Steelers on the verge of getting healthier Coates back
AJ Mast
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Sammie Coates runs with the ball during the second half against the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 24 in Indianapolis.
Gail Burton/Associated Press
Gail Burton/Associated Press M&T Bank Stadium is reflected in the helmet visor of Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Sammie Coates as he warms up before an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 6 in Baltimore.
PITTSBURGH 无毛视频� The Dallas Cowboys of Aikman-Emmitt-Irvin also had Alvin Harper and Jay Novacek.
The Indianapolis Colts of Manning-James-Harrison also had Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark.
Yes, the greatest 无毛视频渢riplets无毛视频� of recent times had a need for other options, and the Pittsburgh Steelers of Roethlisberger-Brown-Bell are on the verge of getting their Sammie Coates back.
They无毛视频檙e also seeing the timely progression of Ladarius Green, their offseason replacement for Heath Miller at tight end, and it无毛视频檚 just in time for the stretch run.
The loss of Coates, in particular, has been noticeable.
In the first five games that Coates played with Ben Roethlisberger as the deep threat opposite Antonio Brown, the Steelers were 4-1, averaged 28 points and 386 yards per game and Roethlisberger had a passer rating of 106.6.
Roethlisberger missed a game, and in the five games since his return 无毛视频� as Coates has dealt with two broken fingers (index and ring) on his left hand while continuing to play 无毛视频� the Steelers have gone 2-3, averaged 22 points and 341 yards per game and Roethlisberger has had a passer rating of 92.1.
It无毛视频檚 not that the Steelers lack depth. It无毛视频檚 that Coates IS the depth. He replaced a suspended Martavis Bryant and an injured Markus Wheaton and through five games led the NFL with an average of 22.1 yards per his 19 catches.
But since breaking his fingers, Coates has caught one pass for four yards, and that pass came from Landry Jones.
The Steelers, meanwhile, lost his backup, Darrius Heyward-Bey, to injury and turned to former practice-squad player Cobi Hamilton.
Hamilton and slot receiver Eli Rogers have made progress as first-year players, but when Coates perked up at Monday无毛视频檚 practice, Roethlisberger was pleased to say on his Tuesday radio show that 无毛视频淪ammie Coates is starting to come back to us on offense.无毛视频�
Wednesday was another solid practice showing for Coates.
无毛视频淵eah, it无毛视频檚 better,无毛视频� Coates said. 无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 getting better. It无毛视频檚 starting to heal.无毛视频�
Coates said the important thing is to instill confidence in Roethlisberger.
无毛视频淚无毛视频檝e just got to keep catching the ball at practice and show him that I无毛视频檓 ready,无毛视频� he said.
DA FOR DHB?
With Heyward-Bey still crippled with his foot injury, the Steelers are prepping rookie receiver Demarcus Ayers for a promotion off the practice squad.
The seventh-round pick from Houston worked with the first team on Monday, and confirmed that he again replaced Brown as the first team 无毛视频淴无毛视频�, or split end, on Wednesday.
Brown was given both days off and it无毛视频檚 provided practice time for the 5-9, 190-pound Ayers.
无毛视频淭hey want me to stay tuned to the game plan,无毛视频� Ayers said. 无毛视频淐oach (Todd) Haley has been really pressing me all week about learning the X spot, so the arrow is still going up. I keep putting stuff on tape, whether I无毛视频檓 on scout team or running with the ones. Gotta chance to do some good stuff with Ben today, and I know Ben loved that.无毛视频�
Specifically, Ayers said Roethlisberger liked the way he caught up to a deep throw.
无毛视频淗e told me 无毛视频楪ood job. Way to keep giving effort on the play,'无毛视频� Ayers said. 无毛视频淎nd then I heard Coach Haley say a couple times 无毛视频楰eep DA in because he无毛视频檚 giving effort.无毛视频� Things like that let me know I无毛视频檓 progressing and make me want to go harder for my teammates.
无毛视频淲hether I无毛视频檓 playing or not playing, we无毛视频檙e in a position where we need the win, and when my number无毛视频檚 called I无毛视频檒l be ready. These guys can trust me, too.无毛视频�
FOURTH OLB SPOT
Arthur Moats confirmed that he rotated with Jarvis Jones at Wednesday无毛视频檚 practice for what appears to be the final active outside linebacker spot in Sunday无毛视频檚 game against the New York Giants.
The starting outside linebackers are James Harrison and Anthony Chickillo, and with the progress being made by Bud Dupree off IR has caused the Steelers to move Moats to the other side to compete with Jones for the final spot in the rotation.
Moats that confirmed he received most of those reps Wednesday, but he isn无毛视频檛 giving any thought to what it might mean.
无毛视频淚f you are worrying about whether you无毛视频檙e active or not active, you无毛视频檙e not going to be focused on your craft,无毛视频� Moats said. 无毛视频淚f you focus on your craft, you focus on getting better every day and when your number无毛视频檚 called, whether it无毛视频檚 this week or next week, you无毛视频檙e going to be prepared and you无毛视频檙e going to make the most of your opportunity. You can无毛视频檛 sit here and just dwell on 无毛视频楢m I the guy? Am I not the guy? I wasn无毛视频檛 rotating. I was rotating.无毛视频� You无毛视频檝e just got to control what you control, man. I just feel like if you make plays and you无毛视频檙e productive, as Coach Tomlin says, you无毛视频檒l keep the dogs off you.无毛视频�