Steelers to debut three-headed Martavis Bryant replacement at OTAs

[SteelCrazy]

Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown are healthy, happy and ready to connect a gazillion times over the next eight months. This much we know. This lethal combination is one reason why the Pittsburgh Steelers' high-powered offense won't flinch over a few questions about its roster. Completion after completion, they are always there.

But while Brown and Roethlisberger reconvene this week and running back Le’Veon Bell progresses on his knee rehab, the plans for replacing suspended receiver Martavis Bryant will take shape over the next few months, starting Tuesday at organized team activities.

The Steelers will fill this need by committee. They won't replace Bryant's dynamic playmaking with one person. They will need Markus Wheaton, Ladarius Green and Sammie Coates to do it, plus more help.

Wheaton's next step: Wheaton has played the complementary role. He has played the slot receiver role. Now, in a contract year, he's got a legitimate chance to be a No. 2 receiver. Wheaton has good speed, and the Steelers will want him to utilize it more often when shaking defenders and making aggressive plays on the ball. Wheaton's sluggish start to 2015 while Bryant was suspended for four games can't happen again. Don't be surprised if Wheaton plays frequently on the outside this year. That's natural to him, but Bryant's presence forced Wheaton inside.

The new vertical threat: The Steelers' reconfigured tight end position could feature less singular all-around play, which was Heath Miller’s signature, and more specialized play. Fifth-round pick Jesse James can man the traditional inline tight end role, used for primary blocking and over-the-middle catches. Meanwhile, new tight end Green offers explosion. That's why he got a $4.75 million signing bonus to come to Pittsburgh. He's 6-foot-5 and fast. If you don't have Bryant's skill set any longer, try to find something close to it. In this case, the Steelers found that at tight end. Think vertical with Green. He can stretch the field. He says he has improved as a blocker -- and blocking is necessary in this offense -- but that's not why the Steelers signed him. Green injects more athleticism into the position. Let's see how the Steelers utilize Green and James in red zone packages. They might roll both out together because of their length.

A renewed Coates: After making minimal impact his rookie year, Coates intensified his training, lost some weight and earned the coaches' trust during the offseason. The next four months will be big for his development. Where Coates can separate himself is with big plays, which the offense needs without Bryant. He was a deep-ball specialist at Auburn, and though he wants to be a complete player, his biggest strength is winning downfield with his rugged running style and his size/strength combo. The Steelers will give him every opportunity to earn a solidified role. Year 2 should show a more polished receiver than last offseason, when at times Coates looked hesitant, maybe a little lost.

The deep ball to DHB: The team quickly signed Darrius Heyward-Bey to a three-year deal after learning of the Bryant suspension, which shows the trust Roethlisberger and Todd Haley have in him. He's not a game-breaker, but he's a solid option and there's still speed inside those legs. Heyward-Bey is a productive downfield blocker too. Early in the year, he'll likely get adequate reps as the team searches for a rotational rhythm. Haley isn't afraid to mix and match personnel groupings to strike the right balance. Heyward-Bey will be involved, but if he outplays Wheaton and Coates, that's not a good look.

Don't sleep on Eli Rogers: The Steelers were high on him before a preseason knee injury forced him to injured reserve. He's not a lock to make the team but might earn snaps from the slot with shifty play. He understands the nuances of the position and felt underutilized coming out of Louisville.

[url]http://espn.go.com/blog/pittsburgh-steelers/post/_/id/18895/what-knee-injury-leveon-bell-dominates-pickup-hoops-game[/url]

[8467thekraken]

...just makes my mouth water...


...can just taste the domination...

[Oviedo]

Curious to see if rookie Ayers can earn a spot. IMO if he can demonstrate ability to return far more likely than Rogers to make the final 53

[RuthlessBurgher]

Curious to see if rookie Ayers can earn a spot. IMO if he can demonstrate ability to return far more likely than Rogers to make the final 53

Eli Rogers also has some return ability (29 career punt returns at Louisville).

[Iron City Inc.]

[QUOTE=Oviedo;671000]Curious to see if rookie Ayers can earn a spot. IMO if he can demonstrate ability to return far more likely than Rogers to make the final 53[/QUOTEe
I thought this rook was having a excellent camp before that injury. Some of my buds from the Depo even thought he would have a shot at the 53. He'll have to do it again but he is anything but a comp body. If Ayers beats him out great but if he is healthy he has some talent especially in the slot.

[phillyesq]

All this and you are adding Bell, who had 83 catches for 854 yards in 2014. The Steelers have a ton of weapons, all with different sizes and skill sets. It's a shame that Bryant can't get his act together - throw in his crazy athleticism, and this could be a offense for the ages. As it is, the offense should still be extremely good.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Roethlisberger 'disappointed' in suspended Steelers WR Bryant but says offense remains focused
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger takes part in the first day of organized team activites Tuesday, May 24, 2016, on South Side.
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger takes part in the first day of organized team activites Tuesday, May 24, 2016, on South Side.
PHOTO BY PHILIP G. PAVELY | TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Mark Kaboly BY MARK KABOLY
Tuesday, May 24, 2016, 7:00 p.m.
Updated 11 hours ago
Ben Roethlisberger wasn't about to mince words. He usually doesn't when it comes to Martavis Bryant.

Just days before the start of last postseason, Roethlisberger said Bryant needed to “toughen up.” On Tuesday, the Steelers' franchise quarterback said he simply was “disappointed” in the young receiver whom the NFL suspended for a minimum of one year without pay for violating the league's drug policy for a fifth time in less than two years.

“I reached out to him a lot when it came to the off-the-field stuff the first time around,” Roethlisberger said. “It was very disappointing, and we will miss him.”

Bryant's suspension began immediately. The Steelers placed him on the reserved/suspended list, preventing Bryant from being around the club or in the facility.

Bryant also was suspended for the first four games last season for a failed test.

Roethlisberger called the current Bryant situation unfortunate, but he said he refuses to believe it will affect one of the NFL's most dynamic offenses.

One of the first things offensive coordinator Todd Haley did Tuesday when the team opened its four-week, 13-session, on-field organized team activities at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex was bring up the 30 club — as in averaging 30 points per game.

The Steelers never have hit that milestone. Only 29 teams in the NFL history have.

“It is still our goal,” Roethlisberger said. “We were close last year, but we didn't get there.”

Roethlisberger missed parts of seven games last season. Running back Le'Veon Bell was shelved for the final two months because of injury. Former All-Pro center Maurkice Pouncey missed the entire year. Offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum played in only six games. And Bryant was suspended for the first four games and missed another.

Still, the Steelers scored 26.4 points per game — 28.9 points when Roethlisberger started or played at least a half a game. The team finished 10-6 and came within three minutes of advancing to the AFC championship game for the first time since 2010.

“I think it'll be the same way this season,” Bell said. “Obviously we just won't be doing the same things (without) 'Tav, but we got guys to step in and are going to make big plays for us.”

Bryant has accounted for 14 touchdowns in 21 games over his two-year career.

“He was a big weapon for us, obviously,” Roethlisberger said. “He is one of the best and had a chance to be one of the best in the NFL. He was growing and getting better. It hurts.”

To putting up numbers like they did last season against the Oakland Raiders (597 yards), Seattle Seahawks (53 and Indianapolis Colts (522), the Steelers will need production from unexpected players.

Receiver Sammie Coates, who didn't play much last season, could assume Bryant's role. However, Markus Wheaton expects to help in that regard as well. Coates, the Steelers' third-round pick last season, has one regular-season reception but caught two passes for 67 yards in the playoff loss to the Denver Broncos.

The Steelers also re-signed Darrius Heyward-Bey and brought in playmaking tight end Ladarius Green to help offset Bryant's loss.

“This opens up a lot more opportunities, but it (stinks) that he is not out here,” Wheaton said of Bryant. “We wish Martavis was here. Only thing we can do is move on. We have a lot of hungry, willing and able guys.”

[RuthlessBurgher]

Ben Roethlisberger hopes young receivers “take the next step”
Posted by Josh Alper on May 31, 2016, 12:28 PM EDT


It’s a safe bet that Antonio Brown is going to see plenty of action in the Steelers offense during the 2016 season whether it amounts to enough to set a new single-season record for receiving yards or not.

Less certain is how big an impact the team’s other wide receivers will have. With Martavis Bryant suspended for the entire season, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is looking to the younger members of the group.

“We all need to step up anyway, but we have a lot of guys who carry a lot on their shoulders already, so we’ll all need to step up,” Roethlisberger said. “I’d like to see some of the young guys really take the next step, especially the young receiving guys.”

Markus Wheaton closed the 2015 regular season with a flourish, catching 28 passes for 476 yards and four touchdowns in the final six weeks of the year after making just 16 catches up to that point in the season. All of that production took place with both Brown and Bryant in the lineup, however, and Wheaton’s production hasn’t been as impressive over the rest of his three NFL seasons.

Sammie Coates had a couple of big plays against the Broncos in Pittsburgh’s playoff loss, which puts the 2015 third-rounder into the group of young wideouts with a chance to do more. Coates had only one catch in six regular season appearances, so there’s a lot of work to do to show he can be a consistent threat for Roethlisberger this season.

[URL]http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/05/31/ben-roethlisberger-hopes-young-receivers-take-the-next-step/[/URL]

[fordfixer]

Steelers discuss the possibility of signing Anquan Boldin
Bryan DeArdo -

[url]http://pit.247sports.com/Bolt/Steelers-discuss-the-possibility-of-signing-Anquan-Boldin-45571821[/url]

 Pittsburgh Newsletter

Anquan Boldin has been one of the names floating around Pittsburgh as a possible replacement for Martavis Bryant.

Boudin, a 13-year veteran, is still on the open market after the 49ers opted not to resign him following the 2015 season. Despite being 35 years old, Boldin continues to produce, catching 69 passes for 789 yards last season despite the 49ers' mess at quarterback that spanned the entire year.

On Tuesday, Steelers.com's Bob Labriola discussed the chances of Pittsburgh signing Boldin, who helped Baltimore win it's most recent Super Bowl back in 2012.

"If any of the Steelers young receivers is looking for a player to emulate, he should look no farther than the guy already in their meeting room who wears jersey No. 84," Labriola said. "In terms of work ethic, professionalism, and excellence on the field, Antonio Brown is so far above Boldin that it would be an insult to bring him, or any outsider, in to 'teach the young guys some things.' Brown has recorded at least 125 receptions in each of the previous two seasons – 129 in 2014 and 136 in 2015 – to become the first player in NFL history to accomplish that, and he also holds the NFL record for catches in three consecutive seasons, with 375. He was voted first-team All-Pro in both 2014 and 2015. As Hines Ward used to refer to the job description, Antonio Brown 'is the leader of the wideouts.”'

So, while Boldin looks like a solid choice to replace Bryant on paper, it appears that the Steelers will not entertain the notion of bringing the veteran wide receiver to Pittsburgh, and will instead go with who is already on the team's roster. That list includes the game's best receiver in Brown, along with Markus Wheaton, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Sammie Coates, Eli Rogers, and tight end Ladarius Green (who will be used more as a receiver rather than a tight end), as the Steelers receiving corps will try to show the rest of the league that is still a force to be reckoned with

[RuthlessBurgher]

Wheaton continues honing his craft
Posted 20 minutes ago


By Mike Prisuta

Fourth-year WR devoting OTAs to improving specific aspects of his game.

At OTAs a year ago, it was all about yards after the catch for Markus Wheaton. Whenever a play unfolded that would have resulted in ground being gained after the ball had been received, head coach Mike Tomlin voiced his approval. And when it didn’t happen, Tomlin let Wheaton know about that, too.

There’s a similar emphasis this year, but with a twist.

“Stepping out of hand-tackles or arm-tackles,” Wheaton confirmed. “Out here (in OTAs), it’s jersey-pulling. There was a play early in camp where we were doing ‘Seven Shots’ in the red zone and there was a slight jersey pull that kept me from catching the ball.

“Ever since then he’s been on me about it.”

It’s all about continuing to develop for Wheaton, a former third-round pick in 2013 who’s getting ready for his fourth season with the Steelers.

“It’s just about stepping out of those minor things that could keep us from, in that case, scoring a touchdown,” Wheaton continued. “It’s all strength, hand-fighting. It depends on the situation. Nobody’s perfect, we always have something we can get better at.

“Strength is something we’re always continually working on throughout the season, throughout the offseason mainly. And then hand-fighting, that comes out here, we work on it a lot. When we don’t have pads on there’s a lot of hand-fighting so you emphasize it a little more, definitely work on it out here.”

Wheaton saw his receptions drop from 53 in 2014 to 44 last season. But he also registered career-high totals in receiving yards (749, up from 644), average per catch (17.0, up from 12.0) and receiving TDs (five; Wheaton had a combined two in his first two seasons, both in 2014).

Playing last season on an offense that also included wide receivers Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant and tight end Heath Miller, Wheaton had to learn to produce despite not often being identified as the No. 1 option.

He’ll need to do so this season, as well.

“It’s tough,” he said. “It’s been frustrating at times but it’s part of the game. I love the game. I love being out here with the guys we do have. We wish we could have Martavis with us, but we have a good bunch of guys and I love seeing other guys succeed and thrive and that’s been the case the last couple of years.

“I’m not selfish at all. I want to help out but if it doesn’t come, it doesn’t come.”

The ball might come Wheaton’s way more often, he maintained, if he can more consistently provide what quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is asking on a given snap.

“Being on the same page with Ben is the key for me,” Wheaton said. “Last year it was tough because I was a little new to that inside (slot) spot and we had those big-play guys on the outside.

“It’s really about being on the same page with Ben and taking advantage of those few opportunities that do come your way.”

[URL]http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/Wheaton-continues-honing-his-craft/795d0eda-a3e0-4346-8d48-66de6b87695c[/URL]