Does Ike Hilliard bear any responsibility?

[Chucktownsteeler]

Do you think he won’t dive if he is a TE?

That's some funny stuff right there, I don't care who you are.

No, Claypool has to dedicate himself at honing his craft.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

I believe he excelled in high school and college on God given talent alone. If is now up to him if he "hones" his craft and takes the next step.

Here's the thing, and this is why he is viewed as having so much upside. He grew up in Canada, not the US. There was no Pop Warner growing up. He (most likely) did not get the same top notch coaching in high school as the American kids do. He was only discovered by Notre Dame because someone sent them a youtube video of him.

At Notre Dame, his stats year by year were:

Year GP REC YDS TD

2016 12 5 81 0 2017 12 29 402 2 2018 13 50 639 4 2019 13 66 1,037 13
I compare him to an NBA player who came from another country but never picked up a ball before he was a teenager. A raw athlete who needs the right coaching and experience to hopefully take him to the next level. Much like Green, I believe that the Steelers do not give up on Claypool just yet because they knew he was a project when they drafted him.

[Chucktownsteeler]

Here's the thing, and this is why he is viewed as having so much upside. He grew up in Canada, not the US. There was no Pop Warner growing up. He (most likely) did not get the same top notch coaching in high school as the American kids do. He was only discovered by Notre Dame because someone sent them a youtube video of him.

At Notre Dame, his stats year by year were:

Year GP REC YDS TD

2016 12 5 81 0 2017 12 29 402 2 2018 13 50 639 4 2019 13 66 1,037 13
I compare him to an NBA player who came from another country but never picked up a ball before he was a teenager. A raw athlete who needs the right coaching and experience to hopefully take him to the next level. Much like Green, I believe that the Steelers do not give up on Claypool just yet because they knew he was a project when they drafted him.

I get that, that is my point. But he isn't in Canada now or ND. Corners (much shorter and lighter) routinely bested him this year. I was embarrassed for him. One game he actually shoved the CB (and got an offensive pass interference, which isn't easy to get in the NFL) and caught the ball out of bounds. He is also a "cradiler" meaning he let's the ball get to him and catches it with his body. He has to learn to "high point it" (catch at its apex) and box out the CB using his size and weight advantage. I agree he has upsdie but it is really up to him now if he takes the next step.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

I get that, that is my point. But he isn't in Canada now or ND. Corners (much shorter and lighter) routinely bested him this year. I was embarrassed for him. One game he actually shoved the CB (and got an offensive pass interference, which isn't easy to get in the NFL) and caught the ball out of bounds. He is also a "cradiler" meaning he let's the ball get to him and catches it with his body. He has to learn to "high point it" (catch at its apex) and box out the CB using his size and weight advantage. I agree he has upsdie but it is really up to him now if he takes the next step.

Agreed, and I have always been of the opinion that the team will be a bit more patient with him, but that trial period ends now. He is entering his third year with NFL coaching, he should no longer be overwhelmed and now you have to bridge that experience gap with extra reps, extra study time, extra everything until you catch up. He may be ten years behind on the learning curve, but someone like AB would have made up that 10 years by now with a fanatical work ethic. Now is the time to say that the project is over, time to fly on your own.

[Northern_Blitz]

Here's the thing, and this is why he is viewed as having so much upside. He grew up in Canada, not the US. There was no Pop Warner growing up. He (most likely) did not get the same top notch coaching in high school as the American kids do. He was only discovered by Notre Dame because someone sent them a youtube video of him.

At Notre Dame, his stats year by year were:

Year GP REC YDS TD

2016 12 5 81 0 2017 12 29 402 2 2018 13 50 639 4 2019 13 66 1,037 13
I compare him to an NBA player who came from another country but never picked up a ball before he was a teenager. A raw athlete who needs the right coaching and experience to hopefully take him to the next level. Much like Green, I believe that the Steelers do not give up on Claypool just yet because they knew he was a project when they drafted him.

Claypool also has good production. Just not elite production.

There is no way we give up on him.

And he could easily be better in an offense that throws intermediate and deep balls.