Steelers’ Deep Receiving Corps Can Win the Day

Do the Packers, Eagles, and Patriots deserve kudos for being absolutely stacked at the Tight End and Wide Receiver positions?  Absolutely, and there are few, if any, teams in the League which can compete with them in terms of the amount of depth each possesses in the pass-catcher personnel department.  Like these teams I described above though, the Steelers have quietly been able to build one of League’s most potent groups of pass-catchers over the last few seasons.

Heath could have a big day on Sunday. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-US PRESSWIRE

On the outside, the Steelers have speed, speed, and more speed with their Pro Bowlers Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown.  There are few in the game which can match Wallace as a deep threat option.  Since Wallace came into the League in 2009, the former Ole Miss Rebel has logged 171 Catches for 3,206 Yards (18.7 YPC), and caught 24 Touchdowns.  Not to be outdone by his teammate, 2010 6th Round pick Antonio Brown had himself a monster 2011 campaign when he set the team record for All-Purpose Yards (2,211 Total) in a season. Brown will inevitably be asked to do even more on Offense this season as a Receiver and has been nothing but stellar during the preseason period (3 TD’s).

Do not get me wrong, Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown will be big factors in the Offensive strategy and have the ability to create splash plays.  But what Pro Bowl Tight End Heath Miller (51 Catches, 631 Yards, 2 TD’s), and slot guys Jerricho Cotchery (16 Catches, 237 Yards, 2 TD’s) and Emmanuel Sanders (22 Catches, 288 Yards, 2 TD’s) can do well is hurt teams between the hashes.  All three players not only possess solid hands (Miller’s are the best on the team), but Cotchery is a savvy route-runner and blocker that is not afraid to go over the middle, and Sanders has the perfect slot man combination of agility, route-running ability, and hands which have made him such an effective weapon when he has been on the field and healthy during his first two seasons.

But why exactly are Miller, Cotchery, and Sanders going to be such important factors during Sunday’s game?  Well, as I stated before, it has everything to do with Denver’s Pass Defense.  And this is where the Broncos’ weaknesses and inexperience at defending the pass in the middle of the field can help the Steelers.

Denver’s Defensive Issues

Due to the amount of pass catching options Big Ben has at his disposal, all of Denver’s Defensive personnel must be ready to neutralize the Steelers’ passing game.  Unfortunately for the Broncos, they will be without the services of Linebacker D.J. Williams (suspension) and veteran Safety Brian Dawkins (retired).  Sure, Denver might still have future Hall of Famer Champ Bailey, and apparently the Tracy Porter acquisition is supposed to be an upgrade at the #2 Cornerback spot.  But if Denver is forced into sub-packages with multiple Receiver sets, Bailey and Porter will have their hands full with Wallace and Brown.  Not an easy task for any starting Cornerback combination across the League.  Because of this, the Broncos will have to rely on some younger and somewhat inexperienced players to protect the middle of the field against the Steelers’ slot guys and Heath Miller.

In sub-packages at the Cornerback position, players like Rookie Omar Bolden and 2nd Year man Chris Harris will be forced into action for Denver.  And I am pretty sure Big Ben would much rather look in their direction for some easy space than challenging Bailey all night long.  Without Dawkins, the Broncos are not exactly setting the world afire at the Safety position though either.  If the Steelers ramp up the passing game in the middle of the field or deep, Denver will have to rely on the possibly hobbled Quinton Carter, the inconsistent and sometimes torched Rahim Moore, and newly acquired journeyman Mike Adams.  As for the Linebackers, all I can say is “good luck” to Joe Mays and backup Wesley Woodyard in their attempts to stop Heath Miller and keep the seams clear of big plays.

All I have to say is that the Broncos had better hope that their Pass Defense has improved personnel-wise in 2012, because it was not like they were absolute juggernauts against the pass over the entirety of last season either.  Denver is coming off of a year in which the team only recorded 9 total Interceptions (T-31st in the League), 18 Total Takeaways (T-29th), ranked 18th in Total Passing Yards allowed (232 per game), and gave up a 62.4% Completion Percentage to their opponents (24th).  But not only were the Broncos mediocre to subpar against the pass last season, the Patriots exposed Denver’s most glaring weakness during their Divisional Playoff win at Foxborough last January.

The Patriots were the ones which ate Denver alive between the hashes that night as Gronkowski, Hernandez, and Welker had their way with the Linebackers, Safeties, and sub-package Cornerbacks.  Brady dinked and dunked and ripped holes through the Broncos’ Secondary as he stretched them to their breaking point to the tune of 6 Touchdowns through the air.  Best of all, Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil were kept in check by New England’s quick attack over the middle, and this was against a Patriots Offensive Line which was in the midst of a down season.

With the Patriots in mind, if the Steelers want to keep Big Ben upright and get the ball out of his hands as fast as possible, his options in the slot and at Tight End should be the best places for him to look.  And remember Steelers fans, it was Sanders (6 Catches for 81 yards) and Miller (5 Catches for 60 Yards) which enjoyed solid statistical days against the Broncos last January, and it was Cotchery who got open and extended the play for the game-tying Touchdown.  These guys have had success against this Secondary before, and should hopefully receive plenty of chances to shine if Roethlisberger does not want to be pummeled.

Final Thoughts

My hope is that “Boss Todd” Haley and Roethlisberger (not playing on one leg in this game) can take something away from the A.F.C. Divisional Playoff last season and employ it into this weekend’s game.  I mean, what better way to take the home crowd out of the game than constantly picking at the opponent’s weakness until the Steelers’ other Offensive weapons are freed up to do damage?  I know that I will be interested to see how Todd Haley uses his pass catchers this season, and I hope that he can use the Patriots and what they did as an example for this Sunday night’s contest.  While the advantage in Pittsburgh’s favor might not be discussed, it does in fact exist.  And if the Broncos are not ready to bring their collective “A Game” against the Steelers’ entire group of pass catchers, it could very well be a long night for the Denver Defense.

Speak up “Steeler Nation:”  Do you think Pittsburgh will try to employ a similar strategy as the one that New England did against the Broncos?  Will Haley focus on the running game more?  Can the Line hold up long enough even for quick passes from the Shotgun?

Share your thoughts below

Stats Courtesy of: Pro Football Reference.com

Rough weekend buddy? Chad Johnson's mug shot following his domestic violence arrest.

What We Learned This Week in the NFL Preseason:

• Replacement Referees making friends all across the league
• The NFL goes nuts over Andrew Luck’s first game
• Chad Johnson catches a domestic violence case; his first catch in 2 years
• Injuries/Fights dominate Steelers camp (more…)

How many games will #17 ultimately miss? It is a decision which is up to him. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USPRESSWIRE

Just because the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Front Office does not fold like origami and cower in fear of its players cannot truly classify them as “harsh” or anything of the sort.  To me and many others, Pittsburgh’s Front Office has employed a stern and sensible approach with their diva-esque pass catcher, and it is Colbert & Co., not #17, which hold the ultimate “Trump Card” in this stand-off.  In fact, when one takes a look at the entire scenario, it is Colbert & Co. which could make life exponentially worse for “The No Show Speedster,” and can do so with one simple action because #17 has to sign his tender at some point.  The only question now will be: “Will the Steelers’ Front Office resort to playing it if #17 is gone for a lengthy spell away from the club?”

Bench #17 Indefinitely Once He Signs Tender

This move would be the ultimate “pie in the face” “kick to the groin” gesture and I would love nothing more than to see Coach Tomlin administer this awesome form of justice if #17 continues to try to “leverage” his way into whatever it is he wants.  Nevertheless, this move should only be employed under the following circumstances:

1. #17 sits out for at least the first half of the season (8+ games)

2. The Steelers’ Offense can make due without him

3. Steelers are entirely out of Postseason chase

4. Fine Having $2.7 Million & Change as a 2012 Sunk Cost

Granted, all of these have yet to happen, only one Preseason game is in the books, and replacing a 2-time Pro Bowler is a pretty tall order.  Yet what better way to show “His Greediness” that there are consequences for his actions, and illustrate to him that his behavior has repercussions like riding “The Pine Pony” for the duration of the 2012 campaign.

Moreover, what could #17 do about his benching if it occurred?  Seriously, what could he do?  With all of the veterans still in the locker-room, and an entire team focused on a postseason push, there is no way #17 could disrupt anything by whining like a 10 year-old without getting slapped upside the head by a guy like Deebo.  Or if the circumstances arise where the team is not in any sort of postseason race, why allow him to pad his stats over a short season just to enter Free Agency?  He should not be the one benefiting from his actions which were taken at the organization’s expense during a down campaign.

If the Steelers took this specific course of action with #17, he would be out of football for an entire season before he hit the UFA market this upcoming offseason after he signed the tender.  Sure, the Steelers could always give #17 the Franchise Tag in 2013, but if the relationship gets this frosty and actions like the one I just mentioned take place, there is no way Pittsburgh will want his sorry behind to return.  Let #17 test the Unrestricted Free Agent market next year after he has not played in a meaningful game since January of 2012.  Let #17 see what other teams are willing to offer to a Wide Receiver after a year has been erased in the prime of his career.  No franchise was willing to spend a 1st Round pick on him as an RFA this past season, so I am almost positive (barring the stupidity of Washington and Dallas) no franchise will sign him for even Antonio Brown money come March of 2013.

Would a move such as this one be rather under-handed and low for such a classy franchise like the Steelers?  Sure, just a bit.  But you know what else is cold-hearted?  Turning down a contract extension, sitting out and not signing an RFA tender, not contacting the G.M., all of which while a new Offensive system is being installed.  Ultimately, a message like this one mentioned above would reverberate all over the N.F.L., because it would show each and every player that the Steelers’ Front Office is not to be trifled with and must be treated with respect in each and all instances.  They will not cower to anybody and make offers which they feel are at market value for a player’s skill-set and potential.

Final Thoughts

If you have not already gathered, I find #17’s recent actions regarding his contract somewhat childish and in a way downright ridiculous.  Considering the circumstances of how the Steelers’ Front Office reached out to him about a contract extension (apparently worth $50 million), did not lower his RFA tender when they could have, and did so when the team was (and is) in “Salary Cap Hell on Earth,” it just makes my stomach turn.

And for those of you saying “Pay the Man” or he “is doing what anybody would do,” let me get this off my chest.  First, to simply sign a tender worth $2.7 million while a long-term deal is worked out is not that difficult a task, especially when one has almost zero leverage whatsoever in the matter and is ignorant enough to believe that it is true. Second and most importantly, there are countless people in this country out of work or who have been out of work for extended periods during this recession, and numerous others which have to work day-labor and labor-intensive jobs which would never see the type of coin on the RFA tender in their entire lives.

In fact, almost all, if not all of them probably will never see that amount of money combined for their work in their lifetime. (let alone the apparent contract which was offered to him).  And when a person like #17 apparently turns down offers of that caliber, he is not likely to win the hearts and minds of fans of his team.  I am sure he could care less about what the fans think, but if he makes his debut in Weeks 8-10, he might get sick of the cascades of “Boos” which raining down upon him from his home crowd. Hey, I am all for marketing oneself for higher wages/salaries, it would be un-American to not do so if one has the leverage to make it happen.  But that is the ultimate kicker: #17 is facing off against the Steelers’ Front Office, a battle he simply cannot win, and others like Ike Taylor and Jerome Bettis find is a fight foolish to pick in the first place.

While I do not believe the Steelers will go to such extremes as the one I mentioned above to punish a player for an action such as not signing an RFA tender, I do hope Pittsburgh puts the proverbial “heat” on #17 if he continues his behavior into the regular season.  Whether they sign a veteran like Plaxico Burress, get Heath Miller or some of the Rookies like Toney Clemons or Marquis Maze more reps and chances to catch the ball, or even bench #17 outright, this franchise needs to (and will) show that #17′s consequences have actions.  The only questions now are: “How much longer will #17 remain absent?”  and “Will the Steelers make him pay dearly for his actions if they choose to do it?”.

What say you readers:  Are you sick of #17′s actions?  What should the organization do about him?  Should they resort to benching him if he is gone for an extended period?  Is $2.7 million dollars too high a price tag for revenge?  Share your thoughts, comments, questions, and concerns.

For all your Steelers news and discussions follow us on Twitter @nicepickcowherC, follow me on Twitter @DominicDiTolla, and like us on Facebook.

James Jones won't be leaping his way to Pittsburgh any time soon. Credit: Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

It’s time once again to analyze the crazy musings about the Steelers from some guy named Lambert.  What’s on tap for today from our Gather.com friend?  Why it’s his two cents about Wallace and how the Steelers would be smart to replace him by shopping for another receiver.

This isn’t the first time that Lambert talks nonsense about how the Steelers might and should deal with Mike Wallaces unwillingness to sign with the team.  In his first whiff Lambert thinks the Steelers would best off to trade Wallace to Carolina because Steve Smith needs a younger replacement.  Not realizing that the Steelers would never trade their receiver for a lineman (as Lambert suggets) for many reasons, Lambert falls flat in his argument of the validity of such a deal.

Today Lambert continues his out of touch reporting on the Steelers with the idea that the Steelers would look to someone like James Jones of the Green Bay Packers for an option to replace Wallace.  Once again, where to begin?  First we have to look at the kind of receiver James Jones is for the Packers.  Jones is a #3 or #2 at best with most teams in the NFL.  The Packers receiving core is more crowded than a Permanti’s at noon on a Thursday.  Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Tori Gurley, Diondre Borel, Donald Driver, and Jermichael Finley.  That’s a pretty big depth chart.  Finley, of course, is their star TE, but he is a favorite of Rodgers.  Jones signed, strangely enough, last season after the Packers snagged Cobb.  The writing was on the wall that it was a crowded roster and that he would be hard pressed to get big numbers.  Jones does run a really nice shoulder fade – something that Wallace lacks – but that’s about it.  You could call him a one trick pony.  Hmmm, where have I heard that before.

Looking at comparison between the two receivers – Wallace and Jones – they are pretty different.  Wallace runs a 4.33 – one of the fastest in the NFL.  Jones runs a ‘slow’ 4.59.  In fact Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders are both faster than Jones.  So in no way can Jones ‘replace’ Wallace with his speed.  Unless there be rockets in them shoes.

Jones’ stats are also significantly less than Wallace’s.  Even for a pass happy team with Rodgers and Co., Jones caught only 38 passes for 635 yards and 7 TD’s in 2011.  Wallace had over a 1,000 yard season and had 8 TD’s.  The argument can be made that Jones’ numbers suffered because of the crowded roster.  But, you could say the same thing could happen were he with the Steelers.  Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders, Jerricho Cotchery, Hines Ward, Heath Miller in 2011.  Plenty of depth there.  Hines is gone, but the Steelers picked up Toney Clemons in the draft for a possible replacement at the #4 spot.  So where would Jones fit in all of this on the Steelers roster?  Without any significant talents, such as Wallace’s speed, Jones would just fall to the middle of the depth chart.  $2.3 million is a steep price for a #3 or #4 guy.  Cotchery is set to make $825k in 2012 to put it into perspective.  Not a great deal.

Speaking of deals, Lambert never actually states what the Steelers would use as a bargaining chip to trade for Jones.  Wallace?  Timmons? Clark?  Kind of hard to make a convincing argument if you don’t actually list the other half of the deal.

‘Like it or not though losing Wallace is a huge blow for the Steelers. His speed and skill are almost impossible to duplicate, let alone replace.’  - Erik Lambert

Like it or not, Lambert, your notion of trading for Jones is not a good one.  And, once again, it shows your lack of understanding of this team.  The loss of Wallace is not a huge blow – mainly for the reasons I listed above with the Steelers depth at a set of hands (Pope now included).  He may be ‘the talk’ within the media, but that’s because it’s the only dramatic thing happening at camp right now.  Otherwise it’s business as usual in Latrobe.

Nice try, Lamby.  ’Til next time.

Antonio Brown: New #1?

Can Brown fill the #1 role with Wallace sitting? I am anxious to see what happens. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE

After a Rookie season spent on the bench and on Special Teams, Antonio Brown exploded on the scene last season and recorded 69 Catches for 1,108 Yards, 2 TD’s, and even had 1 Punt Return TD to boot.  In addition,  Brown also led the team in Catches for 1st Downs (57), and was even targeted more times than Wallace was last season (123).

And if you can remember back to the end of last season, it was Brown that made the splash plays on a more consistent basis than Wallace was.  While I am not a huge fan of Brown’s End Zone and big-play celebration theatrics (I’m not a fan of that behavior from players in general), he has an electrifying presence on the football field, and possesses the makings of a Pro Bowl and future “elite” Wide Receiver down the road.

Because Chris Rainey was selected in Round 5 of the Draft, and Marquise Maze was signed to a UDFA contract, Brown’s focus will shift entirely to the Wide Receiver position, which could not come at a better time as the team does not have Wallace in the present.  As a full-time Wide Receiver, Brown will get to hone his skills each and every day this offseason, and get a jump on Wallace in terms of his understanding of the Offense and what role he is going to play.  Because Brown is the best all-around (combination of: route-running, hands, speed, 1st Down converting prowess, and ability to get open) Wide Receiver on the team in my opinion, he has the chance to emerge as the “leader of the pack” if Wallace does not choose to join the team until later this Summer, Fall, or even during the season.

If Brown chooses to accept a leadership role and steps up in Wallace’s absence it will be of  great value to him, because it will illustrate to the Front Office a sense of maturity and dedication on Brown’s part.  Maturity goes a long way with Colbert & Co., and if Brown impresses the Coaching Staff to boot, he will likely be rewarded with a contract that correlates to his overall talent either when he becomes a Restricted Free Agent after this season, or an Unrestricted Free Agent after the 2013 season.

Emmanuel Sanders: Chance to Step Up His Game

Sanders will look to step up his game in 2012 while Wallace sits. Mandatory Credit: Chris Morrison-US PRESSWIRE

Although Emmanuel Sanders would likely not benefit as greatly as Brown would in terms of becoming a “star” in Wallace’s absence, he does have an advantageous opportunity to help himself in the process.  Indispensable when he has worked in the slot over the last two seasons, Sanders should continue to improve as he enters the 2012 campaign.

For those of you that remember, Sanders became a reliable target for Big Ben down the stretch in the 2010 season, and was actually ahead of Brown on the depth chart when the season ended.  While Emmanuel’s statistics went down last season due to foot and knee ailments, Sanders had some pretty nice games last season when he was healthy.

At Arizona he had 5 grabs for 46 Yards and a nice Touchdown catch when he stayed alert when Ben was flushed from the pocket and found an open space.  When the Steelers went with the effective dink-and-dunk/get the ball out of Ben’s hands quickly Offense against New England (something Arians refused to employ on a consistent basis for the rest of last season which still burns me), Sanders had 5 catches for 70 Yards and him, Miller, and Brown all enjoyed nice days.  Finally, Sanders was actually the leading receiver against the Broncos in the Playoff game last January, and racked up 6 catches for 81 Yards during the losing effort.

While Sanders’ skill-set is better suited as a possession receiver in the slot as opposed to making plays downfield outside the numbers (in addition to working on the inside like Brown can do), he still has much riding on this season and must take advantage of every opportunity .  Like Brown, Sanders will also be a Restricted Free Agent after this season, and an Unrestricted Free Agent after 2013.  Because of this, Sanders must continue to develop the good rapport he has already established with Big Ben, and work with Brown to learn the new Offense in the coming months.  The key for Sanders to succeed and earn a new contract will ultimately rest with him keeping himself out of the training room and prove to the Front Office and the Coaching Staff he is healthy.  Thus, the more chances he gets and shines with Wallace out of the picture, the more likely he will be sticking around and earning himself another contract with Pittsburgh in a couple of years.

Final Thoughts

Mike Wallace can do whatever he wants, and is his decision to ride this current situation out, and nobody else’s.  What I believe the Steelers should do if they cannot come to a long-term agreement with Wallace is the following:  Let him play out his RFA tender this season.  When he decides to report is a mystery, but he will have to join the team eventually and play in 6 games to accrue the season needed for him to be a UFA.  If this happens to be the case, the Front Office should let him walk and go after a tall-field stretching pass-catcher to add to the Brown-Sanders-Cotchery-and hopefully Toney Clemons combo to groom for the future.

My hope is that the Steelers can come to sort of long-term contract with Wallace.  As far as deep-threats go, there are few better in the game, he is one of the best, if not the best Wide Receiver in the League in regards to that specific skill-set/ability, and anytime he is on the field he is a threat to take it the distance.  He is a valuable piece of the Steelers’ Wide Receiving Corps, and a fan-favorite still among many.  Nevertheless, if he is hell-bent on getting a dollar amount that Pittsburgh’s Front Office cannot scrounge up or chooses not to allocate in his direction, he will likely be on his way out of town sooner rather than later (if the team does not choose to Franchise him after this season).  If this is indeed the case, what better way to help make Wallace expendable and to help the team and themselves in the process, than for Brown and Sanders to become leaders of the Wide Receiving Corps this offseason and continue to develop their overall games.

With Hines Ward gone, Jerricho Cotchery also learning the new Offense, still relatively young (29), and newer to the team as well, this is the time where “all hands must be on deck,” Rosetta Stones are needed, everyone must do their fair share to learn the Offense, gather as much information as possible about their new Offense and their roles in it, and most importantly: get back to the grind.  Giving Big Ben at least some comfort and some familiar targets during the early stages of learning the new system will be of great help, and Brown and Sanders would be wise to step into those roles as the current “WR#1″ sits on the sidelines working out his contract issues.

Statistics Courtesy of: ESPN.com Steelers Page

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