Bryant
June 15, 2016 9:10am EDTJune 15, 2016 9:10am EDTNo Martavis Bryant, no problem. Pittsburgh stashed Sammie Coates for this exact reason.
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Sammie Coates-052516-GETTY-FTR.jpg Sammie Coates (Getty Images)
A headshot of Vinnie Iyer
By Vinnie Iyer
@vinnieiyer
Updated at 9:10 a.m. ET
Martavis Bryant blew his Black and Gold(en) opportunity to blow up in the Steelers' explosive offense in 2016. Good thing they already can hear Sammie Coates knocking on the door — loud and clear.
When Pittsburgh drafted Coates in the third round of the 2015 draft, it was the team's typical stash of talent at an already-strong position. With Bryant now suspended for an entire season, Coates has perfect timing as a sensational sophomore to be.
Coates is drawing nothing but rave reviews during his second NFL offseason. Soon after the team found out about Bryant, both general manager Kelvin Colbert and coach Mike Tomlin pointed to the expected grown of Coates as to why the Steelers would be fine without Bryant, without adding another immediate option in free agency and/or the draft.
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What Bryant brought to his first 21 games in Pittsburgh was an incredible rate of big plays and touchdowns. On only 76 receptions, he has posted 14 touchdowns while averaging 17.3 yards per reception.
We already have seen Markus Wheaton try to fill the Bryant void as the big-play complement to Antonio Brown, and he was underwhelming. His experience and more established connection with Ben Roethlisberger will have him start as the No. 2 again.
The Steelers should be first to know, however, that Coates' size (6-1. 212 pounds), speed and skill set make him the virtual clone of Bryant (6-4, 212 pounts). Coates wasn't ready to step in like that in a rookie season for which he was active for only six games with only one catch to show for it.
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To play for Todd Haley and catch balls from Roethlisberger requires work ethic, discipline and conditioning, all of which Coates had to further develop to catch up to the NFL. Another knock on Coates coming into the league was being too much of a pure vertical threat and not enough of a trusted route runner.
Going back to what he did at Auburn, what was most attractive was how he flew downfield with flair. He had cockiness to be the best, a perfect attribute to make a huge jump after a humbling season.
The Steelers have been addicted to top-end speed at wideout since they took Mike Wallace in the 2009 NFL Draft. The Class of 2010 brought Brown and Emmanuel Sanders. Wheaton and Bryant were taken in 2013 and '14, making Coates feel like a luxury reach to some in 2015.
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But this need for speed has been in a high gear since Haley took over four years ago. Despite early issues, he's the offensive coordinator who has understood the quarterbacking strengths of Big Ben best. He's got a guy with a big arm and big legs who loves to buy time. He operates at his most efficient level when there are multiple missiles deployed.
It was not a coincidence that Wheaton woke up when Bryant was also there to flank Brown last season — see the Seattle game. Because Wheaton doesn't have the same size as Bryant or quickness of Brown (no one does), the Steelers' passing game operates better with him as the third option when spreading the field.
That's why Coates has to play a lot and play very well. He's in terrific position to displace Bryant for good if he can prove to be a little more complete on the field and much more reliable off the field.
The Steelers did add a field-stretching tight end, Ladarius Green, to replace retired Heath Miller. But Green already has carried over his durability issues from San Diego and is yet to pull his all-around potential together. Don't assume he can be as reliable as Miller was for so long.
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PIttsburgh's main passing production still will come when it goes three wide. It shouldn't hesitate to roll with Coates in everything it intended to do with Bryant.
Coates is ready to go from a near zero to full throttle. Most other teams would take a huge hit losing a threat such as Bryant. With Coates, the Steelers will fast forward to better results.
