Steelers: WR speed is the key in Denver

The Pittsburgh Steelers go into Denver missing some pieces but they still have speed.

The Steelers have had a few injuries over the course of the season. They’ve gotten it worse than any other in that department and now they’ve lost Antonio Brown. But if they can still win it’ll be with speed, and particularly that of the wide receivers.

The injuries have been particularly hard on the offense. The Steelers are going into Denver without Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell, and DeAngelo Williams. They’re also missing Beachum and Pouncey. When losing Maurkice Pouncey becomes a “oh ya, we’re missing him too” moment you know you’ve had some injuries.

On top of that we really can’t be sure what Ben’s condition is going into the game. Without a doubt, the passing game will miss Antonio Brown. The Steelers offense will not be the same, and it will not be as good. But can it still win the game?

Possibly.

If Manning played like he did this season, and the defense plays like it did last game, then this is shaping up to be a low scoring game. The Steelers have been especially good with turnovers and sacks this year. Also in run defense. The match up fairly well with the Broncos.

But that Broncos defense playing a Brownless Steelers, not to mention all the other injuries, is tough. Last time these two teams played Brown put up 189 yards on 16 catches and two touchdowns. That’s quite a hole in the offensive game plan.

But the other Steelers receivers had solid games too. Wheaton had 6 catches for 62 yards and a touchdown and Bryant had 10 catches for 87 yards. Ben threw for 380 yards all told.

What’s really going to buffer the loss of Brown is the speed of the remaining wide receivers. Martavis Bryant ran a 4.42 40 yard dash time in the combine. Wheaton ran a 4.45 40 yards dash time. Darrius Heyward-Bey ran a 4.30 40 yard dash time. Drops or not, that’s a threat. And Sammie Coates who might get some time on the field ran a 4.43. The “slow” guy on the field is going to be running a 4.45.

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This is going to create some matchup problems. All four wide receivers are a threat to run by you and go long on every single play. Martavis Bryant is also 6’5″, and Coates and Heyward-Bey are 6’2″. Bryant’s route running is improved and Wheaton’s is very good. Heyward-Bey has had a little bit of a comeback in Pittsburgh.

Martavis Bryant said of Brown’s condition, according to Lindsay H. Jones of USA Today, “We’ve got a lot of great receivers on this team, so everybody is going to have to step up if he can’t go.”

Cam Heyward expressed a little bit more urgency, “They better be ready. It’s time to step up. It’s the playoffs. We don’t have time to teach.”

Broncos safety Darian Stewart said according to Cameron Wolfe of the Denver Post, “They got speed. That’s it. Speed kills. We just have to be aware of the deep ball. Stay in front and tackle.”

Meanwhile, Heath Miller’s 6’5″ height and solid hands will be roaming the field and Fitzgerald Toussaint came up with 60 yards receiving in the last game. The awareness of the threat of speed will provide openings for them.

Also for someone like Markus Wheaton who has more refined route running ability this will provide some opportunities. And Bryant’s improved route running will be on display. Really, with how much you’re going to have to play the deep ball against this team it’s not going to be hard to get open on a curl or an out route.

The other thing this threat of speed will accomplish is opening up running lanes. Losing Brown will certainly free up a defensive back because Brown won’t be double teamed, but they’ll still have to stand pretty far back off the line of scrimmage because with this team, any catch could go long.

Playing the pass so heavy is one of the reasons Fitzgerald Toussaint and Jordan Todman combined for 123 rushing yards on 28 carries. That’s a very respectable 4.4 yards per carry against a solid Bengals defense from two players none of us heard of before on a huge stage.

Next: Steelers at Broncos: Searching for a glimmer of hope

So without a doubt, losing Brown is rough. But if the defense plays like it can play and this is a low scoring game, then the threat provided by the speed of the wide receivers can open things up enough to make plays and provide mismatches.