When the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Martavis Bryant in the fourth round of the 2014 draft, they knew they were getting one of the best deep threats in college football. After all, Bryant averaged an astounding 22.2 yards per catch during his career at Clemson, and many of his 13 touchdown receptions were on long, splash plays.
So when Bryant’s first NFL catch ended up being a 35-yard touchdown, could anyone really be surprised?
In an interview with PG’s Ray Fittipaldo, Bryant seemed to feel it was in the cards, “It happened just like practice. They say you practice like you play. It was good things worked out.”
It certainly did, and if Bryant can be a consistent threat in the passing game, it could make the Steelers much more dangerous through the air. The Steelers already have Antonio Brown, who is playing at an All-Pro level, but finding a complimentary piece to the passing attack opposite Brown has been difficult to this point, especially with Emmanuel Sanders leaving for Denver, and Markus Wheaton still trying to find his groove.
Could Bryant be the answer to take some of the pressure off of Brown after breaking through against the Texans?
After spending much of training camp nursing bumps and bruises, including a shoulder injury right before the season began, this was the first time Bryant was active for a regular season game. Needless to say, Bryant took advantage of his opportunity, making a beautiful catch on a stretch play for the first touchdown of the game for the Steelers.
The play was a key one for the Steelers, who were down 13-3 with the offense looking anemic and the crowd growing increasingly restless. Bryant’s TD catch seemed to spark the team and crowd alike, and within a blink of an eye, the Steelers scored three touchdowns in a 73 second span. Suddenly, with the help of Bryant’s explosive TD catch, a 10-point deficit turned into a 11-point halftime lead.
Bryant came to the Steelers as a raw talent, and one that even offensive coordinator Todd Haley hinted would need time before he could make an impact. There have been some subtle hints that Bryant is still learning the offense, and that it has not always been a smooth transition for the rookie when it comes to getting on the same page with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
In the NFL, where schemes and play calls can be difficult to grasp, there have been worries that Bryant might need more time to learn. However, with the Steelers looking for additional threats at the wide receiver position, could the Steelers live with the occasional miscue if the tradeoff is what we saw on Bryant’s dazzling touchdown catch?
If Bryant can emerge into a reliable option in the passing game, his ability to stretch the field could do wonders for a Steeler offense that could use his playmaking ability. This will not only help Brown and Roethlisberger, it could make it more difficult to key on other weapons such as Wheaton, Heath Miller, and Le’Veon Bell, who is quickly becoming one of the top receiving backs in the NFL.
With the defense still trying to find consistency, getting the most they can out of the talent the Steelers have on offense could be the difference between another disappointing season and one that could ultimately end with a playoff birth. The black and gold only trail the division leading Baltimore Ravens by one game, and are only a half game behind the reeling Cincinnati Bengals.
With tough games at home against the Indianapolis Colts and Ravens ahead, the offense will need to be ready to score in bunches. Adding an additional weapon like Bryant might help achieve that goal, and push the Steelers closer to first place in the AFC North.
