 3 year, $25.2 million extension prior to the 2021 season. A drafted corner could come in the form of a slot only type, with plans to keep Samuel on the outside, or it could be a lengthy outside corner, with Samuel kicking inside to the slot. Some options to keep an eye on during Day 2 include Nebraska’s Cam Taylor-Britt, Sam Houston State’s Zyon McCollum, Pitt’s Damarri Mathis, and Cincinnati’s Coby Bryant.

Edge defender

This is the direction I had the Chargers going in my final 7 round mock draft on Thursday morning. Depth behind Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack is questionable right now after LA chose not to retain Kyler Fackrell or Uchenna Nwosu. Chris Rumph II was a fourth round pick a season ago, but he’d need to make a big leap to fill those shoes. Luckily for the Chargers, this draft class is stacked with EDGE talent from top to bottom. Every player I ranked from 6-10 in my EDGE rankings on Wednesday is still on the board, but I wouldn’t be holding my breath for any of them to fall to LA at 79. Focus on names like DeAngelo Malone (Western Kentucky), Dominique Robinson (Miami (OH)), Myjai Sanders (Cincinnati), and Amare Barno (Virginia Tech). 

Wide Receiver

Josh Palmer made strides as a rookie, and there’s no reason to believe he’s not in LA’s long-term plans. But the Chargers still lack a burner who has the speed to get under Justin Herbert’s moonshots downfield. The most likely options on the roster currently are Jalen Guyton and return specialist DeAndre Carter, neither of whom should prevent Los Angeles from targeting the right receiver on Day 2. I’ll be watching the closest for Calvin Austin III (Memphis) or Danny Gray (SMU), but if neither of them makes it to 79, I like Tyquan Thornton (Baylor) or Isaiah Weston (Northern Iowa) a bit later in the draft.

Running Back

Perhaps Chargers fans can be saved from the curse of yet another Day 3 RB draft pick if LA opts to turn to the position on Friday night instead. Austin Ekeler is a showstopper in the backfield, of course, but young guys like Joshua Kelley and Larry Rountree III have struggled to gain their footing behind him. With every running back still on the board entering Day 2, the Chargers could find themselves in a valuable position to take their pick of some of the best available. The Athletic’s Daniel Popper listed Texas A&M’s Isaiah Spiller and BYU’s Tyler Allgeier as prime targets at 79. I’d add Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker III, on the off chance that he slips down the board, as well as players worth later looks like Georgia’s Zamir White or Michigan’s Hassan Haskins.

Lions full mock draft v5.0: Post-combine edition

With the scouting combine now done it’s time for an updated set of Detroit Lions draft projections

Now that the preeminent event of NFL draft season is in the books, it’s time to update the Detroit Lions 2022 mock draft. The scouting combine in Indianapolis shook things up a bit with workouts both good and bad, official player measurements, interviews and medicals, as well as the chance for those of us in attendance to get direct access to NFL decision-makers and pick their brains a bit.

This is the fifth edition of the 2022 NFL draft projections for the Lions in each round.

Lions mock draft v4.0: Pre-combine edition

Full 7-round Lions mock draft v3.0: Kicking off 2022 NFL draft season

Lions full mock draft v2.0: Post-Week 14 edition

Lions 7-round mock draft for the bye week

A couple of ground rules here. First, this mock ignores free agency and potential signings and releases of veterans. We explore those more comprehensive offseason projections and ideas in the mock offseason series, which will update later this week.

Secondly, no trades. It’s incredibly difficult to accurately predict what players will be available for the Lions at each pick, let alone trying to forecast what other teams will try and do to move up or down. Projected compensatory draft picks are included. Those should be made official any day now.

Winners, Losers from WR, TE workouts at 2022 scouting combine

Day 1 of the combine allowed the Cowboys to get their eyes on TE and WR prospects. Tyler Browning (@DiabeticTyler) looks at who exceeded or failed to live up to expectations.

Every year NFL Draft prospects and teams gather in Indianapolis, Indiana for the NFL combine. The combine is a crucial part of the evaluating process in which teams get to interview players who weren’t at any of the all-star games, and get to see various players perform in on-the-field workouts. On the first day of on-the-field workouts, quarterbacks, tight ends, and wide receivers performed as well as all other positions getting their official measurements.

This is an integral part of the process, as colleges routinely fudge the weights and heights of their players in order to make them seem more intimidating. So who saw their stock rise after weigh-ins? Who out of the quarterbacks, tight ends, and wide receivers performed well enough to be the talk of Indianapolis after Day 1? Let’s talk about that.

Winners from Day 1 of 2022 NFL Scouting Combine

Highlighting the quarterbacks, receivers and tight ends who made themselves money at the NFL Scouting Combine.

The 2022 NFL Scouting Combine began in primetime at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis with tight ends, quarterbacks, and wide receivers taking the field.

Here are a handful of prospects who helped their draft stock during Thursday’s testing and on-field workouts.

Chargers Wire’s winners, risers from 2022 Senior Bowl: Offense

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez and Cole Topham break down the 2022 NFL draft prospects that made themselves money at the Senior Bowl.

Now that the 2022 Senior Bowl is over, it is time to reflect back on the meaning of the week.

Which NFL draft prospects helped themselves the most throughout their time in Mobile? Let’s dive in with our winners and risers.

Quarterback

Our winner(s): Kenny Pickett (Pitt) and Malik Willis (Liberty)

Pickett refused to have his hands measured at the Senior Bowl, citing an issue with his double-jointed finger. No matter how much stock you place in the hand size of quarterbacks, Pickett was accurate and put together quality performances across all three days of practice. He was accurate, progressed through his reads quickly, and got the ball out in a timely fashion.

Throughout the week, Willis was an interesting study. His lower body fundamentals can be a mess at times in the pocket and Willis will need a strong coaching staff to develop that area at the next level. However, his ability to extend plays, find receivers on the run, and throw off-platform are traits to salivate over. The ball zips out his hand and I did not see a pass wilt on him all week. 

Our biggest riser: Carson Strong (Nevada)

Like Willis, Strong entered Senior Bowl week as a wild card of sorts. By the event’s conclusion, Strong had done enough to disassociate himself from that label. For starters, he clarified the medicals around his knee and did not wear a brace after sporting one all through the 2021 season at Nevada. This resulted in increased mobility and comfortableness exiting the pocket and operating on bootlegs. Strong was fearless throwing the deep ball in practice, showing off his cannon and throw power. Sometimes, the ball would have too much arc, which increased the hang time, and often the receiver would have to sit on the end of the rope to make the catch. Nevertheless, Strong proved he has the intangibles to play quarterback in the NFL.

Running Back

Our winner(s): Abram Smith (Baylor) and Brian Robinson (Alabama)

A compact rusher at 5’10” and 220 pounds, Smith was the best all-around running back in Mobile. A former linebacker, Smith showcased that physicality by punching through the line with vigor and running through tacklers with his frame. His deceiving burst allowed him to quickly dip in and out of the box.

Robinson performed well in every facet of the position but gained the respect of defenders for his work in pass protection. When practice was moved indoors on Thursday, Robinson put together his best showing. He bowled over Georgia linebacker Channing Tindall in a National Championship blitz pickup rematch. It was one of the more memorable moments at the Senior Bowl this year.

Our biggest riser: Rachaad White (Arizona State)

White introduced himself to those on the East Coast who fell asleep before he fueled the Sun Devil offense this season. White brought all the traits to the Senior Bowl that made him a star in ASU’s backfield. His jump-cut ability, soft hands out of the backfield, and methodical approach behind the trenches to allow the offensive line to root themselves in their blocks are all translatable to today’s NFL playstyle.

Wide Receiver

Our winner(s): Christian Watson (NDSU) and Calvin Austin III (Memphis)

Hulking 6’4” size and a spiderweb-like catch radius. Fluid hips and freakish speed that defy the physics of his frame. Strong hands and tracking skills to reel in the football through traffic. Watson dominated in pretty much every aspect of the wide receiver position at the Senior Bowl and quickly garnered the “unguardable” tag from the media in attendance. 

Austin III was expected to be one of the Senior Bowl’s high-profile wideouts but surprised on Monday by measuring in two inches shorter than expected. The 5’7” speedster evaporated concerns over his height by becoming untouchable off the line and separating consistently on every level of his route. Austin’s electric route running and dauntless mentality was thrilling to watch and won the respect of a talented American defensive back group.

Our biggest riser: Bo Melton (Arizona State)

A legacy product out of Rutgers, Melton showed off one of the more advanced release packages at the Senior Bowl. Melton displayed exceptional short-area quickness and overall smoothness as a route runner. He ran a technical route tree, incorporated rocker steps as well as hesitation at the top of his stems, and was used heavily as a gadget player for the National offense in 11-on-11.

Tight end

Our winner(s): Trey McBride (Colorado State) and Jeremy Ruckert (Ohio State)

McBride, the John Mackey Award winner, reaffirmed that he is this year’s No. 1 tight. Not only did he flash by catching nearly everything thrown his way during practices, but McBride showed athleticism in his routes to create separation, ran through arm tackles to pick up yards after the catch and finished plays with aggression. Further, McBride displayed the chops as a blocker. He capped off his impressive Senior Bowl week with a touchdown in the game.

Ruckert’s production was limited because of the offense he played in at Ohio State. Throughout the week, not only was he adept as a blocker but he showed why he is going to be far more reliable in the passing game as a pro. Ruckert looked smooth with his routes and his ball skills stood out, as he made grabs away from his body.

Our biggest riser: Greg Dulcich (UCLA)

McBride reassured that he remains the top tight end in this class, but Dulcich made a statement as one of the guys right behind him. At his best catching the football, Dulcich displayed fluid downfield strides and an understanding of route depth, with vacuum-like hands to reel in everything thrown his way. For a team like Chargers in need of someone to fill the “F” role, Dulcich is worth considering.

Offensive line

Our winner(s): Zion Johnson (Boston College) and Trevor Penning (Northern Iowa)

Johnson was our top guard coming into the week and he only helped maintain that spot with his showing throughout the week. While it took some time for him to adjust to center after spending his time in college at tackle and guard, Johnson quickly found his groove. With a combination of play strength, lateral quickness, leverage and proper hand placement, defenders struggled to get by him. He also provided a surge in the running game.

After facing and dominating small-school pass rushers, this was a big test for the presumed first-rounder. While it wasn’t always pretty for him as he struggled with leveraging and keeping his balance against power at times, Penning improved each day, with his mauler’s mentality and nasty temperament when finishing plays being the highlight of the week.

Our biggest riser: Cole Strange (Chattanooga)

After Quinn Meinerz put together a dominant week coming out of a Division III program, everyone was wondering if there would be another small-school stud to follow in his footsteps, and it was Strange. When isolated in pass protection in one-on-one drills, Strange stymied his opponents with a great anchor, base, and power absorption and the footwork to mirror. Further, he created consistent movement in the run game. Strange made his case to be a Day 2 selection.