The wide receivers are the worst in the league without Josh Gordon, who is suspended for the entire season. This is the biggest problem on the Browns roster.
At tight end Jordan Cameron has put up some nice numbers, but can he stay healthy for a full season and will he be able to shake the double teams that will be coming his way with Gordon out of the line up?
This is the one area where Ray Farmer has failed miserably so far as G.M. of the Browns. He chose not to select a receiver in any round of a deep wide receiver draft. Instead he tried to fill it through free agency with the signings of Andrew Hawkins (12 catches – 0 TD’s last year), Miles Austin (24 catches – 0 TD’s last year) and Nate Burleson who did score a touchdown last season, but he was cut. The rest of the receiving core is made up of LaRon Byrd, Marlon Moore, Jonathan Krause, Taylor Gabriel and Travis Benjamin who all failed to reach the end zone last season or didn’t even play in the league. That is why this unit will be ranked 32nd out of 32 teams in the National Football League!
The Steelers do have a big time receiver in Antonio Brown, but after that, they have some question marks as well. In the last three years Pittsburgh has lost Hines Ward, Mike Wallace, Emmanuel Sanders and Jerricho Cotchery to retirement or free agency. Brown will still put up some big numbers, but will he get any help from second year wide out Markus Wheaten, rookie Martavis Bryant and free agent pick-ups Lance Moore and Darrius Heyward-Bey?
The one compliment to Antonio Brown for Ben Roethlisberger will be a healthy Heath Miller at tight end. His combination of blocking, moving the chains on third down and being a favorite target of “Big Ben’s” in the redzone will help the Steelers passing attack immensely.
Because of Antonio Brown, veterans Moore and Bey and the potential of Wheaton and Bryant, along with Roethislisberger’s ability to create and make big plays and having his security blanket in Miller healthy, the Steelers passing game should be fairly potent at times this season.
WIDE RECEIVER and TIGHT ENDS ADVANTAGE – STEELERS