PITTSBURGH -- Coming off a historic rookie year, JuJu Smith-Schuster set forth a three-point plan for a Year 2 leap:

Work harder, learn the nuances of the Steelers' offense and "never change for nobody" as a contact-craving playmaker.

That process is going so well that the Steelers are looking for ways to keep challenging their 21-year-old budding star.

While Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown still catalyze the passing game in Pittsburgh, Smith-Schuster has breezed straight past his No. 2 receiver role on his way to 1a.

Smith-Schuster became the NFL's youngest player to record 1,000 total yards in 2017, and now he's leading the Steelers in receptions (42) and yards (561). Smith-Schuster is involved in most of the Steelers' intermediate- to deep-ball packages and converts 66.7 percent of the passes thrown his way.

"I'm just embracing it, having so much being out here," Smith-Schuster said. "Those stardoms under my belt helps me a lot and I'm able to, you know, play with the big boys."

But with that stardom comes a delicate balance for the young playmaker. Veteran Darrius Heyward-Bey, considered a Yoda of sorts in the receiver room, said Smith-Schuster has shown he's "pretty automatic" making plays when the ball is thrown his way but has much more room for growth.

His message for Smith-Schuster is clear.

"Don't be content. Always think you can get better," Heyward-Bey said. "You're only in your second year. There's so much more he needs to learn. He needs to continue to be a student of the game. He has the ability to make plays when the ball comes his way. Are you going to take those next leaps to run better routes, to get to your spots, know your ins and outs of the whole design of the play so we can put you in different positions?"

During training camp, Heyward-Bey and Roethlisberger were among those having sideline talks with Smith-Schuster after plays went wrong. Veterans are heavily invested in his success because they understand his value, and they know what's next -- more attention from defenses.

Brown earns most of the bracket coverage, but Smith-Schuster has predicted "that's coming" soon enough if he keeps wearing out slot corners.

"I want to know what it's going to be like when he doesn't get the ball," Heyward-Bey said. "What if he becomes what AB is right now? Getting the double-teams, are you going to still run your routes hard and bring your same intensity? That's what matters. And I think he'll respond the right way."

That means more physicality.

When Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn turned on the game video for the Week 5 matchup with Pittsburgh, he noticed right away Smith-Schuster's background as a high school safety.

"He'll go to you and finish out the play," Quinn said. "What he does at the end of the catch, he certainly caught my attention. You better bring it, because he certainly does."

Smith-Schuster's in-game goal is to tire out a smaller cornerback with physical run blocking, then capitalize downfield once that mental edge is secured.

Smith-Schuster spent the offseason studying each aspect of the Steelers' offense under new coordinator Randy Fichtner, from the running back's role on screen passes to the routes for all five receivers in a spread set.

His hope is that mastery will help him stay positive when the offense starts slow, because he knows the breakout is looming. His effort in Pittsburgh's gutsy Week 7 win over the Cincinnati Bengals was a prime example: Smith-Schuster dropped a pass early in the game to cue barking Bengals defenders, but he caught three passes on the game-winning drive.

"Just the whole physical aspect, not being scared to play in the box, going down blocking D-ends, linebackers," Smith-Schuster said. "Playing defense, growing up as a kid you're used to running into O-lineman and running backs. I don't fear, I don't shy from that, and that's part of my game."