Football
Veteran wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. had to make difficult adjustments this offseason, leaving the franchise he called home for six seasons to join a new team. But Pittman also needs to make adjustments to jell with Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers has numerous hand signals and pre-snap adjustments at the line of scrimmage, making him a tough quarterback for new receivers to work with. It’s why few young receivers get much playing time and production with Rodgers early on.
Those hand signals challenge all receivers, though. Former NFL wide receiver Adam Thielen, who finished his career with the Steelers last season, talked about how stressful working with Rodgers was. Practices and game days with Rodgers were trying because of how much he demanded of his receivers.
Pittman is experiencing that now. Appearing on the Pat McAfee Show Monday from training camp, Pittman detailed the challenge of adjusting to Rodgers.
“It’s definitely fun. Aaron, I…let’s just say I thought that I knew football. And then I met Aaron. Then I realized that I have a lot more football to learn,” Pittman said of Rodgers, according to video via the show.
Pittman is an experienced receiver who has worked with several different quarterbacks throughout his career. He’s been productive regardless of who is under center, and that should be the case once again in Pittsburgh.
But there will be a learning curve in Pittman’s time with Rodgers. The 42-year-old quarterback is very detailed, has a ton of hand signals pre-snap, and practices like a maniac. He ensures the team has correct checks and clearly defined terminology, and his receivers know exactly where they should be.
When something goes awry, Rodgers isn’t afraid to let his teammates hear about it. We saw it last year with the likes of Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson and Pat Freiermuth. There’s an expectation level to meet, and if you don’t, you won’t see the ball — or even the field, in Wilson’s case last season.
Pittman doesn’t have to worry about that, but he needs to get on the same page with Rodgers. Fortunately, he has put in time off the field with the veteran quarterback, partaking in his “Last Rodeo” trip. He has even worked out with Rodgers in the past.
How that translates to the football field remains to be seen. Working with Rodgers will likely challenge Pittman, though.
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