WR's showing promise

Some people see, to have already walked to the ledge of the upcoming season, and are planning on jumping based off of one preseason game. I, on the other hand, would like to bring up one area that I see nothing but upside, and that is WR. Wheaton looks like a player already, and Brown and Woods showed some flair. Plax being done doesn't concern me especially after what I've read and seen. AB, ES, and the rest of the WR s are one area we seem to be just fine at

 

Well, AB needs to learn to drag his feet along the sidelines

 

I`m slightly concerned with AB(Antonio Brown).
I really hope the big contract didn`t go to his head.
He had some silly penalties for "showboating" last year, fumbled a ball in Dallas that arguably was a turning point in the game, and just in general, has shown a "cockiness" that he did not display, before the fat contract.
IF he can get back to the work ethic, and focus, that earned him that contract in the first place, he will be fine.
He just seems like he has let that money go to his head, and I hope he returns to the player he was, while trying to earn that money.
Just my 2 cents...
Other than that, I agree, some kids showed some true promise, and excellent effort last night.
I don`t know that we are "set" at wr, but I`m not very worried, either.
I think the coaches are gonna have some tough choices to make...
GO STEELERS.

 

Granted salaries have spiked over the last decade, but AB is getting paid more than Hines Ward did at any point during his career. AB still has time to prove his value obviously, but he really needs to start playing at a high level and being the receiver we need.

 

AB has always been a showboater.

 

I honestly think our best combo of wrs would be Brown, Sanders, Wheaton, Brown, and cotch and if moye shows enough get rid of cotch. Now I know that's a lit of youth but brown and Sanders our 4th year players and keeping a vet just because he is a vet doesn't make sense to me. Other then leadership I don't see what cotch brings to the table and it's hard to be a leader from the sidelines. I have no doubt J. Brown makes this team no way are they going to risk losing him.

 

I just don't see how cotch fits in. I know he could be the possession guy but I just don't see it. He's not fast he's like a poor man's Hines ward at the end or his career.

 

Veteran leadership that we are lacking at the position, and a pretty reliable, solid reciever, in 3d down situations.
After what I saw from some of the younginz Sat nite...
I dunno if that`s enuff for the coaching staff to keep him, but, it`s what they will be pondering, I would bet...
Glad it`s not my choice, because I`m torn, 50/50, between keeping him, and lettin some kids have their chance...
If they could play every play, like they did against the Giants, it would be easy to let the youth have their chance...
But, he`s been doin it for awhile, and is a proven commodity... They looked good fighting for a roster spot...
Just sayin...
GO STEELERS!!!

 

Yeah I feel what you are saying and keeping him would benefit some on the leadership side but at the same time he was here last year and didn't step up in that area. I'm guessing I can't say for sure but I'm pretty sure somebody would have had to keep ward from kicking Wallace's ass if he acted like a cancer and not going all out. I'm sorry but I actually like that brown called Sanders out to a point when he took that offer from the pats. I'm also looking at the mismatch side of it as well. JB is tall, quick, and can catch. So if we do ever go 4 wide he is going to be on a team lesser croner or a lber. This is a huge mismatch but that said it all really comes down to can he develop at the rate he is now.

 

I guess, IF I felt that Brown, or Sanders were "proven" leaders, then, I would say, "Fine, let them lead the team"...
I just don`t have the faith in either of them, that I had in Hines, and now, Cotchery, since Plax is outta the picture...
Like I said... I dunno... There is a lotta potential there, both AB, and ES, have shown what they can do... But neither one has the track record of Hines, or Buress(can`t believe I`m sayin that), or even Cotchery....
Ok, now that I think about it, it`s been a while, since we had a pair of true recieving threats...
If Brown can do what got him his contract, and Sanders can stay healthy, we should be fine...
I`m glad I`m not the one who has to pick who else to keep on the team....

 

Yeah it's going to be a pretty interesting battle to watch unfold at wr.

 

The other half of the equation is if they do keep all the young guys will Ben had confidence in them and throw them the ball and let them make a play. Part of the reason Heath has so many receptions is that he is Ben's go to guy, a guy Ben knows will catch the ball. The last few years I have watched Ben have less confidence in his receivers than years past. Look at that timing play that ended the Dallas game or watch some of the quick slants they ran last year. Mos tof the time Ben pulled it back and decided that the defender was too close or that it was too risky and pump faked it or evaded and extended the play the rest of the time the Wr's dropped the ball so his confidence in them is has got to be lacking.

 

We need more games to tell for sure, but if I had to pick only 5 after just one game I'd choose:
A.Brown, Sanders, Wheaton, J.Brown, and JD.Woods ...

Any one of them could play on special teams, and Wheaton, J.Brown, and JD.Woods have all said (2 have shown already) that they don't mind being a blocker or a gunner on special teams.

 

I like our WR group, it will be tough selecting the 5th receiver who makes the roster.The most important thing we should be asking ourselves though is, will the OL give #7 enough time to be able to get it to these receivers where they can MAKE PLAYS? This will be the key to how successful the PGH STEELER offense will be this season.

 

I never got all the love for Crotch around here. What has he done? Nothing! If we're so worried about leadership then they should have kept Ward.
I like the look of our young receivers. Might be some growing pains, but we have some talent there.
I don't know if A. Brown will ever live up to that contract. I still think we paniced over the Wallace holdout and overpaid.

 

He's done nothing to sing about stats-wise (unsurprising for a 4th string), but there have been a number of games where he's provided a pivotal catch or two. ANd every time this happens, I tihnk there's a general shaking of the head as to why Ben doesn't use him more. He also showed a good awareness on broken plays and Ben's extending of the play. That's what I like about him.

However.

If Ben still doens't use him a lot, then perhaps there's a case that there's not much point keeping him around.

 

I seem to recall that he fell down prior to getting to the endzone in a pretty critical situation last year.

I also do not get that he brings leadership to the WR corps - where was this leadership last year. Really can a guy who can barely make the team and is not a former stellar receiver really provide genuine leadership like a future HOFer like Hines?

No way would I let a promising young talented WR go to simply keep an old vet just because he is a vet and there is some sort of perception by fans that this means leadership in some way...

How has he ever proven to be this leader in the past and what make people think he will be a leader now?

The coaches should be the leadership anyway.

 

Good point.
Did Ben appear uneasy/unsettled in Saturday's game to anyone else besides me?

 

Cotch's best seasons were 2006-2008. He was on a down turn in his career before he got here. 33 catches in two seasons, now another year older. Lets face it, there is no upside. Leadership comes from the coaches. It is time for AB and ES to shine. If you cut Cotchery, likely no one picks him up and he is available if a wr gets hurt. Go with young money.

 

No way I'll ever believe That Ward would not have been more valuable to the team even as a fourth receiver than Cotchery. Ward still had 1-2 years of value left to the Steelers Evan as a situational player. Bettis did it for his last couple years.

No way I cut a decent young receiver to keep Cotchery who has done squat since he's been here. If it weren't for Plax getting hurt Cotchery was gone anyway.

 

I still say since we got our new very veteran wr coach here, that need for a vet on the sidelines diminishes. though I like cotchery and ben has confidence in him, but if he's not going to be extended after this year then why lose such good talent?

 

If we cut him before the season starts does that have any effect on the salary cap.

 

Plus we save $1mil in cutting Cotchery this year ($1.5mil salary - 0.5mil in dead money).

 

I like our young Wr. Its gonna be a hard decision who to cut.

Jerricho Cotchery??? You guys can't be serious in cutting him this year. Mann, our WR coach gives Wheaton's surprisingly advanced preparedness credit to Jerricho. He's mentoring wheaton getting him up to speed. Last year it was reported all our young wr look to him help, guidance. What he does on the field fails in comparison to what he does for this team. Is he at the end of his career? sure he is. In fact this may be his last hurrah so let him have it. If either Brown or Sanders goes down we'll need that veteran on the field. Plax is gone and he was fighting for the # 5 spot so it says the team values Cothery over Plax.

This may be the year we keep 6 WR. That's without Dunn as the specialist returner. If Dunn lights it up returning kicks and shows he's the best PR hands down then we're gonna lose a young talented WR so go ahead and prepared yourselves.

A.B./ Sanders/Wheaton/Cotchery/ is a very solid receiver corp. J.D woods/ J. Brown/D. Moye are three talented Young Wr fighting for 1, possibly 2 spots so missed assignments,drops are key and will be the determining factors along with PR abilities. J. Brown probably has the inside track right now but its a long race. Moye is the darkhorse but he's got the height you can't teach. Hopefully whoever gets cut we are able to sign to the PS.

Gilreath is probably gone now. He and Dunn are most likely auditioning ( putting on tape ) for other teams.

Cajun-