Pittsburgh Steelers Offense Skill Position Depth Chart Preview
Dec 7, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) celebrates with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) in the second half against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. The Steelers won 42-21. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
The Pittsburgh Steelers are once again on the rise, and with the improved play of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, they look primed to contend for a division title again in 2015 after some struggling years of transition.
Pittsburgh is a very talented team offensively, and extremely underrated in the passing game after so many years of a ground-and-pound attack. With Todd Haley calling the shots offensively, this is primed to be a very potent aerial attack and the continued development of Le’Veon Bell at the running back position (after his suspension, of course) gives this team the look of a possible contender in the AFC in 2015.
Let’s take a look at their skill position players and how they might help this team in 2015.
Quarterback
We all know Ben Roethlisberger is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, but it’s taken him some time to get back to that level. After a few years of too many mistakes, injuries, and interceptions, Roethlisberger finally appears back on the right track and in the upper echelon of NFL quarterbacks.
And if you’re playing fantasy football, he seems like a safe bet to put up huge numbers this season after his monster 2014 campaign.
Last season, he nearly reached the 5,000 yard mark and threw 32 touchdown passes compared to just nine interceptions. He has re-established himself among the NFL’s elite and looks primed to lead the Steelers deep into the playoffs with a revamped arsenal of weapons.
Backing up Roethlisberger will be Bruce Gradkowski and Landry Jones.
Running Back
Facing a suspension, we won’t get to see Le’Veon Bell right away this season, but he was one of the most markedly improved players in the NFL last season and blew people away with his ability to carry the load in the running game as well as be a dynamic threat as a receiver.
He posted 1,361 rushing yards and eight touchdowns while averaging 4.7 yards per carry, and also wound up catching 83 passes for 854 yards and another three touchdowns. With over 2,200 yards of total offense and 11 total touchdowns, Bell proved that he is arguably the best all-around running back in the NFL right now, and even his short absence to start this season will be felt in a big way by Pittsburgh.
Lucky for them, they were able to snag DeAngelo Williams in free agency from the Panthers. He’s not what he once was in Carolina, but he’s a viable starting option for the interim while Bell serves his suspension, and I think he can be productive enough to keep things going well for the Steelers’ offense.
Aside from Ben Roethlisberger, the next most carries on the team last year came from offensive weapon Dri Archer, who had 10 carries. He returns this year as arguably the fastest player on a team filled with great speed, and should provide them a nice change of pace.
Wide Receiver
Nov 9, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant (10) runs with the ball during the second half at MetLife Stadium. The Jets defeated the Steelers 20-13. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
Antonio Brown made his claim on the number one wide receiver designation last year when he caught 129 passes for 1,698 yards and a whopping 13 touchdowns. The former 6th round draft pick plays like anything but, providing the Steelers with a weapon anywhere on the field.
He can beat you over the middle, he can beat you deep, he can play big in the red zone, and he can be a possession receiver as well as a dynamic playmaker after the catch. I guess big things do come in small packages, because Brown is an absolute superstar and he’s only getting better.
Alongside Brown, Markus Wheaton is developing into a really solid second receiver on this team, posting a 53-644-2 line last season and providing the Steelers with another big play threat. Wheaton doesn’t appear to be on the same level of Emmanuel Sanders or Mike Wallace yet, but he’s turning into the next in a long line of Steelers receivers to produce incredibly well at a very good price (for the team).
With Wheaton developing into a very good number two option, the Steelers have a major luxury in Martavis Bryant, a rookie in 2014 who came out of nowhere to catch eight touchdown passes.
There must be something in the water at Clemson, because between Bryant, DeAndre Hopkins (Houston), and Sammy Watkins (Buffalo), they are cranking out some phenomenal young receivers to the NFL.
Bryant’s emergence last season gives the Steelers an excellent young deep threat who is also a nightmare matchup because of his phenomenal 6-5 frame and excellent size. He caught just 26 passes but he averaged over 21 yards per catch and was by far the team leader in that category.
As if what they had weren’t enough already, the Steelers cashed in on the fall of Auburn’s Sammie Coates and took him in the third round. Coates was being talked about as a possible first or second round pick, so taking him in the third round was a great value for Pittsburgh, which they often get at every pick they have in the draft.
Coates might not contribute heavily as a rookie, but he’s yet another big play threat that can stretch a defense and give them some valuable snaps as the season progresses. He also was blessed with excellent size, so he’s a mismatch in almost every way.
Darrius Heyward-Bey, C.J. Goodwin, and Devin Gardner round out the depth chart. Gardner was originally acquired by the New England Patriots, but the Steelers claimed him when he was put on waivers. He has fantastic size and is a developmental project.
Tight End
Jan 3, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Heath Miller (83) carries the ball as Baltimore Ravens defensive back Rashaan Melvin (38) chases in the second quarter during the 2014 AFC Wild Card playoff football game at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports
The steady Heath Miller returns for yet another season after a 66-761-3 line in 2014. He will once again be one of Ben Roethlisberger’s favorite targets on third down and in clutch situations, and he will continue to go under the radar as one of the most accomplished and solid tight ends in the NFL.
Though Miller doesn’t get the recognition he deserves, his value to the Steelers is enormous, especially since the primary backup is Matt Spaeth, who caught just three passes a year ago. The Steelers added Jesse James from the Penn State program in order to fortify their depth at this position in the fifth round of the draft.
Rob Blanchflower and Michael Egnew will compete for the #3 tight end job.