Steelers name Ray Sherman interim wide receivers coach

The Pittsburgh Steelers named Ray Sherman interim wide receivers coach following the passing of Darryl Drake.

Ray Sherman, a former wide receiver at Fresno State University, has coached for seven colleges and 11 NFL teams, including the Steelers as Bill Cowher’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 1998.

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Sherman steps into Drake’s role after Drake’s sudden passing earlier this month, which Juju Smith-Schuster plans to commemorate with a series of wristbands memorializing the late coach.

"“Usually he says a quote to us every day, and the last quote he said to us was, ‘Never choose good when great is available,'” said Smith-Schuster as he read from one of two black-and-gold wristbands. ‘And obviously that means don’t settle for less, don’t be satisfied with what you have now. When great is out there, go achieve it. He will always be in memory of not only this team, but in my heart to everybody he touched.’Smith-Schuster plans to make wristbands for the Steelers’ receivers.“The other wristband read ‘Shut Out the Noise,’ a message the receivers displayed on black hoodies before Saturday’s preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs, courtesy of veteran Donte Moncrief.”"

Smith-Schuster spoke to the Steelers’ website about his new position coach:

"“A guy who has been here,’ said JuJu Smith-Schuster. ‘He has coached everybody from Jerry Rice to young guys like us. It’s the best opportunity to have him step up and play that role for us. Also, Blaine (Stewart) is doing a great job. It just takes all of us together. We are in this together.’‘To go through this at a young age, 22 years old, there are no words that can explain what we are going through. For Ray, he was retired, for him to come out of his way to be here it means a lot not only to myself but to the receivers in the room. We don’t want to change that.”"

Sherman came out of retirement to fill the position, and there’s a lot of symbolic value in someone with experience with the organization helping out in times of need. It’s also a good sign that guys like Smith-Schuster are already reacting well to his presence and keeping a positive attitude after Drake’s death devastated the team in the middle of training camp.

Smith-Schuster’s lack of shyness about his grief and willingness to publicly commemorate his coach also shows admirable leadership on the part of the 22-year old. With Smith-Schuster and Sherman in tow, the receiving corps should be in good hands this year and in years to come after the hurricane of distraction that recently blew over.