As camp opens, there are some questions on offense.

[ark steel]

It's very hard to try and predict offensive production year-to-year even when everything is the same, let alone when there are some major roster turnover.

Absolutely. And giving equal weight to prior seasons makes it even harder. 2 years of data on something as fluid as a 53 man roster, well, IMO, the immediately prior year is more important that the 2nd prior year (I don't know how anyone could argue otherwise) and, as you say, still difficult.

 

[21STEELERS21]

The reality is our offense will be perfectly fine as long as there are no significant injuries. We go to the Super Bowl if our
secondary and overall defense improves.

 

[antdrewjosh]

Todd Haley Says Sammie Coates Is Having A ‘Tremendous Offseason’

Sammie Coates




BY DAVE BRYAN JUNE 8, 2016 AT 01:32 PM
With Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant suspended for the 2016 season, second-year player Sammie Coates figures to have a much larger role in the team’s offense this year. While Coates only played sparingly during his rookie season, he seems to be impressing the coaching staff so far this offseason as the team puts the final touches on their third week of OTA practices.

On Wednesday, Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley reportedly said that Coates is having a “tremendous offseason” so far and that the Auburn product has “turned it up a notch”, according to Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on Twitter.

Coates, who had just one catch for 11 yards in 34 offensive snaps played last year during the regular season, added two more catches for 61 yards in the Steelers playoff loss to the Denver Broncos. The former third-round draft pick also appears to be in much better physical condition this offseason as well.

“The biggest thing I learned is to be in great shape,” Coates said a few weeks ago. “You always think you are in great shape. When I got here and saw the speed changed, I got in better shape when the season went on. You have to be in shape before the season starts.”

While it’s yet to be seen what kind of role Coates will ultimately have in the Steelers offense this season, one would think he will be used to stretch the field vertically the same way Bryant did in his first two seasons. During his college career, Coates averaged averaged 21.4 yards per catch and 12 of his 13 receiving touchdowns at Auburn were 33 yards or longer.

Last season, Bryant registered 10 receptions that went for 20 yards or more so that will certainly be a great number for Coates to shoot for in 2016.

The fact that Haley has noticed Coates’ improvements so far this offseason is very encouraging and hopefully that continues on when the team transitions from shorts to full pads later on in the summer.

 

[Wingman]

The offense will be different. Bell will be back and will be a big threat as a pass catcher. We will have some tight ends step up, they won't be Heath but they will likely be effective. Coates will develop and likely account for some of the production from Bryant. Some of it might go to Bell. Some of it might go to James and Green. Some of it might go to Wheaton. So Bryant will be a loss and if he continues on the path he is on he may just go up in smoke. If AB continues like he is likely to it seems the additional production could easily be made up and possibly exceeded. It is a team sport and it would not require a lot for each guy to pick up a bit of the points pie.

 

[Coach]

But you will agree Coates was known for this in college and in limited time has shown it in the NFL

Bryant in pads had world class speed, enough to blow by DB's.

In practice as a rookie, I did not read much about Coates blowing by our shorter and slower DB's.

I actually think Coates best stuff is he's hard to tackle in the open field. He's a strong dude. While Coates is faster than most, Heyward-Bey I think still has better deep speed.

 

[antdrewjosh]

Bryant in pads had world class speed, enough to blow by DB's.

In practice as a rookie, I did not read much about Coates blowing by our shorter and slower DB's.

I actually think Coates best stuff is he's hard to tackle in the open field. He's a strong dude. While Coates is faster than most, Heyward-Bey I think still has better deep speed.

In college Coates showed the ability to get deep. In preseason games Coates again showed that ability. Let's talk about the stuff we can see with our own eyes.

 

[deljzc]

I don't pay attention to the fluff pieces every off-season about how these guys look in shorts.

And I'm not going to try and predict how Coates will play when he only played 34 ******* snaps on offense last season.

We don't know. We know he will get an opportunity. We know he was a pretty good draft pick, ranked on some boards in the top-75. We know he has talent.

Let it play out....

 

[antdrewjosh]

Some of us do like to read the fluff pieces good or bad breaks up the boredom of the off-season..besides I'm basing what Coates can possibly do on the things he demonstrated in college already and in limited time last year in the preseason. Also IMO WR and CB are the two positions you can actually believe some of the reports because it's the closest thing to actual football. Running routes and covering routes.

 

[Stryker]

Coats has better hand placement and uses his body better than Bryant.

Bryant is faster, but his 1-2 drops a game infuriated me.

If Coats has less drops, then we will not miss Bryant.

 

[Coach]

I don't pay attention to the fluff pieces every off-season about how these guys look in shorts.

And I'm not going to try and predict how Coates will play when he only played 34 ******* snaps on offense last season.

We don't know. We know he will get an opportunity. We know he was a pretty good draft pick, ranked on some boards in the top-75. We know he has talent.

Let it play out....

I think those putting a lot of hope into Coates are setting themselves up for a disappointment. He's not a slot guy . When he's on the field in a multiple WR set, Wheaton will play the slot more often than not.

Coates is fast, ( but not fast like Wallace or Bryant ) type of receiver who inconsistent in terms of catching the ball. He won't have the same impact either player did on natural talent alone.

The examples of guys who came into the NFL with just okay hands, and worked on it the point where they end up with good hands to catch the football are rare. For the most part, either you have good hands to catch the ball or you don't.

 

[antdrewjosh]

That's just it we don't need Coates to be Bryant. He doesn't have to be a all pro for this offense to be successful. The offensive line will be better barring injury. Gilbert Decastro are hitting their stride. Pouncey is back. Big AL whom I'm predicting will win the LT job will be better in his second year. Bell is back and Williams. The Steelers know what they have in Williams now. They can play them both at the same time by lining Bell at WR. That will put defenses in a quandary. Wheaton improved and should improve again. The Brown and Rothlisberger connection is only getting better. Green at tight end will give us a down field TE threat we haven't had since Heath younger years. James will be better in his second year and will benefit from the attention teams will have to pay to the other guys. This is a versatile offense capable of lining up in multiple sets. Bryant will be missed but we don't need Coates to be Bryant. We still have Alot of weapons at our disposal. In the end Bryant may miss us more then we miss him.

 

[antdrewjosh]

Also in limited playing time in real games Coates hasn't dropped the ball so how about we forget what a reporter said happened in practice. Especially when the same reporter said the problem improved as the year went on and rely on what we've seen with our eyes in games. Coates is fine catching the ball until we see him drop the ball in games. Especially when Bryant as dynamic as he is dropped one or two easy ones himself darn near every game

 

[SteelerSask2]

Very limited info on Coates and Andrew said. I like the way he high points the catch from what I've seen in pre season last year. I believe it was the Packers game where he looked quite good. Wheaton can easily step up his production . More chances equals more targets and catches.
I like Bryant and really wished he was playing. He can't handle life and smokes too much weed. nothing no one can do about that but him.

 

[POP]

But that is 6.4 points last year. With last years roster at last years experience level. That is saying that Wheaton and Coates will not grow as players. That is saying that while Greene doesn't have Miller's hands he also isn't faster. I'm dissapointed in the loss of Bryant too. Pretend he is injured, but Pouncey, and Bell are not. Guys pick up slack in the long run and short term. Hell they were one or two plays from the divisional game without Brown.

OK, kind of not the whole story on points per game.

The D's they played sans Bryant were the Pat, 9ers, Ravens, SD and St. Louis. Those are all fairly good Ds.

The D's MB faces included the Browns, twice, Raiders and Colts. Bad, bad D's.

Also, as the season progressed, the O got humming from more reps. To assume MB's presence was 100% the cause of 6.4 more points a game is not accurate, at all. Could he have influenced more points to some degree? Possibly, but it is hardly something to hang your hat on.

 

[Stryker]

I trust Coats' hands over Bryant's hands. I'm excited to see what he can do. He's a HUGE receiver, and hopefully will use his body to box out and be a go to scorer in the red zone. That's his ceiling.

 

[slashsteel]

I trust Coats' hands over Bryant's hands. I'm excited to see what he can do. He's a HUGE receiver, and hopefully will use his body to box out and be a go to scorer in the red zone. That's his ceiling.

Not sure if Coates has better hands or is similar to Bryant in that manner we will see.

Not even sure if Coates by himself can out produce what Bryant could do, as far as MB's explosion that aspect will be missed.

Thing is Coates just needs to be effective, and expand on that playoff performance. With the weapons added and coming off injury, that should be enough. If he does his part.

And I think he will.