The Pittsburgh Steelers have completely overhauled their group of offensive weapons this offseason, and they are hoping that new head coach Mike McCarthy can make magic happen in Aaron Rodgers' final NFL season. The two reuniting is a fun story, but it also amps up the urgency to finally win something significant after a decade of playoff failures.
While wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. is the biggest name among the Steelers' additions on offense, rookie second-round pick Germie Bernard may end up being the most important. Despite Rodgers' history of banishing rookie receivers to a minor role, Bernard may be the right type of player to break that trend.
He has already displayed his football IQ and work ethic during OTAs, but it's not just his pro-ready mentality that makes him a perfect fit with Rodgers: it's his ability after the catch.
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie Germie Bernard is the perfect receiver for this version of Aaron Rodgers
Love it or hate it, the once four-time MVP has become reliant on his receivers to do the work for him. Gone are the days when he would relentlessly attack gaps downfield with precise throws and extend plays to find his receivers late in the play. Instead, Rodgers now wants the ball in his hands for as little time as possible.
Thanks to that style of play, it falls upon his weapons to make up for his lack of aggressiveness. That is a big reason why Kenneth Gainwell was so important to the offense last year, as he was able to keep the chains moving on dump-offs by averaging 7.2 yards after the catch. DK Metcalf was near the top of the league among receivers in that category as well, averaging 7.4 yards.
Bernard managed to rack up 6.2 yards after catch in his final college season, despite not having any true standout physical traits. His toughness and quick feet allowed him to break arm tackles and make defenders miss in the open field, so much so that Alabama even gave him carries occasionally.
If he can continue to excel at turning short receptions into solid gains, while showing he is ready to meet Rodgers' high expectations, he could end up as one of the most productive receivers from this year's class in year one.
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