The Pittsburgh Steelers are absolutely loving what they see with rookie receiver Germie Bernard. He was forced into the WR2 role in Week 6 due to injuries, and he did not disappoint. He caught 11 passes for 87 yards, as well as the go-ahead touchdown in overtime to secure the win. He had some issues with drops early in the season, including one that led to an interception in Week 2, but that seems to be cleaned up now. As long as the rookie keeps developing, he could become the WR1 sooner rather than later.
Kim Klement Neitzel / Imagn Images
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Germie Bernard (17) scores a touchdown during overtime against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium.
It wasn't a perfect day for Bernard. In the first quarter, he made a bad mistake where he caught a fourth down pass beyond the sticks, but then ran backwards and got tackled, which turned a first down into a turnover on downs. That's the kind of play that just can't happen, and it likely cost Pittsburgh at least three points with the field position they would have been in. That's going to get drilled into his head throughout the week.
Bernard is aware of the mistake he made, and he took the criticism to heart. While making an appearance on Not Just Football with Cam Heyward, he spoke about what happened on the sidelines after that play.
"Mason McCormick, he's like, 'Sir, what the f*ck are you doing!? Get the first down! Go forward!'" Bernard said. "He's cussing me out and I'm like, 'Yeah, yeah I need that.'"
The Steelers can hire all the coaches they want to teach different things, but there is no better coach in the world than failure. How someone responds to that failure determines the growth afterward. Bernard messed up in a terrible way and Mason McCormick chewed him out for it. Instead of trying to run from McCormick or his coaches, he owned up to this error and took it like a man before going back out onto the field for the next series.
Bernard displayed great mentality after that whole situation, as he went on to have the aforementioned amazing game. He took the heat that he needed to, learned from the blunder, and moved on with his life. Now that the Steelers got the win and the rookie had the game of his life after that, he and McCormick can laugh about that whole situation. The guard will likely make sure to keep yelling at him whenever he needs it.
Barry Reeger / Imagn Images
Pittsburgh Steelers guard Mason McCormick (66) pass blocks against the New York Jets during the first half at Acrisure Stadium.
Many Steelers fans had visions of Diontae Johnson during the game, as he had a tendency to run backwards in an attempt to get around the defender and make a big play, although it rarely worked. Luckily, Bernard has been praised as a player who does not make the same mistake twice, so the expectation is that he never gives up a first down like that again.
Steelers Proved Old Issue To Be Wrong While Handling Bernard
Bernard likely got the chance to keep playing only because the Steelers had no wide receiver depth, but he still rebounded from that blunder and played great. In previous years, whenever a rookie would make an error, it felt like their season was over after that. One mistake would send the young players to the bench so they could think about what they did. All trust was gone.
That kind of coaching seems to be the wrong way to handle things. It makes a player lose confidence in himself, and he rarely gets a real chance to prove that he's better than that. The fans see him as that one mistake, as opposed to the talented player that he supposedly is. Bernard making up for his mistake and then some helps prove that keeping rookies on the bench is not how to handle these issues.
What do you think about Bernard praising McCormick for cussing him out? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
#SteelerNation