Mike Tomlin Has Excessive Expectations For DK Metcalf. He Is not Afraid To Share Them, Both.

The Pittsburgh Steelers matchup with the New York Jets on Sunday begins their 2025 season. For followers and the teaching employees, it will likely be the primary actual search for a slew of newcomers to the Black & Gold, together with star broad out DK Metcalf, who inked a $150-million contract with the Steelers this after being traded from the Seattle Seahawks.

With the departure of wideout George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys, it makes Metcalf the clear high possibility for quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers passing sport, and Tomlin is anticipating dominance from the latest Steelers wideout instantly.

“I count on him to be dominant,” Tomlin instructed host Bob Pompeani throughout his weekly Mike Tomlin Present through the group’s YouTube channel. “He’s a matchup problem, one which we’re intimately conscious of. We competed in opposition to these guys relatively not too long ago. We performed them late within the season on the market in 2023 in a major sport. We all know what he does to defenses. Not solely defensive gamers, however defensive coaches when it comes to being delicate to the matchup part of him.

“A man like him, their affect goes past their statistics. It’s that matchup part. It’s the alternatives that they supply others due to the issues it’s a must to do schematically to reduce him, notably in situational moments.”

Tomlin talked about Metcalf’s matchup versus Pittsburgh in 2023, an outing that noticed Metcalf lead all Seahawks receivers in catches and yards, posting 5 receptions and 106 yards versus the Steelers protection. Final season was Metcalf’s first since 2021 that he didn’t surpass 1,000 receiving yards, falling simply shy at 992 yards and 5 touchdowns. Though the manufacturing was not on par with earlier seasons in general yards, Metcalf posted his fourth season eclipsing 15 or extra yards per catch. Huge performs remained a daily a part of his resume.

Metcalf will garner a lot of the eye from opposing defenses within the passing sport, however Tomlin emphasised the opposite weapons within the offense that might open issues up for Metcalf, together with Calvin Austin III and tight ends Jonnu Smith and Pat Freiermuth.

“Make no mistake, DK [Metcalf] is a significant part of it and dictates lots of schematics,” Tomlin stated. “However they’re gonna be a committee of others primarily based on circumstances and offensive personnel package deal that might fill the quote-unquote quantity two function.”

DK Metcalf will get his first alternative to showcase his dominance as a Pittsburgh Steeler on Sunday. Dealing with star Jets’ CB Sauce Gardner, it received’t be straightforward. Gardner held Metcalf to only one catch for 3 yards on 5 targets of their first assembly in 2022, with Metcalf responding with 4 catches for 66 yards on 9 targets in final seasons opener between the Jets and Seahawks.

Aaron Rodgers guides Metcalf and the Steelers new-look passing sport versus the Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.