Pittsburgh Steelers: 3 reasons to keep Sammie Coates around
By Edward Hunt
With Sammie Coates entering the PUP list, the Pittsburgh Steelers will need to consider their future with the wide receiver.
Sammie Coates has yet another injury, and now it is calling into question whether he will be on the team for the 2017 season. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN is reporting that he had a knee scope and will be missing the beginning of training camp.
Sammie Coates was drafted in the third round of the 2015 draft out of Auburn University. He was a relatively raw prospect but had the height and weight that the Steelers covet in wide receivers. In his first year in the league, he was inactive for a lot of the year, but when given a chance showed some good things. With the suspension of Martavis Bryant, more was expected of Coates in his second year. He also showed flashes of talent, but for the majority of the year, he was hampered by a finger injury. This injury made it difficult for him to catch.
I think he will ultimately make the 53 man roster this year and the major reason is that he can play special teams. I like that the Steelers can use him as a gunner and that role is thinner this year without Shamarko Thomas on the roster. He also was the Steelers primary kick returner. Although he was not a danger in this area of his game, he was trusted by Tomlin to do the job.
Before you make a judgment about Sammy Coates, remember that he has only played two years in the league. His rookie year he was buried on the depth chart and his second year he was injured. This makes me think that he can turn the corner in his third year. This has happened with many Steelers before, look at the career trajectory of Cameron Heyward. He was mostly a backup his first couple years in the league.
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The third thing you have to like about Coates is that he is a deep threat. He has the size and speed that teams covet, and he can beat a defense over the top. The Steelers have an aggressive offense that likes to throw deep. Look at their success throwing deep on 3rd and short.