Should Mike Tomlin Give Up on Dri Archer?

After an unimpressive rookie season which amounted in only 63 total yards receiving and rushing, Dri Archer has somehow done enough to convince his head coach that he still has a future in the NFL and with the Pittsburgh Steelers. At the NFL owners meeting Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin had some interesting quotes about Archer and his hopes for him in 2015.

"“I am excited for what 2015 could be for him. I have a reasonable expectation that he’s going to grow in all areas and be a productive player for us. Guys like him usually do that. He is a good guy. He is a smart guy. He is hard working. He has all the variables that usually produce a positive outcome. We are going to give him an opportunity to do it.” – Tomlin on Archer"

What does that even mean? Good guys do finish first? Apparently just because Dri Archer works hard he will automatically become a productive NFL player. His 5’8″, 173-pound frame will have nothing to do with his potential success.

I just don’t understand what Tomlin has seen that we, as fans, clearly have not. Archer was dreadful last season. 63 total yards on offense and returning kickoff he only averaged 17.9 yards per return. I honestly don’t remember him making it past the 20-yard line on any of his returns. His “elite speed” did nothing for him once an opposing player touched him.

Tomlin continued on what he thinks Archer will be able to do next season.

"“He didn’t have as much success as he would have liked [last season] and we would have liked for him to have. So we are obviously going to give him an opportunity to have a horse in that race again. [Returning kicks] was one of the things that attracted us to him in the draft. It’s on his resume. And I am sure he is excited about having an opportunity to be a field flipper for us in that area.” – Tomlin"

So the Steelers drafted a kick returner in the third round last year? Awesome. Also can we assume that Dri Archer is no longer going to play on offense. Is he only a special teamer now? What’s the point of even keeping Archer on the roster? Should Mike Tomlin give up on Archer already?

I’m all for giving Dri Archer another shot, he’s only 23 years old after all, during training camp and the preseason but if the Steelers really decide to make Archer the only return man and after a few games if his career high of 23 yards on a kickoff returns hasn’t increased the Steelers would just be stubborn by continuing to let him fail. They don’t need him in the backfield with Le’Veon Bell being the starter and DeAngelo Williams being the backup now. If he can’t produce on kickoffs it’s about time they call Archer what he is, a bust.

What do you think Steelers Nation? Is Archer already a lost cause or does he deserve another year to possibly prove himself?

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