‘It is Like, What Do You Do?’: DK Metcalf A Powerful Participant To Defend, Calvin Austin III Says

DK Metcalf didn’t have an ideal Steelers debut, however he did sufficient to point out how potent a weapon he might be. Though he had a drop or two — on a number of incomplete connections the defensive again arrived early, however officers didn’t throw a flag for move interference — he turned on the jets in the course of the first half. On two receptions, he demonstrated what his measurement and pace can do with critical yards after the catch.

“To see that in dwell motion was positively one thing that I believed was very cool,” Calvin Austin III mentioned of watching Metcalf in a sport with the Steelers for the primary time whereas talking with Gerry Dulac on 102.5 WDVE. “To see him get a bubble [screen], go inside, and hit again exterior, to virtually rating. That’s when it’s laborious to [defend]. It’s like, what do you do? You attempt to cease the down-the-field route, however when you may simply get it to him proper now…”

The Steelers traded for DK Metcalf in the beginning of the offseason, giving up a second-round decide for him. In addition they signed him to a brand new contract, totaling $150 million over 5 seasons. At that worth, you’d reasonably not see the drops, however early kinks usually are not irregular.

Neither Metcalf nor Aaron Rodgers performed in the course of the Steelers’ preseason video games, so final Sunday was their first dwell motion collectively. Metcalf didn’t catch considered one of Rodgers’ 4 landing passes, however he did have 83 yards on 4 receptions.

“You bought a number of guys with that potential on one offense, it positively retains the protection guessing,” Austin mentioned. “Simply [Metcalf’s] character, his demeanor has been an enormous addition, not solely to the receiver room, however to the entire offense. I believe he’s positively gonna be huge for us and gonna make some huge performs for us.”

The Steelers clearly assume so, contemplating what they invested in him. That goes for not simply the draft decide obligatory to accumulate him but additionally the contract he signed. On high of that, they circled and traded George Pickens.

In six seasons with the Seahawks, DK Metcalf caught 438 passes for six,324 yards and 48 touchdowns. He was extra productive early in his profession, however that’s principally because of a change at quarterback. In his first three seasons, he performed with Russell Wilson, nonetheless in his prime. Over the past three years, he performed with Geno Smith, who is solely not as a lot of a passer.

However Aaron Rodgers is clearly the very best quarterback Metcalf has ever labored with within the NFL. He won’t be in his prime anymore, however Metcalf might nonetheless simply have a profession 12 months. His goal share ought to rise, particularly because the Steelers enhance at sustaining possessions. In Week 1, he drew seven targets on 29 focused move makes an attempt, practically one in 4. A little bit fine-tuning and we must always see 100-yard video games as a daily incidence earlier than lengthy.