This & That: Wanting to be great

Chip on his shoulder: Eli Rogers took his lumps a few weeks ago after he was inactive for the Ravens and Jaguars game following a disappointing performance against the Bears where he fumbled a punt. He could have gone in the tank and felt sorry for himself, but instead, he took the opposite approach. He worked diligently in practice daily, and was once again given a helmet on game day when the Steelers played the Chiefs and Bengals.“It was a time where God takes things that you are passionate about or love, you have to reflect,” said Rogers. “I had time to reflect. I took the time to become a better person within me, finding things within me. I wanted to play, but I took this head on and I am better now. I come to work hard every day and try to get better every day.” Rogers, along with the other receivers, could have their name called more this week after Martavis Bryant was told by Coach Mike Tomlin that he will be inactive against the Lions because of social media postings. Rogers is willing to accept whatever comes his way, always wanting to prove himself and show what he is made of. “I have an even bigger chip on my shoulder than when I first got here,” said Rogers. “I am an undrafted guy. I want to be great. I don’t want to be average. I am not here to just be a participant. I don’t want to get a participant trophy. Everybody participates. I am here to be great, the best me I can be. I know I have greatness in me.”Do your job: As the defense has improved each week, there has been a common theme that has come from the players. Week after week, the message has been the same. And it’s been simple, almost too simple. Do your job. “I think simplicity can be misleading,” said Heyward. “It’s a simple task, but it’s hard to follow. You want to do so much. You feel like you can help out so much. If you do your job you are going to be put in good situations and it’s going to allow you to make plays. You don’t have to overthink. When we do that we are a much better team.”It’s human nature to want to go the extra mile, do a little more, especially when you are working as a team to get a win. But when you do what is asked, what your responsibility is, it all works out in the end. “You can trust all of the guys that are out there so you don’t have to do too much, just do your job,” said Ryan Shazier. “You know somebody is going to make the play. And when they make the play, we have fun with those guys and enjoy it. It’s been great the way we have been playing lately. We have been having a lot of fun.” Shazier has been on some talented defenses in his four seasons with the Steelers, but he feels like this group has so much talent across the board that guys don’t have to step out of their lane to help others, but instead can just, do their job. “Honestly, I feel like this might be the first year that everybody can really just do our job,” said Shazier. “We don’t have to do too much. Every time we do what we need to do, plays come our way. I feel like this year is the first time it’s really come together like this.” Staying put: The NFL has confirmed the Steelers game against the New England Patriots on Dec. 17 at Heinz Field has been protected, and therefore can’t be flexed into a different time slot. Kickoff is 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS. They said it: Heyward on getting pressure on Lions’ quarterback Matthew Stafford: “He is a heck of a quarterback and if you don’t get pressure on him he is going to dice you up. I know our back end has held up pretty good, but it’s important for us to get the pressure so they can get some more picks.” Shazier on if he has any celebration moves after a big play: “I don’t have any pre-planned stuff. I am just focused on football. And I can’t dance. When I do make plays, I just do whatever.”

This and That

This & That: Wanting to be great