Mike Wallace, the newest target for Miami Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill, was visibly and vocally upset following his team’s Week One victory at Cleveland. He wants the football, and he was not afraid to let everyone know that. Last week, he starred in a close victory at Indianapolis, where he caught nine passes for over 100 yards and a touchdown. Wallace is on a 2-0 team, while his ex-teammates in Pittsburgh are sitting at 0-2. Ben Roethlisberger, the man who found him often for big-splash passes downfield, cannot seem to find any rhythm or rapport with his leftover receivers. One of those most affected by Wallace’s departure has to be Antonio Brown, now considered the number one WR on the depth chart in Todd Haley’s offense.
Brown is a fourth-year receiver out of Central Michigan and has 11 receptions through the first two weeks for 128 yards. He has yet to score a touchdown and, despite breakaway speed, has yet to go for more than 22 yards on any one catch. And, listed at just 5’10”, Brown is not an ideal red zone target. Roethlisberger’s two touchdown passes have gone to Jerricho Cotchery on a last-minute, short-yardage drive at the end of the Tennessee game (Week One) and to 6’5″ rookie Derek Moye in the back of the end zone Monday at Cincinnati. Brown, along with Wallace and a healthy TE Heath Miller, had been a major cog in what was becoming a potent passing offense under Bruce Arians and then, last year, in Haley’s first season in Pittsburgh.
With just 17 points mustered by the offense through two weeks (two came via safety), there is already panic and frustration for an organization accustomed to being on top. Even more frustrating is the fact that the Baltimore Ravens (1-1), though defending Super Bowl champions, do not appear to be nearly as elite. Furthermore, the Cincinnati Bengals (1-1), though victorious on Monday night, are far from immortal. As for the fourth contender in the AFC North, the Cleveland Browns (0-2) are…well…the Cleveland Browns. The division seems somewhat up for grabs, so a little bit of good health and good fortune could result in a push for the division after all. Right?
Well, before the Steelers even think about winning another division title, a lot of important things need to be addressed internally. According to media reports earlier this week, Brown confronted Haley on the sidelines, essentially demanding more plays involving Roethlisberger looking for him. This altercation was not caught by any ESPN cameras, so it is unclear what actually occurred or was said, but any friction between a player and his coordinator two weeks into the season is cause for alarm. Statistically, Brown is not exactly right to be angry about a lack of targets in his direction. He led team receivers last year with 66 catches (only TE Heath Miller caught more) in 13 games played, averaging about five catches per game. With 11 through two games this season, he is on pace for about as many catches in a 16-game season. However, he is supposed to be the primary target now, so his point could be considered valid.
Perhaps throwing a tantrum and letting out some anger will help, as it did for Mike Wallace. NFL wide receivers are notorious for being prima donnas on and off the field. Few are happy with Todd Haley, so why should Antonio Brown be any different? The shelf life of an NFL player, especially at a skill position such as WR, is pretty short and Brown may be losing a couple years of his prime under the tutelage of Haley. The team’s complete absence of a running game, combined with the offensive line’s inability to give Roethlisberger much time to even look downfield for an open receiver, does not bode well for Brown and his fellow receivers. A long list of issues exists for this offense, and Brown’s dissatisfaction is just one. Either an effort to use him to his full potential will come of this, or he may be just the next ex-Steeler dancing in the end zone in another team’s uniform.
Photo courtesy of SI.com
