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Bryant's upside in 2017?

C

Coach

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I make no secret that I think Bryant is a special player, and worth about 7 points when he plays. He's the NFL's best deep threat and still developing on certain routes.

Suppose he tests clean and has his heart set on football. What could a good season look like for him?

80 catches, 1,600 yards, and 15 TDs. I'll say yes, he's capable of that!
 
I think 20 yards per reception is high given all that they'll ask of him this year. He won't just be running deep patterns and will need to catch some of those 10-yard curl routes on occasion too. I think if all goes extremely well for him and the offense he could have 75-80 receptions for 1,100-1,200 yards and 10-12 touchdowns.
 
I hope he doesnt achieve those numbers cause you could only get that kind of touches targets with Bell or AB on the sideline. I think that is the general Steelers problem right now. I just watched top 10 receivers of the 2000s. Ward came on at 5,but there were several guys on the list without a ring. Its really about doing the little things that help you win. Ward was the ultimate for that. I think if Bryant marginally surpassed AB say 1300 yards and Brown is 1200 that is realistic. Then you get that balance. On top of those two you still have Bells receiving. Juju, Rogers and the TEs. Oh and Ayers. Dont worry Coolie.
 
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Seriously? That would be great....but the dude has been out of football for a year. I will wait and see if he is the player from 2 yrs ago first before I
start making a prediction such as only a few players have ever had.
 
I saw this comparison on Steelersdepot and thought it was a interesting one, showing just what Bryant is capable of. If not more.

Martavis Bryant 2014-2015 (21 games) 76 RECS 1314 yards 17.29 yards per carry 14TDs REC percentage 54.30%
Calvin Johnson 2007-2008 (21 games) 73 RECS 1287yards 17..63 yards per carry 8TDs REC percentage 51.40%
 
slashsteel said:
I saw this comparison on Steelersdepot and thought it was a interesting one, showing just what Bryant is capable of. If not more.

Martavis Bryant 2014-2015 (21 games) 76 RECS 1314 yards 17.29 yards per carry 14TDs REC percentage 54.30%
Calvin Johnson 2007-2008 (21 games) 73 RECS 1287yards 17..63 yards per carry 8TDs REC percentage 51.40%
Click to expand...

You nailed it and unlike Calvin Johnson, Martavis Bryant wasn't even the primary target when he accomplished the above!
 
given that he was one year away and that the team is loaded with talent I'd say 65 catches, 900 yards, 10 TDs
 
Litos said:
given that he was one year away and that the team is loaded with talent I'd say 65 catches, 900 yards, 10 TDs
Click to expand...

I would say these numbers are more reasonable....I just did a quick check...in the history of the NFL 1600 yds was reached 20 times....a couple of players have done it a couple of times......of those twenty times only twice was the 80 catches and 15 td marks have been reached a long side the yards amount of 1600..Rice in 1995 @ 122 catches 1848 yds and 15 tds.....and Moss @ 111 catches 1632 yards and 17 tds......so yeah...It would be great Coach but it will not happen...Bryant has been away from the game...if he reaches Litos' numbers I would be ecstatic.
 
Coach said:
You nailed it and unlike Calvin Johnson, Martavis Bryant wasn't even the primary target when he accomplished the above!
Click to expand...

Calvin wasn't surrounded by this kind of talent and having Ben throw to him....
 
Last two years we've had receptions just under 400 times. Brown got it 136 and 106 in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Last year 2nd was bell with 75 and the year before was 50 for bryant.

80 catches for bryant this year seems unreasonable.
 
I'll be happy with him playing a full season. I'm absolutely rooting for him to go out and be the man. He can really be part of pushing this team over the top. Sky is the limit.
 
When he catches his first bubble screen for no gain it's an improvement on last year.

I really don't think his true value will be best measured by his numbers, but rather how he will command defenders that will in turn create more space for others.

I also expect an increase of our frustrations when 35 yard attempts on 3rd and 2 fall incomplete


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ark steel said:
Last two years we've had receptions just under 400 times. Brown got it 136 and 106 in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Last year 2nd was bell with 75 and the year before was 50 for bryant.

80 catches for bryant this year seems unreasonable.
Click to expand...

That is on Haley. 5 catches over 16 games = 80 catches. Bryant can run some TE routes too.
 
Coach said:
That is on Haley. 5 catches over 16 games = 80 catches. Bryant can run some TE routes too.
Click to expand...

My point is, to get Bryant to 80 catches will take the ball out of the hands of one of the top 2 WR in the league, one of the top 2 RB in the league or make your offense more predictable when you are only throwing to one of 3 people.

Pretty big reach to compare him to Calvin when the teams that are on are so disparate.
 
You have a point Ark. Especially since Bell had 75 receptions as well last year.

Now our offense may turn to more of a passing O with 4WRs. If that is the case, all of our receivers will get bigger numbers. 80rec is possible. Will it be because our offense becomes more of a passing attack? Will it be because AB gets hurt and misses some games? I'm not sure. But one thing is for certain, Bryant must be healthy all year and keep clean for it to be possible.
 
Cope said:
You have a point Ark. Especially since Bell had 75 receptions as well last year.

Now our offense may turn to more of a passing O with 4WRs. If that is the case, all of our receivers will get bigger numbers. 80rec is possible. Will it be because our offense becomes more of a passing attack? Will it be because AB gets hurt and misses some games? I'm not sure. But one thing is for certain, Bryant must be healthy all year and keep clean for it to be possible.
Click to expand...

I don't mind so much if he takes some touches from bell as it also lowers his chances for injury. 80, is possible, I just think not a reasonable expectation for someone who was out for a year.
 
I think spreading the ball more evenly makes the offense less predictable, making teams cover every player more intensively on every play. Ideally, each player will have about the same amount of catches, with Juju and the TEs on the next tier.
When you focus your offense around one or two players it makes it easier to defend against. If a team decides to take away Brown or Bell, they could be taking away 40-50% of your offense. But if you're spreading the ball more evenly among the receivers, TEs, and backs, then teams can't focus their defensive game plan around one player. And if a team decides to take away AB or Bell, then its easier to pour the ball on the other 3-4 skill players. They won't have to 'step up' because they'll always be up and used to seeing the ball in every game.
 
Bryant's full capability would the ability to make Antonio Brown cry. You know the kind of selfish cry he is capable of.............

(Pot stirrer, not smoker)



Salute the nation
 
Bryant is going to stretch the field and guarantee that a safety has to respect the deep ball. The double coverages on AB will be that much harder with Bryant on the field. This means we should see a 130+ catch season from AB. So what about Bryant? If he fights for the ball, he's going to catch some bombs for us and have several big splash plays. His presence at mid-field to the red zone is going to get him a lot of TD catches due to his size.

The other question is who else besides AB will benefit from having a field stretcher out there? I will say this helps us at TE and this also opens things up for our slot WR.
 
ark steel said:
My point is, to get Bryant to 80 catches will take the ball out of the hands of one of the top 2 WR in the league, one of the top 2 RB in the league or make your offense more predictable when you are only throwing to one of 3 people.

Pretty big reach to compare him to Calvin when the teams that are on are so disparate.
Click to expand...



Well, Bryant can do more with the ball in his hands than Bell or AB as a receiver. Just look a the yards per catch, Red Zone % to TD's, and such. Bell is more of a safety value type of receiver, good to move the chains, but far from a threat to take it a long distance.

We go to Brown a bit too much, teams picked up on it, doubled or rolled coverage his way, which hurt the offense at times.

Bryant sure can get 80 catches. IMO, if he's clean and healthy, he needs more targets and his presence alone on the field makes us much harder to defend.
 
Coach said:
Well, Bryant can do more with the ball in his hands than Bell or AB as a receiver. Just look a the yards per catch, Red Zone % to TD's, and such. Bell is more of a safety value type of receiver, good to move the chains, but far from a threat to take it a long distance.

We go to Brown a bit too much, teams picked up on it, doubled or rolled coverage his way, which hurt the offense at times.

Bryant sure can get 80 catches. IMO, if he's clean and healthy, he needs more targets and his presence alone on the field makes us much harder to defend.
Click to expand...

Too much in 2015, to be sure. Not overly much in 2016 considering we were playing 4th and 5th String WR much of the time. I'd suggest that your #1 WR ought to be catching 80+ balls per year, and, IMO closer to 90+. Not over 110 or so, unless you just don't have other options.
 
Coach said:
Well, Bryant can do more with the ball in his hands than Bell or AB as a receiver. Just look a the yards per catch, Red Zone % to TD's, and such. Bell is more of a safety value type of receiver, good to move the chains, but far from a threat to take it a long distance.

We go to Brown a bit too much, teams picked up on it, doubled or rolled coverage his way, which hurt the offense at times.

Bryant sure can get 80 catches. IMO, if he's clean and healthy, he needs more targets and his presence alone on the field makes us much harder to defend.
Click to expand...

I have to disagree, Brown is the team's most electric WR after the catch, ih his stats don't show differently is because he is the focus of the D and is always double covered, but don't tell me Bryant is more elusive than him
 
Litos said:
I have to disagree, Brown is the team's most electric WR after the catch, ih his stats don't show differently is because he is the focus of the D and is always double covered, but don't tell me Bryant is more elusive than him
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Not putting words into anybody's mouth but I think coach was more along the lines of AB has to make more than one juke to gather distance where as Bryant makes one juke and he's to the house. No question on AB's elusiveness but with him doubled that means he has to make more people miss as opposed to Bryant, he only has one to make miss.



Salute the nation
 
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