All season, the Pittsburgh Steelers receiving corps have been a roller coaster for Ben Roethlisberger. It seems that one week the receiving corps is tallying up all the points on the scoreboard, but then the next week they’re absent.
That’s been a huge headache for the Steelers offense this season. Going into the post season, the team certainly must know that the receivers need to step up, especially with DeAngelo Williams possibly not suiting up against Cincinnati in the AFC Wild Card game. With first-year running back Fitzgerald Toussaint possibly getting the start against a tough Bengals defensive line, the receivers will be called upon to score points.
There is only one receiver with more than 1,000 yards this season, and that’s Antonio Brown. Following him, with only 765 yards, is Martavis Bryant. Bryant has been practically absent in recent weeks as he hasn’t been getting into the attacking game.
Even Roethlisberger seemed to have called out Bryant for his lack of effort and toughness in an interview, which he does weekly, with 93.7 The Fan Pittsburgh.
“Not that I’m shying from saying this to Martavis. It comes from love, He needs to understand that … at this time of year you have to toughen up. You have to make tough plays, you have to make tough catches and you have to find ways to do everything you can to help this team.”
Roethlisberger continued with his statement about Bryant saying, “He was sick last week and that got him behind a little bit. But I love to challenge him. We all do. The sky is the limit for him. I want to challenge him to be the best in the world, and it’s really up to him with what he wants to do with that challenge. Does he want to crumble and wilt and pout and let it bother him? Or does he want to rise up, step up, say I’ll take that challenge and does he want to be the best in the world? We need a big postseason from Martavis, We know defenses will be tuned in to Antonio so we need other guys to step up. We need Martavis to grow and be tough. We need Steeler tough from him.”
If the Steelers want to be successful in the post season, they need “Steeler tough” from all the receivers, and even the tight ends. Behind Brown’s 136 receptions is Heath Miller with 60 catches. Rising to the occasion has been one receiver in particular, Markus Wheaton. Wheaton has had 44 receptions this year for 749 yards. Wheaton also has five touchdowns. That’s significantly different than his numbers last season, where he only had two touchdowns, 53 receptions, and 644 yards.
If the Steelers want to continue their run into the post season, they will need plenty of receiver and quarterback connection. The Steelers will travel to Cincinnati to face the Bengals on Saturday, as the game is slated to begin at 8:15 p.m. (EST) and will be aired on CBS.
