Despite suspensions, Steelers remain explosive

The Pittsburgh Steelers will open the 2016 season with two key offensive players suspended – running back Le’Veon Bell and wide receiver Matavis Bryant.

While Bell will be back in Week 4 against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Steelers will be without Bryant for the entire season. Bryant, the team’s top redzone threat, is serving an indefinite ban for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. When active, Bryant is a starter in the Steelers offence and has posted 15 touchdowns in 21 career games.

With Bryant suspended, Antonio Brown is in prime position to repeat as the league’s leader in receiving yards. The 28-year-old superstar has topped 1,600 yards in each of the past two seasons and, despite his small stature at 5-foot-9, has emerged as one league’s premier perimeter threats. Just as he did while Bryant served a four-game suspension to open 2015, Markus Wheaton will start opposite Brown. Wheaton enjoyed a productive 2015 season and could top the 1,000-yard mark this season in a contract year. 
 

*Suspended for 2016 season.

One player who remains a question mark is second-year receiver Sammie Coates. The 2015 third-round pick recorded just one reception last season but could be pegged for an uptick after posting 61 receiving yards in the team’s Divisional round loss to the Denver Broncos last season. Coates, however, proved he still has a ways to go in the preseason, when he hauled in 7 catches for 114 yards but fumbled twice in one game.

Veteran deep threat Darrius Heyward-Bey will round out the team’s receiving core, but should not be counted upon as a consistent option for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

A key change for the Steelers offence comes at tight end, where for the first time since his rookie year in 2004, Big Ben will without Heath Miller. Miller retired after 11 seasons, all with the Steelers, leaving the team thin at the position. The Steelers signed Ladarius Green in free agency to take over as the team’s starter, but the 24-year-old missed all of training camp with an ankle injury and headaches. Second-year pro Jesse James is slated to start for Green, who will miss at least the first six games on the PUP.

The Steelers have grown used to replacing Bell, who when healthy is arguably the league’s top running back. After dealing with a four-game suspension to open the year, Bell started six games before tearing his MCL and PCL. While Bell was out, veteran backup DeAngelo Williams proved his value in his first season with the team. Williams rushed for 907 yards, his highest mark since 2009, and 11 touchdowns. Williams will once again be leaned on the workhorse while Bell is suspended, but value will likely drop significantly afterward.

While many teams would struggle to replace the production of both a starting running back and receiver, the Steelers appear well positioned to handle the loss. If Roethlisberger can find success in the short game with James, the Steelers should have little trouble continuing to stretch the field with their receivers.

Despite the distractions and losses, the Steelers could once rank among the league’s top offensive units in 2016 and that could pave their path to a third consecutive playoff berth.

Key notes

Missing Piece: Defence remains a question mark for the Steelers, who could be without their top player defender to open the season. Defensive end Cameron Heyward suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 3 of the preseason, putting his Week 1 status in doubt.

Early Test: First-round pick Artie Burns is slated to open the season as the team’s starting cornerback against the Washington Redskins. Veteran William Gay has been moved to the slot, leaving Burns to match up against either DeSean Jackson or Pierre Garcon in his first NFL game.