Plays of the Year: JuJu’s somersault catch is nearly a touchdown

Steel City Underground presents “Plays of the Year” featuring the tops runs, catches, hits and everything else in-between from the Pittsburgh Steelers 2018 season.

The continued controversy surrounding Antonio Brown and whether or not the Steelers can replace the All-Pro receiver would be valid questions if not for another wide receiver already making waves on the roster: JuJu Smith-Schuster.

Clutch cannot begin to describe the upside of JuJu, who will enter his third NFL season in 2019. That’s because of plays such as this one, which would appear to be someone making the impossible possible, if Steelers fans weren’t so used to seeing players such as AB and Martavis Bryant make similar players throughout the years.

Smith-Schuster makes this spectacular grab in Pittsburgh’s first game against Cincinnati, but it would be marked short of a touchdown by an eyelash upon further review:

The Steelers were able to take their first lead of the game late in the second quarter thanks to a 75-yard drive on eight plays that was capped by a one-yard touchdown dive by James Conner. Tight end Vance McDonald literally ran over Vontaze Burfict to earn a 26-yard catch-and-run, but it was the following play that made the highlight reel.

With Darqueze Dennard playing tight coverage, Smith-Schuster got open and Ben Roethlisberger found him one-on-one. Roethlisberger threw a beautiful arc of a touch pass that allowed Smith-Schuster to get up in the air. While Dennard and Smith-Schuster both had their hands on the ball, it was Smith-Schuster who landed on top of the defender with control and looked like he did not touch the field, sliding on the crown of his helmet into the end zone for a touchdown.

Upon further review, Smith-Schuster grabbed the ball and pinned it against Dennard’s helmet, but he was ruled down just inside the one-yard line due to his own helmet being the first body part (if you can call it that) to touch the turf just outside the goal line.

End-over-end, a somersault of a play that showed how much heart JuJu plays with: as well as the play helping his team secure a win over AFC North rival Cincinnati.