The Steelers’ decision to part ways with Freesman Jackson was due to the receiver’s poor discipline.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 opened a segment on “The Ramon Foster Show” with host Ramon Foster this week, saying he’s been hearing for some time that Jackson “isn’t doing a good enough job disciplinary-wise.” He went on to say that the organization decided to take some of the burden off of Jackson and give Allen Robinson Jr. “a lot of room to grow and develop.”“A-Rob [Robinson] obviously did his job, but Deonte Johnson was really the wide receiver,” he said. “Dionta has his stuff on tape. It’s not that great, but it’s a move.”Deontay Johnson was placed on injured reserve for four weeks due to a hamstring injury suffered earlier in the season. 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’s proud of the work he’s done. “You’ve got to love the fact 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 need 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’s not necessarily a coach’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 that was due to a lack of detail early in 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 players knowing the playbook, knowing what they are doing on a given 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 the new receivers coach, it is important to establish an appropriate level of discipline. Players must hold each other accountable.
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