Who is the #3 WR?

That's a fair assumption, but how many here thought Martavis would do what he did once he was out on the field? I know a few of us that watched Clemson and had an idea that he had much more upside in the tank than Watkins.

 

I think maybe we're all miscommunicating here. I don't think anybody on here is saying Rogers is going to burst onto the scene, what were saying, is that as of right now, Rogers is going to get a lot of snaps simply due to the role he fills. That could change if he can't get the job done, but it's not like coates is going to line up in the slot. Wheaton has shown flashes but for the most part, he's disappointed. Coates hasn't taken that next step like he should have. He was raw and these things take time, but he needs to step up now. He's been underwhelming so far.

Rogers is more of an unknown, but he's also looked good. Why not go with a slot WR in the slot who has looked good over a guy like Wheaton, who is better outside than in the slot? Wheaton is going to keep Coates on the bench, not Rogers. Rogers will keep Wheaton on the outside though, unless guys can't get it done, then changes will be made

 

This wins.

 

For ****s and giggles most likely

 

That's an unnecessary straw man.

 

Still surprised we are thinking in these terms. Was Bryant a backup when he was getting his rookie snaps in in 2014? Coates is going to get snaps on the outside. He's not going to be riding the bench as a 4th WR. He's going to have specific packages/plays/situations that he will be on the field for.

 

Straw Man = "burst on to the scene...."

Dumb = Labeling players who will play as backups. Cody Wallace is a backup, he's role is to backup Maurkice Pouncey, he will only see the field if Pouncey is injured.

Sammie Coates already has a field stretching role/red zone role in the offense. He's being used. He has packages that he will play in each week.

Eli Rogers and Sammie Coates are not in competition for any snaps at all. One isn't ahead of the other.

 

Yes Blast I agree with you.
Rogers may tear it up. Conventional wisdom says he'll have to pay his dues before he gets a starting position. I want to see the players on the field who give us the best chance at winning no matter who that is.
If Rogers gets the start I'll take my lumps, but if he doesn't, look out!

 

I disagree with the Straw Man comment.
I get what you're saying about Cotes and Rogers having different skill sets, but there's no denying that Cotes is ahead of Rogers from an experience/meaningful game time stand point. I think what myself and Blast are in agreement on is that Rogers will be brought along a little more slowly than some are suggesting.

 

well some are at midseason form

 

I'd argue you are giving far too much weight to this factor, to the point where you are subtly denying what's been happening in the pre-season.

I also continue to think there is a huge disconnect between labeling WRs on a depth chart, and understanding playbooks/route combinations/situational football....

Antonio Brown is the Z/Flanker. He will get snaps at Split End, and Snaps in the slot, but his primary position has been Flanker.

Multiple WRs are going to get snaps as the X/Split End. This has been Wheaton's spot, but he has struggled his entire career, mainly because he doesn't beat a jam very well, and that's the first thing a Split End needs to do to be successful. This is where Coates is going to earn his mark, take reps, and ultimately replace Wheaton

Multiple WRs are going to get snaps at the Y. While normally viewed as the the Slot, the Y can be many different positions. In many of the Steelers wide sets, the Y is a 2nd Flanker on side of the split end (think the traditional Haley Bubble Screen). Rogers is not going to be on the field as the 3rd WR blocking for AB. But when we go to those bunch sets, and it's 3rd and manageable, you will see Eli on the field, in the slot, running the crosses and jerk routes that slot receivers make their bread and butter on.

Now, a lot of time the Y WR is the TE. With our lack of a TE to stretch the seam, I expect there will be more routes from the slot to achieve the proper route separation/distribution. Is Eli Rogers going to be the Slot WR in formations/calls intended to stretch the seam? I'd say very unlikely. You might use DHB or Wheaton in the slot on that 3rd and long type of play call, while giving Coates the outside.

So again... this nonsense over who the starter is going to be is wrong and pointless. The Steelers are going to use 4, if not 5 WRs in their 3 WR sets.

Coates minimal NFL game experience in comparison to Eli's experience in the slot in college, is relatively meaningless

 

Wheaton has been a good WR for the Steelers, but he'll get a good offer from another team that he won't refuse. I can see a team like the Cowboys or Patriots giving him a contract the Steelers won't match.

2017 WRs: Brown, Bryant (if he lays off the weed) Coates, Rogers and DHB

 

Coach Tomlin still praising Rogers ..He really has an understanding of playing in that interior space and he's consistently put that on display...Rogers is a true guru of the game he watches and he learns and he anticipates how the Defense is trying to play ..His College tape shows all these things the NFL scouts simply messed up ..Eli will start because he is the best option we have in the slot ...As I stated earlier the Slot WR is much differnt than the outside..On the outside you have a designated route almost all of the time whether against man or zone....The slot is much different his routes depend on what the other WR routes are compared to who matches up with him in man and he must also be able to know where the holes are in the zones and run routes to get into those holes..

Tomlin said it all..He knows what to do,he knows how to do it , and he knows when to do it...That is why he will Start...

 

To clarify, since you are unwilling to move off this "starter" conversation, to a more reasonable conversation of role/usage/formations, allow this one question. What % of snaps do you expect Rogers to play in weeks 1 thru 4?

 

Depends on how many sets we use with a slot WR ? If we run 30 snaps with a slot he will get at least 20 of them and so on.I am being reasonable when we go slot WR it will be Rogers at least 80 % of the time...

 

Didn't really want to put it this way ,but here it goes ...Eli is smarter than Coates and Wheaton...This is the biggest key to playing in the slot ...

 

This is painful to me to say......

I Agree!

Cajun

 

Regardless of my feelings on the ability to judge football IQ... this doesn't answer my question. I'm now more confident in my original conclusion.

 

ah maybe your other post was in response to someone else....

Anyways... this should be fun. So is it 20 out of 30 snaps (66%)? Or is it 80% of the time we are in slot? Or are you just throwing **** at the wall?

Last year the Steelers ran 11 personel (3 WR Formations) 65% of the time. As a breakdown of snaps per week, the Steelers ran 11 personel about 45 times a week.

So based on your 80% threshold, you think Eli Rogers is going to play about 35 snaps per week or 571 snaps over the course of the season. It will be interesting to see if you're monkey poo sticks.

I think you are probably closer to correct with the 66% threshold.

And again, it's very important to understand that not all 3 WR playcalls/formations are going to be a fit for Rogers. He will be used to his abilities, others will be used as the 3rd WR in 11 personnel groups.

 

Very nice breakdown of the WR position for our team.
I personally don't care who is labeled the starter. I want the team to win.
This whole thing started with PWP hitting everyone over the head with his latest prediction.

 

Same here. I only care about getting the right players on the field in the right situations and executing.

I think Eli Rogers is the right guy to run stab and smash routes from the slot on 2nd down, or 3rd and manageable.
I think Eli Rogers is the wrong guy to ask to reach block on our zone runs or bubble screens
I think Eli Rogers is the right guy to run a 1st down drive route across the field
I think Eli Rogers is the wrong guy to stretch the seam on inside 9 route

I think that type of conversation is worth having

I think conversations regarding who is #3, or who is THE slot WR, and things of that nature... are basically pointless.

Given that PWP predicting Rogers would play both 66% and 80% of the slot snaps... I think we can fairly dismiss his prediction as rather pointless as well.