Steelers’ Sammie Coates looks to repeat early season success against Ravens
Fresh off a bye week, Pittsburgh Steelers’ wide receiver, Sammie Coates, is ready to pick up where he left off in week five. Injuries to one of his hands limited his production for two weeks, slowing the impressive beginning to his season.
In the absence of Martavis Bryant, Coates has emerged as the Steelers’ deep-threat receiver. In his first five games of the season he had at least one catch for over forty yards. Against the Jets, he would suffer a laceration and fractured finger on the same hand that would severely limit his ability to catch passes.
Coates missed five of his eleven total targets after his injury, targets that would have resulted in touchdowns had he properly secured them. In the following two weeks against Miami and New England, Coates recorded only one reception for a total of four yards. A week eight bye gave the receiver time to recuperate, which couldn’t have come at a more opportune time.
Darrius Heyward-Bey is listed as the second receiver alongside Antonio Brown this week. His performance in wake of injuries to Coates and Markus Wheaton has earned him the spot. Coates has the opportunity to reclaim his starting role against a very susceptible Baltimore Ravens’ secondary.
Coates was not included on the Steelers’ injury report for Wednesday, indicating that Coates is nearing or at 100% health. The time for a fractured finger to heal is roughly three weeks, which is how long he has been sporting the injury. He will have to prove he can once again properly secure a pass to regain the number of snaps he recorded prior to his ailment.
The Ravens’ secondary has been extremely generous to wide receivers this season. With Jimmy Smith likely covering Antonio Brown for the majority of the contest, Shareece Wright will be assigned to the Steelers’ second primary receiver on the field. Wright was limited in practice Wednesday with a thigh injury, but he is expected to be on the field Sunday.
Wright, for those who remember, was responsible for spoiling the Steelers’ fourth-quarter comeback attempt last December against Baltimore. On fourth and fifteen, Ben Roethlisberger heaved the ball downfield to Wheaton, but Wright made a play to end the Steelers’ hopes of continuing their win streak to four games.
Only a couple weeks removed from meniscus surgery, it is very likely that Roethlisberger suits up for Sunday’s division game. The Steelers have led the AFC North all season, but a loss in Baltimore would drop them out of first place. The Steelers know the importance of a win on Sunday and, if Roethlisberger is able to play, he definitely will.
With Roethlisberger on the field, the Steelers’ offense has a better chance of utilizing the deep ball. Landry Jones‘ has made attempts to take shots down the field in the past, and were usually severely under thrown. Roethlisberger’s strength to get passes down the field compliments Coates’ speed, which is what makes the two of them such a dangerous threat to secondaries.
Wright has not played particularly well against the deep pass this year. Against Cleveland Browns’ wide receiver, Corey Coleman, Wright was unable to keep Coleman from scoring on two separate occasions. In one instance, Coleman used his superior athleticism to easily secure a catch over Wright.
Coleman stands equal to Wright at 5’11”, but Coates has an advantage over the defensive back with his 6’1″, 212 lbs frame. Coates has prevailed over better cornerbacks earlier in the season, and Wright offers a favorable matchup to get back him back into the swing of things.
On Thursday Coates was interviewed on the status of his injury, and the sophomore wideout had this to say:
"“I feel great. My hand feels great. It’s getting better every day, so that’s a good thing.”"
With the Steelers’ arsenal of receivers healthy, the Ravens simply do not have enough help in the secondary to cover everyone on the field. It will only be a matter of time before any of the Steelers’ receivers break open for a big gain. Coates needs a big game coming off the bye week to prove that his injury is a thing of the past, and that he can continue to be a deep threat for the Steelers.
Next: Steelers: AFC North Standings Week 8
Despite his two lackluster games, Sammie Coates sits atop the NFL’s leaders in yards per receptions with 21.3, second only to Rob Gronkowski‘s 22. Expect the receiver to once again make big plays on the field as the Steelers clash with the Ravens to continue holding their firm grip on the AFC North.