Sports - New Orleans Saints

Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009

Ex-Rebel Wallace off to fast start with Steelers

Things have come a little “quicker” than Pittsburgh Steelers rookie receiver Mike Wallace expected. That’s saying something, since Wallace has run a 4.28 in the 40-yard dash and has been challenged to a race by Olympic gold medalist Michael Johnson.

Wallace, who trained with Johnson in McKinney, Texas prior to the NFL Scouting Combine last February, has caught on fast. The former Ole Miss star has more receiving yardage (437 yards) than any rookie, and he has three touchdowns, though he has caught only 25 passes.

“It’s the perfect situation,” Wallace said in a telephone interview. “(Surrounded by stars on the defending Super Bowl champions) has made things a lot easier. I don’t have to try to be the man. I can just come in and learn.”

Wallace beat out former Texas star Limas Sweed, a second-round pick in 2008, for the No. 3 receiver job behind Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward.

From the start, offensive coordinator Bruce Arians and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger have trusted Wallace, and the Steelers have been rewarded with big plays.

“(Roethlisberger) has given me a lot of chances,” said Wallace, who has only one drop this season. “I just try and catch everything that comes my way. I think every game they have more trust in me, and hopefully that continues.”

Wallace has had: a 22-yard catch in overtime against the Tennessee Titans to set up the winning field goal; a 29-yard catch against the Cleveland Browns; a 47-yard touchdown against the Detroit Lions; a 35-yard catch that set up a touchdown against the San Diego Chargers; a 102-yard performance against the Cincinnati Bengals; a 40-yard touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings; and a 25-yard touchdown last week against the Denver Broncos.

Wallace has played much bigger than he is (6-0, 199).

“I just feel I’m confident in what I can do,” Wallace said. “I’m not really surprising myself, but I might be surprising everybody else.”