The Pittsburgh Steelers have agreed to a one-year deal with veteran broad receiver Robert Woods, including one other identify to the depth chart after failing to handle the place through the 2025 NFL Draft. At 33 years outdated, Woods is close to the top of his profession and his low-cost one-year, $2 million displays it.
What can the Steelers anticipate to get out of him? A movie room on his strengths and weaknesses damaged down as a receiver and blocker. On the finish, we’ll additionally briefly point out some numbers.
Robert Woods – The Receiver
Woods’ tank is operating close to empty, and he was by no means a hyper-athlete popping out of USC greater than a decade in the past, operating a 4.51 40 with a 33.5-inch vertical on the 2013 NFL Mix.
He makes up for that by successful towards zone protection. A savvy veteran, he’s in a position to sit down and discover the tender spots towards protection. Watch him settle right here and modify to this cross thrown deliberately broad away from the closing defensive again, all whereas with the ability to flip and defend himself away from the hit for the downfield completion.
Woods is No. 2 in all these clips. On this speedy one under, he’s on the backside on the road of scrimmage.
Woods works effectively in scramble drills and stays in his quarterback’s imaginative and prescient. Right here, he does a pleasant job breaking away and discovering house, although a stumble on the finish prevents him from ending the play. He’s prime of the display screen pre-snap right here.
In opposition to man protection, his lack of separation is an issue. Whereas his releases off the road are nonetheless efficient, Woods struggles to create house on the break level. A pair examples of him having bother getting away from cornerbacks, caught all through a lot of the route. Backside of the display screen within the two clips right here.
Robert Woods – The Blocker
Block? That’s one thing Woods can nonetheless do at a excessive stage. Blocking is about effort and Woods places his coronary heart into it, a requirement in OC Arthur Smith’s offense. The very best instance is right here, Woods driving and ending by means of the top of the play.
Backside of the display screen right here.
But it surely’s hardly the one one. Right here’s a handful of stalk blocks, cracks, and insert blocks, throwing his physique round to clear a path for the runner/receiver.
He’s comfy aligning in tight or as a wing, usually used to dam EDGE rushers on boots to his aspect earlier than leaking out or releasing as a receiver.
Robert Woods – The Numbers
In 2024 with the Texans, Woods caught 20 passes for 203 yards and 0 touchdowns. It was the primary scoreless season of his profession. He additionally dealt with punts and kicks, 15 and 5 tries, respectively.
Per Professional Soccer Focus, he logged 282 snaps on the surface and 115 within the slot through the 2024 season. In 2023, he practically had a 50-50 break up within the slot (364) as he did out broad (337). There’s inside/exterior versatility right here, although his talent set is best fitted to the slot.
Remaining Ideas
Woods is an inexpensive veteran signing that mirrors Allen Robinson II in 2023 and Van Jefferson in 2024. Not simply in profile, the cheap one-year veteran, however in type. Good-sized veterans who’re efficient blockers and might win towards zone however will wrestle versus man and received’t produce a lot downfield. All three guys are nearly the identical sort with the identical talent set.
Pittsburgh presumably needed so as to add a veteran to what’s nonetheless a younger and rising broad receiver room. There’s actually worth in that, however I query how impactful it would actually be, particularly if Pittsburgh is angling for Woods to “mentor” George Pickens. Robinson and Jefferson actually didn’t appear to get by means of to him and I wrestle to see Woods all of the sudden altering that. Possibly it’s for the others.
General, it’s an inoffensive signing and affords a distinct talent set in comparison with what’s within the room. There are the massive/vertical playmakers in Pickens and DK Metcalf, the smaller, speedy wideouts in Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson and Scotty Miller, and the particular groups ace in Ben Skowronek.
Woods’ roster spot shouldn’t be thought-about assured, however he’ll have the within monitor to at least one coming into camp. It might imply Pittsburgh’s six receivers are already set in Pickens, Metcalf, Austin, Wilson, Skowronek, and Woods. The odd man out for a gameday roster spot might be fascinating and will come right down to Wilson versus Woods.
