Steve Smith Sr. addresses struggles of Steelers' DK Metcalf this season

One of the more noteworthy aspects of the struggles endured by the Pittsburgh Steelers offense over the first two weeks of this season involved quarterback Aaron Rodgers and wide receiver DK Metcalf failing to click across the club's first eight quarters of the campaign. 

During Tuesday's edition of the ESPN "Get Up" program, former NFL wide receiver and current analyst Steve Smith Sr. addressed Metcalf's play over the past two weekends. 

DK Metcalf was "pressing" over the first two games of the season

"Pittsburgh is in trouble and DK Metcalf, he's pressing," Smith said, per Josh Carney of Steelers Depot. "...He's put in a position that he's just not used to, and he's looking for the home-run hit, and you can't play that way."

In the Steelers' 20-13 Week 1 win over the Atlanta Falcons, Metcalf recorded four receptions on 10 targets for 40 yards. He was then largely shut down by New England Patriots star cornerback Christian Gonzalez in this past Sunday's game, which New England won to the tune of 20-3.

Against the Patriots, Metcalf tallied four catches for just 27 yards. According to Pro Football Reference, he was responsible for a pair of dropped passes over the season's first two games. 

Could Steelers change things up to help DK Metcalf?

Following Pittsburgh's loss to New England, first-year Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy suggested that Metcalf's "confidence isn’t right." Smith seems to think McCarthy could help bolster that confidence when the Steelers host the 2-0 Cincinnati Bengals this coming Sunday. 

"I could feel and sense that he's pressing," Smith added about Metcalf. "He's also playing in a position that he normally doesn't play. He usually plays about 90 percent of the time outside. Now, they have him playing in the slot doing different things. I have a great amount of respect for how he can play. I just don't think he's playing up to the DK that we know. And he's never been like the technician...DK is like a specimen more than he is like a receiver. And I don't mean that in a disrespectful way. You need to get him out there and let him run and get him the ball, and they're having a hard time doing it. They're tough to watch. And he can't catch."

The Steelers likely won't achieve much of note during what is expected to be the final season of Rodgers' playing career if Metcalf continues to be more of a negative than a positive for the Pittsburgh offense. Metcalf will now try to get right versus a Bengals defense that is coming off back-to-back impressive performances.