Mike Tomlin credits ‘Quick And Fast’ Calvin Austin III for success with explosive play

On By Littum

While wide receiver George Pickens gets a lot of credit for the explosive play element of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense, third-year wide receiver Calvin Austin III is a guy you can’t forget.

On the season, Austin has nine receptions of 20+ yards and has posted 28 receptions for 452 yards and four touchdowns. Austin has also really taken off with Russell Wilson at QB after Wilson took over as the starting quarterback for the Black and Gold.

Although slightly undersized, Calvin Austin has thrived this season for the Steelers, stretching the field vertically and providing an explosive element after the catch.

For Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, Austin is a “fast and quick” weapon. He can get in and out of breaks quickly and then has the speed to run away from defenders to create separation, leading to his big play production this season.

“He’s both quick and quick, and so his quickness allows him to get releases down the field, and he has the type of long speed that allows them to create separation, whether it’s across the field or downfield the field.” Tomlin said of Austin and why he’s been able to make explosive plays, according to Steelers.com. “And when you’re fast and quick, you usually position yourself to have the type of stats you’ve outlined.”

When the Steelers drafted Calvin Austin in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Memphis, this type of production from Austin was pretty much what they envisioned. But then he missed his entire rookie season with a foot injury and was relatively quiet in Year 2, even with some big plays offensively.

But this season, Austin has embraced the coaching of new wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni and has really emerged as a key weapon for the Black and Gold. He is undersized, but Austin has taken off for the Steelers with his speed and ability to run all the routes on the route tree.

He has also been needed as the Steelers entered the year with questions at receiver behind Pickens. While he hasn’t always been consistent — seven games with one reception — he’s been a big merchant, finding ways to impact games when he’s targeted.

Calvin Austin has gotten plenty of praise from Azzanni and Wilson, and now Tomlin is adding praise to the “quick and quick” receiver who has become an underrated piece in Arthur Smith’s offense.