Last week against the Indianapolis Colts, we finally got to see former college teammates Mason Rudolph and James Washington find their connection as members of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Washington hauled in four passes for 69 yards and had a couple of the more athletic catches you will see this season.
All the talk is about how much the Steelers need to get JuJu Smith-Schuster going along with Diontae Johnson, the key to longterm success for Rudolph could very well be the emergence of Washington and having the chemistry between them returned.
In fact, as we ponder ways to get Rudolph more comfortable in the offense and improve efficiency, we see an option that includes a heavy dose of a healthy Washington.
Why not plug Washington in as one of the outside receivers along with Diontae Johnson and let JuJu Smith-Schuster roam as the slot receiver. The biggest hit to Smith-Schuster’s stats this season has been the volume of coverage he draws. Working him inside should give him more favorable matchups. And Washington on the outside isn’t going to draw all the double teams but he’s the guy Rudolph is most confident in when it comes to just throwing it up and letting him go get it.
