Pittsburgh Steelers ink Antonio Brown to 5 year 42.5 million dollar extension

[ikestops85]

But in all fairness isn't the TD production really an artifact of the routes they were asked to run? Wallace was not asked to make the tough catches across the middle of the field.

So what you are saying is Wallace is always having to run the deep routes based on play calling. I guess it's not his fault people think he is a one trick pony. If he never gets the chance to run different routes why are people saying he isn't good running the route tree? Last year Wallace was finally getting some under routes, like the drag, and he was successful running them. That's why his YPC was less then previous years.

I'm glad they signed Brown. I love the kids attitude and his work ethic. I believe he will become a leader much like Hines was. My congratulations to the young man.

[RuthlessBurgher]

But in all fairness isn't the TD production really an artifact of the routes they were asked to run? Wallace was not asked to make the tough catches across the middle of the field.

The "Wallace runs only go routes" myth is constantly regurgitated. Dude's effective on slants, screens, hitches, comebacks, etc. Here is an analysis of Wallace's performance from various depth levels through 6 games last season:

Short passes (aerials thrown downfield 10 or fewer yards)

• Wallace has 205 yards on 22 short pass attempts, which equates to a 9.3 short pass YPA.



Medium passes (11-19 yards downfield)

• Wallace has 117 yards on 11 medium pass attempts for a 10.6 medium YPA.



Deep passes (20-29 yards downfield)

• Wallace has been targeted on a deep pass only one time this season and it didn't result in a completion or a penalty, so he has zero yards in this category.



Bomb passes (30 or more yards downfield)

• Wallace has 329 yards on nine bomb passes for a 36.6 bomb YPA.



Vertical (all medium, deep and bomb passes)

• Wallace has been targeted for 21 vertical passes and posted 446 yards on those throws, giving him a 21.2 vertical YPA.



Stretch vertical (all deep/bomb passes -- the ones designed to really stretch defensive coverage)

• Wallace has 10 targets on stretch vertical passes and posted 329 yards on those aerials. That equates to a 32.9 stretch vertical YPA.

[Oviedo]

The "Wallace runs only go routes" myth is constantly regurgitated. Dude's effective on slants, screens, hitches, comebacks, etc. Here is an analysis of Wallace's performance from various depth levels through 6 games last season:

Short passes (aerials thrown downfield 10 or fewer yards)

• Wallace has 205 yards on 22 short pass attempts, which equates to a 9.3 short pass YPA.



Medium passes (11-19 yards downfield)

• Wallace has 117 yards on 11 medium pass attempts for a 10.6 medium YPA.



Deep passes (20-29 yards downfield)

• Wallace has been targeted on a deep pass only one time this season and it didn't result in a completion or a penalty, so he has zero yards in this category.



Bomb passes (30 or more yards downfield)

• Wallace has 329 yards on nine bomb passes for a 36.6 bomb YPA.



Vertical (all medium, deep and bomb passes)

• Wallace has been targeted for 21 vertical passes and posted 446 yards on those throws, giving him a 21.2 vertical YPA.



Stretch vertical (all deep/bomb passes -- the ones designed to really stretch defensive coverage)

• Wallace has 10 targets on stretch vertical passes and posted 329 yards on those aerials. That equates to a 32.9 stretch vertical YPA.

No one said always or only but it is about the percentage of the routes.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Antonio Brown: Staying with the Steelers is something special
Posted by Michael David Smith on July 28, 2012, 3:32 PM EDT

Antonio Brown’s new deal keeps him under contract to the Steelers through the 2017 season, and Brown thinks that’s just great.

“It’s special,” Brown said at a press conference to announce his signing. “I’m with a unique organization as the Steelers. Knowing that I’m going to be around here for long-term, it’s something amazing. It’s really special, something I take pride in and know it’s a tremendous honor. It provides me with some security and allows me to play football and focus on winning games.”

Brown said that he has kept his focus completely on football and hasn’t even spoken to anyone in his family about his new contract. That’s part of the approach to the game that makes the Steelers think Brown will be worth every penny of his new $42.5 million deal.

“I haven’t even taken time to focus on it. Being at training camp, my focus right now is to be in great shape, get prepared to play preseason games, and get ready for the year,” Brown said. “Winning is all about what’s important now. What’s important now is me focusing on training camp, getting on the same page, learning the offense, and getting ready for the year.”

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin answered a question about Brown’s role on the team, saying that Brown’s new contract doesn’t necessarily make him too expensive to play special teams. Tomlin also said, however, that the Steelers believe they have some young players in camp who are capable of taking the punt return duties over from Brown.

Steelers General Manager Kevin Colbert declined to answer a question about what Brown’s contract means for the future of receiver Mike Wallace in Pittsburgh.

“Today’s about Antonio. If you have questions about Antonio, great. If not, we’re not going to address them,” Colbert said.

The Steelers are in no mood to talk about Wallace right now. But they’re feeling great about Brown’s future. And the feeling is mutual.

[URL]http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/07/28/antonio-brown-staying-with-the-steelers-is-something-special/[/URL]

[RuthlessBurgher]

No one said always or only but it is about the percentage of the routes.

The Steelers have no problem putting up yards. The Steelers do have a problem putting up points.

Both Wallace and Brown put up over 1100 yards last year.

But Wallace has caught 24 TD passes in 34 games over 3 seasons while Brown has caught 2 TD passes in 25 games over 2 seasons.

With points at a premium (coming off a season in which we were 21st in scoring offense), I consider a guy who averages 8 TD catches per year as more valuable than a guy who averages 1 TD catch per year. A difference that drastic simply cannot be explained away by the types of routes guys are asked to run. Wes Welker runs a ton of short crossing routes, but he still caught 9 TD passes last season and 7 TD passes the year before that.

[Oviedo]

The Steelers have no problem putting up yards. The Steelers do have a problem putting up points.

Both Wallace and Brown put up over 1100 yards last year.

But Wallace has caught 24 TD passes in 34 games over 3 seasons while Brown has caught 2 TD passes in 25 games over 2 seasons.

With points at a premium (coming off a season in which we were 21st in scoring offense), I consider a guy who averages 8 TD catches per year as more valuable than a guy who averages 1 TD catch per year. A difference that drastic simply cannot be explained away by the types of routes guys are asked to run. Wes Welker runs a ton of short crossing routes, but he still caught 9 TD passes last season and 7 TD passes the year before that.

We'll see what happens this year without Wallace. IMO Brown's TDs will soar.

[Sugar]

We'll see what happens this year without Wallace. IMO Brown's TDs will soar.

My hope is that Brown gets a whole lot more TD's with or without Wallace.

[Snatch98]

We'll see what happens this year without Wallace. IMO Brown's TDs will soar.

As long as Sanders remains healthy Brown will excel. I still expect Brown to excel no matter what BUT it's naive to think that Wallace didn't help Brown indirectly last season coverage wise.

[Sugar]

As long as Sanders remains healthy Brown will excel. I still expect Brown to excel no matter what BUT it's naive to think that Wallace didn't help Brown indirectly last season coverage wise.

Wallace made opposing D's use their top corners to cover him and usually scheme to take the top off. It's natural that this leaves things open a bit more underneath. Brown is a heck of a gamer and made the most of his opportunities, but we still haven't seen him against the top DB's in most cases. While I have no reason to think that he wouldn't do well either way, it's still a bit of a gamble.

[Snatch98]

Wallace made opposing D's use their top corners to cover him and usually scheme to take the top off. It's natural that this leaves things open a bit more underneath. Brown is a heck of a gamer and made the most of his opportunities, but we still haven't seen him against the top DB's in most cases. While I have no reason to think that he wouldn't do well either way, it's still a bit of a gamble.

Agreed. Wallace was a pretty sizable reason for the success Brown had last season. Here is to hoping we can sign Wallace without breaking the bank, otherwise he can go look for his Fitzgerald money elsewhere.

[hawaiiansteel]

MarkKaboly_Trib via twitter:

Quite sure not many can say they have 3 career starts and signed a $42.5 million contract.

[URL]http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/[/URL]

[BradshawsHairdresser]

MarkKaboly_Trib via twitter:

Quite sure not many can say they have 3 career starts and signed a $42.5 million contract.

[URL]http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/[/URL]

Quite sure not many can say they've amassed 1000 receiving yards and 1000 return yards in the same season (even more impressive with only 3 starts, I'd say).

[hawaiiansteel]

Quite sure not many can say they've amassed 1000 receiving yards and 1000 return yards in the same season

I believe Antonio Brown is the first and only player to ever have done that...

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Kaboly also fails to mention that Brown had a monster second-half receiving, and was also tabbed the MVP by his teammates.

Taking all of these things into consideration, I think the Steelers got a bargain.

[Slapstick]

Agreed. Wallace was a pretty sizable reason for the success Brown had last season.

I disagree.

People said the same thing about Ward when Burress left and it wasn't true then...

If Brown is a player, then he's a player regardless of who is playing the "X"...