The Steelers are primed to have an exciting season and here are some predictions for the excitement.
Bold Prediction 1: Steelers Wide Receiver Antionio Brown will finish first in the NFL in catches and yards with 145/2,000.
The majority of people confidently say that Antonio is the best receiver in the league, but think this is ludicrous.
Outside of weeks 4-6 in the 2015 Steelers season where Roethlisberger was not healthy, AB caught an average of 9.6 passes per game and 132.5 yards per contest.
Multiply those averages by 16. 16 represents the amount of games played, and you will come up with 154 catches and 2,120 yards last season
Those numbers do not guarantee that he will end up with that stat line, but it’s a good indication of what he’s capable of.
Parlay that with the fact that the Steelers will be without young receiver Martavis Bryant. Bryant had 50 catches, and 765 yards in 11 games last year.
While gone, the receivers will have to pick up the pace to makeup for his absence. Logic would suggest that Antonio Brown will be asked to step up to make up for Bryants absence this season.
For those reasons it is not out of the question to expect a record breaking year for AB, business will be BOOMIN.
Bold Prediction 2: Le’Veon Bell will finish top 5 in the NFL in rushing yards despite missing 3 games.
If Le’Veon Bell can finish the season healthy, there is no reason why this will not become a reality. He was without a doubt the best Running Back in 2015 during the 6 games he was healthy.
Bell had the highest yards per contact per rushing attempt in the NFL last season at 3.4 yards per attempt.
Had Le’Veon stayed healthy he would have amassed 1483 rushing yards, eclipsing his 2014 total of 1361 yards. He would have finished 2nd to Running Back Adrian Peterson by a lone 2 yards.
Le’Veon’s latest injury has not hindered his ability to explode through running lanes or make any cut. His patience running the ball is that of a seasoned veteran.
According to many Steelers writers, Le’Veon looks as fresh and explosive as any other year. Don’t expect anything less than excellence from Juice this season.
Bold Prediction 3: Markus Wheaton will finish 2015 with a 70/900/8 stat line.
Markus Wheaton is on the verge of becoming a side note in the Steelers offense. He luckily saved his starting job with the year long suspension of Martavis Bryant. I’m not suggesting he sends the man flowers, but he should consider it.
After two mediocre seasons while showing bursts of brilliance, it is time for Markus to step up the way the coaches have wanted him too.
With the continuing emergence of Sammie Coates the pressure is still on Wheaton to not lose the job. Coates continues to impress and appears to be a solid third option, Markus has to work even harder to get better to separate the gap between the two.
Next: Steelers restructure Antonio Brown
Being a veteran in a young Steelers receiver group, I believe he will step up this season. He will be asked to be a leader. Going off of recent Steelers history, Markus Wheaton will get a lot better this season.