The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking for a new receivers coach after it was announced Monday that Frisman will take over for Jackson. Before taking over as coach, the former NFL wide receiver had been with the Steelers since the start of the 2022 season.
DK Pittsburgh sports spokesman Dejan Kovacevic said he was not surprised Jackson did not return. The Steelers’ wide receivers have looked like lightning rods for the competition, so coach Mike Tomlin is looking for an overhaul. Kovacevic appeared on The Ramon Foster Show with host Ramon Foster this week and said he’s been hearing for a while that Jackson doesn’t seem to be doing a good enough job disciplinary-wise.
He went on to say that the organization was determined to help Allen Robinson II take some of the burden off Jackson and “help this receiver mature and hold his own.” A-Rob [Robinson] seems to be doing his part, but it’s Deonte Johnson who really has the wide receivers,” he said. “Dionta’s not that good, but he’s got his own stuff on tape. But this is a move: Deontay Johnson battled a hamstring injury early in the season, spending four weeks on the bench. He ended his drought to start the 2021 season in Week 9 against the Tennessee Titans, but it’s been a rough year for the fifth-year wide receiver.
He got into an altercation with star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick after the Steelers’ Week 11 loss to the Cleveland Browns. His efforts were called into question after a Week 12 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. He also had Jaylen Warren’s fumble recovery and appeared to have nothing to do with the fumble recovery. He then made little effort to tackle the Browns quarterback who received the ball. Foster said it was a welcome reminder of Johnson’s personality as a leader in the room.
Despite the controversy surrounding him this season, Foster said he is truly honored to have done so. You have to love that he (Johnson) knows somebody has to run the room,” Foster explained. “It was a few years before I met Coach [Mike] Munchak. “The players really have to step up and challenge each other and hold each other accountable.” Foster said he changed the overall dynamic of their offensive line and helped him grow as a leader. He said it wasn’t necessarily Coach Han’s fault. Dealing with NFL players and all the necessities that come with it is hard work.
The Steelers 2023 receivers lacked discipline.When we talk about discipline, it often happens in situations where a player does or doesn’t do something on the field. A lot of people thought Tomlin wasn’t strong enough to pull off George Pickens’ antics. But Kovacevic said it has to do with the shortage of pieces that prevailed at the start of the 2023 season, when quarterback Kenny Pickett had all kinds of trouble finding receivers. According to Foster, the right level of discipline leads to better results. He explained that performance depends on the players knowing the playbook, knowing what they are doing on a particular play and why. It was clear to him that some of those things would be missing from the Steelers in 2023.
A team as young as Pittsburgh needs a coach who pays attention to the small details, Foster said. It’s also important to make sure players like Calvin Austin III, who missed his freshman season with an injury, get proper training. Regardless of who the team decides to bring in as their new coach, it is important to establish an appropriate level of discipline. Players must hold each other accountable.
