Charlie Batch isn’t holding back his thoughts, or expectations, on Pittsburgh Steelers rookie wide receiver Germie Bernard. In a special last week initially reacting to the team’s schedule, Batch shared his thoughts on the team’s OTA workouts that begin today.
“I like the size he brings to the roster,” Batch told co-host Bob Pompeani during the KDKA show. “Anytime you make a move in the second round, you’re expecting that player to play right away. So I fully expect him to get the reps early in OTAs and expedite his learning curve just to see how much he can absorb.”
Pittsburgh didn’t just draft Bernard in the second round. The franchise traded up six spots from No. 53 to No. 47 to take him. That investment showed how serious the team was about landing him, even if part of the motivation stemmed from missing out on Makai Lemon in the first round.
Bernard isn’t a raw rookie. At least, that’s not how he’s been billed. At 22 years old with a four-year college career that spanned three schools, he’s experienced and accustomed to picking up new offenses in short order. On tape, he’s a savvy and smart route runner who earned the reputation of being “Uncle Germ” in Alabama’s locker room for his professionalism and approach. All factors that could get him up to speed in a hurry.
“I expect him to be a big asset to this offense,” Batch said of Bernard.
Aaron Rodgers’ return for OTAs will only help. The more time reps he can build with Bernard in the spring, the better off the two will be come the fall.
Bernard will still need to earn his spot. To Batch’s point, part of the spring is to discover where Bernard’s game is at. His strengths, weaknesses, how quickly he learns from mistakes, his grasp of the offense. Roman Wilson knows how big this offseason is, and will give all he has to carve out a role and keep a spot on the team. Ben Skowronek’s special teams value also gives him an edge.
Still, it’s easy to agree with Batch’s prediction. Bernard should and will get lots of reps and might be the most interesting rookie to learn about this spring. Playing a skill position makes for an easier and more obvious scouting report than an offensive lineman who can’t do his best work in pads. And Bernard is virtually guaranteed for some level of playing time whereas Max Iheanachor and Gennings Dunker could, potentially, begin the season on the bench.
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