Markus Wheaton

[Edman]

This clown is a momentum killer. Any hope the Steelers had had winning this game went out with the drop.

Dropped a TD in his hands, then drops a second drive killer when the team still had a chance. Ben completely lost it after that.

The team has had a rough day, but this guy is on top of the list.

Time to eat this **** sandwich and regroup for next week. A lot of soul searching for this team to do this week.

[polamalubeast]

Worst game of his career.....

[86WARD]

Limas-esque.

[steelerdude15]

A little part of me wonders. If Markus had caught his first pass, which would have been a touchdown, how different would this game have been? It probably wouldn't have made much of a difference, but just thinking out loud.

[st33lersguy]

Don't offer him a penny, let some team in need of a WR overpay him next spring

[pczach]

He had a bad game.

This is why I don't think he should have been put in there and played like a starter. they should have worked him in slowly. Coates and Rogers have been playing well. It's not like he AB. He could have gotten less playing time until he got his legs under him.

The dropped TD and blocked field goal was a knife in the heart early, and the couple drops that ended drives were also killers.

He's not going to be happy watching the film of this game.

[Steel Peon]

Wheaton exemplifies the problem our offense has had since AB took over at the #1 WR position, and forgive me, I'm about to repeat myself again. Back in those days, all the talk was about how the Steelers lacked a true #1 WR threat, but I knew for a fact that was all complete bullshit, what the real problem actually was, and continues to be, which really is the lack of a solid #2. Back then it was Wheaton or Moye who was supposed to step up into the #2 slot and make a big difference, but all they ended up being were #3s trying to play #2. Martavis was supposed to change all that, but of course playing in the NFL isn't really what he wants to do apparently. And so, we have yet another season with Wheaton doing another shitty impression of a #2 WR, and it's never going to work, nor has it ever. I'm not sure if Tomlin can do what needs to be done, but this stiff is wasting everybody's time, and any of our other WRs should be moved into the #2 slot immediately, even if we still only have a bunch of #3s on the roster. The only thing I'll give Wheaton a break on is that fucking everyone was dropping passes today, but he dropped the really big ones. I think our CP was around 15% today?

[Dwinsgames]

A little part of me wonders. If Markus had caught his first pass, which would have been a touchdown, how different would this game have been? It probably wouldn't have made much of a difference, but just thinking out loud.

I'm with you momentum is a powerful opponent

[EzraTank]

AB, Bryant and Coates should be the top three next year. Wheaton can walk there are a million guys just like him.

[86WARD]

AB, Bryant and Coates should be the top three next year. Wheaton can walk there are a million guys just like him.

Don't forget Rogers.

I said it when it happened, the loss of Bryant, is big. Bigger than anyone thinks. A whole lot of people thought that Coates and Wheaton could pick up the slack...clearly they haven't.

[Edman]

A little part of me wonders. If Markus had caught his first pass, which would have been a touchdown, how different would this game have been? It probably wouldn't have made much of a difference, but just thinking out loud.

Yes it would. It changed the complete complexion of the game.

Momentum is a very real thing. Once the Steelers lost it, it was gone.

[SteelerFanInStl]

He should be benched. Put him after Coates and DHB.

[BlackAndGold]

Wheaton has missed a lot of time this year. I believe he'll be fine.

[ALLD]

We needed Lambert out there to cool off the Eagles.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVsCwMlUuCM

[stillers4me]

We've got a real problem at #2 WR. Nobody has really stepped up to win that spot. Coates has the slight edge on the big catches, imo.

[EzraTank]

He should be benched. Put him after Coates and DHB.

You don't bench the guy coming back from an injury. But you only use him on clear passing downs until he gets up to speed.

[j-d-s]

DHB used to play like that. Until he came to us, he dropped passes that my grandma would've caught and she's dead.

[steelreserve]

Wheaton was terrible, but that is not really the problem. He is a #3 receiver and our problem is the #2 spot.

If we try to use Wheaton as the #2 guy, he sucks. We thought Coates was possibly the answer, but he looks like he'll give you one or two big plays a game, which is nice, but then disappears completely for the rest of it - and if that's what you do, then you've failed at the #2 spot. Rogers is an OK #3 guy, but just OK.

The problem than all three of Wheaton, Coates and Rogers seem to have in common right now is than none of them can get open very often. They get a good number of targets, but the majority of them are contested, and therefore success is limited.

I don't know why we haven't seen DHB thrown into the mix. Does anyone remember him? Pepperidge Farm remembers.

[tube517]

Wheaton was terrible, but that is not really the problem. He is a #3 receiver and our problem is the #2 spot.

If we try to use Wheaton as the #2 guy, he sucks. We thought Coates was possibly the answer, but he looks like he'll give you one or two big plays a game, which is nice, but then disappears completely for the rest of it - and if that's what you do, then you've failed at the #2 spot. Rogers is an OK #3 guy, but just OK.

The problem than all three of Wheaton, Coates and Rogers seem to have in common right now is than none of them can get open very often. They get a good number of targets, but the majority of them are contested, and therefore success is limited.

I don't know why we haven't seen DHB thrown into the mix. Does anyone remember him? Pepperidge Farm remembers.

DHB had the same amount of snaps as Wheaton yesterday.

[SteelerFanInStl]

You don't bench the guy coming back from an injury. But you only use him on clear passing downs until he gets up to speed.

With that kind of a showing, I would for at least a game. His injury has nothing to do with his performance. Those were just flat out drops. This is a guy who was saying that he was a healthy scratch last week.

It should be an open competition for the #2 WR spot. Whoever plays the best, gets the spot. Wheaton's gone after this year anyway so I'd rather use the spot to get the other guys more experience. If Coates can't step up and take the #2 spot, then he's not the WR that we thought he was.

[AtlantaDan]

I said it when it happened, the loss of Bryant, is big. Bigger than anyone thinks. A whole lot of people thought that Coates and Wheaton could pick up the slack...clearly they haven't.

^^^^^^
This

Post-Gazette this morning noted how important Bryant is to the productivity of this offense

Bryant, who is suspended for the season, isn’t coming back to save the offense, but it is worth noting what he meant to it. He was worth more than a touchdown per game to the Steelers over his first two NFL seasons. The Steelers scored, on average, 6.4 points per game more when Bryant has been in the lineup, posting a prolific 28.6 points per game with him and only 22.2 without him.

After three games this season, the Steelers are right at their 22 points per game average without him following their meager three-point output against the Eagles.
The Steelers have scored 30 points or more 15 times over the past 35 games. Bryant played in 11 of those games.

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2016/09/26/Wheaton-s-struggles-leave-team-looking-for-options-at-WR/stories/201609260064

Right now the second best receiver on the team probably is Bell.

[86WARD]

Easily.

[hawaiiansteeler]

Joe_Flaccid: Did Ben give up on looking for any other WRs in the 2nd half yesterday or was Brown the only one able to get open? Nobody else seemed capable of a routine catch anyway.

Ray Fittipaldo: That's what I wrote about today -- the lack of a true No. 2 WR behind Antonio Brown. I know some people disagree with me. They think Wheaton can handle that role. I don't think he can. I don't think he's built for it. I think he would be better as a No. 3, which is essentially what he was last year when Martavis Bryant played so well. And that situation isn't going to get any better if Eli Rogers is out for a lengthy period.

truesteelerfan: Wheaton - nerves or simply not that good? I can see that TD drop may have never even been seen by him - so surprised when it hit him, but come on.

Ray Fittipaldo: Combination of both. He's not a bad player, but he's miscast as a No. 2 receiver.

to read rest of chat:

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2016/09/26/Ray-Fittipaldo-s-Steelers-chat-9-26-16/stories/201609260144

[ALLD]

We were missing our #2, Le'veon Bell. Wheaton is a 3/4 on this team.

[86WARD]

We were missing our #2, Le'veon Bell. Wheaton is a 3/4 on this team.

Bryant is the one that they are missing the most. More so than Bell.

[steelreserve]

DHB had the same amount of snaps as Wheaton yesterday.

What, in garbage time? Because it sure looked like he was not getting on the field until someone else was hurt.

[tube517]

What, in garbage time? Because it sure looked like he was not getting on the field until someone else was hurt.

Likely, I can't remember. I remember after one drop, it seemed like Limas Wheaton was taken off the field and I saw 88 out there.

[Count Steeler]

HHEEEAAAATTTTHHHHH!!!!!!!

What a difference a solid TE makes.

[pczach]

For those of you calling for DHB to play more........please stop. He is not a starting WR in the NFL. He is simply not good enough. He can't play the ball in the air, he has no body control, he has terrible hands, and he has no feel for the game. If it weren't for his hustle on special teams, he would not be in the league right now.

Everyone playing ahead of him is a better WR than he is, and it's not close.

[86WARD]

Exactly. DHB is a good special teams player and that's it.

[Born2Steel]

For those of you calling for DHB to play more........please stop. He is not a starting WR in the NFL. He is simply not good enough. He can't play the ball in the air, he has no body control, he has terrible hands, and he has no feel for the game. If it weren't for his hustle on special teams, he would not be in the league right now.

Everyone playing ahead of him is a better WR than he is, and it's not close.

I think it comes from frustration watching other guys drop passes in the endzone. Not just Wheaton, Coates had one in the numbers and let it bounce off. Luckily Rogers was there instead of a defender. Just notice the comparisons to Wallace. Everybody knows DHB is not the answer, otherwise he would be on the field. It's looking for answers to questions that bother us so. At this point, give Ayers playing time. Any port in a storm, as they say.

[Mojouw]

This is starting to remind me of when everyone was sure that Emmanuel Sanders was awful. Then he left and became the destroyer of defenses.

Wheaton is a decent to above average WR. Certainly capable of being a #2. He had a bad day on Sunday.

WR is the least of this team's worries.

[steelreserve]

I think it comes from frustration watching other guys drop passes in the endzone. Not just Wheaton, Coates had one in the numbers and let it bounce off. Luckily Rogers was there instead of a defender. Just notice the comparisons to Wallace. Everybody knows DHB is not the answer, otherwise he would be on the field. It's looking for answers to questions that bother us so. At this point, give Ayers playing time. Any port in a storm, as they say.

That is not necessarily true on this team.

Anyway, he doesn't have to be "The Answer," he just has to be able to get open and catch 4 or 5 passes a game so we're not forcing it on half our throws. He can do that. No, he's never going to live up to his draft hype, but he's produced pretty consistently with us; the only reason he doesn't is when he's on the bench.



This is starting to remind me of when everyone was sure that Emmanuel Sanders was awful. Then he left and became the destroyer of defenses.

Wheaton is a decent to above average WR. Certainly capable of being a #2. He had a bad day on Sunday.

WR is the least of this team's worries.


You do remember the part where Wheaton has sucked shit every time we've tried him in the #2 spot, right? He thrives against third corners and safeties, but against CBs who are average or better, he just can't get open.

Yeah, this reminds me a lot of Sanders, except for how Sanders didn't have the glaring, smack-you-in-the-face types of weaknesses.

[Born2Steel]

That is not necessarily true on this team.

Anyway, he doesn't have to be "The Answer," he just has to be able to get open and catch 4 or 5 passes a game so we're not forcing it on half our throws. He can do that. No, he's never going to live up to his draft hype, but he's produced pretty consistently with us; the only reason he doesn't is when he's on the bench.





You do remember the part where Wheaton has sucked shit every time we've tried him in the #2 spot, right? He thrives against third corners and safeties, but against CBs who are average or better, he just can't get open.

Yeah, this reminds me a lot of Sanders, except for how Sanders didn't have the glaring, smack-you-in-the-face types of weaknesses.

And that's what you took from that?

[Edman]

This is starting to remind me of when everyone was sure that Emmanuel Sanders was awful. Then he left and became the destroyer of defenses.


Sanders WAS awful.

Just because he went on to have success in Denver doesn't erase his mediocrity here.

BTW, Sanders is only the #2 receiver in Denver. Thomas is still the man.

[Rotorhead]

We can get away with not having a legit #2 if the others can step up and make their catches. Think of it as a #2 by committee. I am hoping Wheaton was just rusty as he usually makes his catches. DHB is good for a couple of drops, but for us he has been fine as a #3 or #4. Coates really needs to step it up though. Jesse J has been fine and had Ben not missed him WIDE OPEN he probably would have a good catch and run for a TD. Ben is going to drive this offense, and he will need to step up his play if we are to be successful. Remember he missed on a few wide open passes last game, wide open enough for 2-3 TD's.

[steelreserve]

We can get away with not having a legit #2 if the others can step up and make their catches. Think of it as a #2 by committee. I am hoping Wheaton was just rusty as he usually makes his catches. DHB is good for a couple of drops, but for us he has been fine as a #3 or #4. Coates really needs to step it up though. Jesse J has been fine and had Ben not missed him WIDE OPEN he probably would have a good catch and run for a TD. Ben is going to drive this offense, and he will need to step up his play if we are to be successful. Remember he missed on a few wide open passes last game, wide open enough for 2-3 TD's.

Yeah, we're not necessarily looking for someone who fits the #2 role to a T. We also undeniably have a lot of talent at WR, but right now it is all kind of situationally-based and leaving us in a weird spot.

Outside of Brown, no one in the lineup really creates on his own. Wheaton can be good when conditions are right, but is highly dependent on two other receivers drawing more attention. Rogers is exactly the same, only has more trouble than Wheaton getting open against slot corners and safeties. Coates' performance so far has kind of been the football equivalent of Dave Kingman / Rob Deer / Adam Dunn who would get you 35 home runs in a year but also hit .220 with 180 strikeouts. Unfortunately, it also looks like he doesn't know how to get open consistently against decent corners.

Bottom line is that none of the Wheaton-Coates-Rogers trio has been very good at making the in-between plays that would earn you the label of a "well-rounded receiver" and really make the passing game a lot easier. Put together they have the skill set of one very good and well-rounded receiver, but the reality is that they are three individual players with narrow skill sets. So the result is that what they do will work in spots but also remain very prone to being streaky.

It is rather ironic that DHB is probably the closest thing we have to a second "well-rounded" receiver at this point, but he is, so it would probably help to involve him more. Not to the exclusion of the others, but do get him on the field.

By the way, this does not mean that I am "giving up" on Coates and Rogers, or that "omg we have no talent at WR we need to draft more," in case anyone is making that mistake. I like their potential, especially Coates, but right now it is not developed into what we need. Keep giving Coates playing time, but I don't think we should be counting on him as the other go-to guy yet, as he is easily shut down for large stretches of the game.

[lotas]

I really like Wheaton, I think he is our most consistent option after Brown, since he was non existent last week it's almost as if we're getting him and Bell back in our receiving game this week lol. Watch his highlights from last year (mute that shit) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W8cLOyQmKo look at some of the catches he makes like at 2:00 when he gets smashed across the middle and holds on? That's impressive, he's like Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes combined.

He makes a lot of difficult catches in traffic, and last year he had 5 TD with a 17 yd average. We are missing that intermediate threat right now big time. Coates is a one trick pony, Rogers is too young and inexperienced, Brown is covered like white on rice, and with Bryant out Wheaton is our only relief at WR. He will bounce back against the Chiefs and have close to 100 yds receiving, that's my prediction.

Don't disappoint me and make me look like an ass, Markus!

[SteelerFanInStl]

Sanders WAS awful.

Just because he went on to have success in Denver doesn't erase his mediocrity here.

BTW, Sanders is only the #2 receiver in Denver. Thomas is still the man.

I wouldn't say that Sanders was awful but I agree that people seem to be forgetting about all of the drops by him when he played for us. He was nothing special.

[pczach]

How can Coates be labeled a one trick pony three games into his second year?

Come on folks. He has made some mistakes, but he has made more big plays than anyone except AB in limited snaps. Let him get more playing time as the outside receiver and let Wheaton play more slot. That gives the team and Ben the closest configuration to having Martavis Bryant in the lineup.

Coates will continue to develop and improve with playing time. He is already a player that the defense has to worry about every play. Those guys don't grow on trees.

If they let him play, they will be rewarded by having an explosive player on the field that will create space for the other receivers. He's the only guy that can take the top off of the defense currently on the roster. He is the WR that can help make everyone else better if he performs well, because he can do more of the things Bryant can do than anyone else.

Ben is having some communication problems with the young guys. The overthrow of James that everyone is talking about is a good example. There was a replay from behind Ben showing that James slowed down to sit down for Ben just as Ben was throwing the ball to lead him down the field. That's just one example of some of the learning process that is going on with so many inexperienced players on the field. At some point, they will start to figure it all out, and they will be consistent performers with a higher ceiling than putting someone like DHB on the field.

AB, Coates, and Wheaton on the field together is the most talented set of WR's they can put out there right now. I think they should go with that most of the time to have the most success. Add Bell to the mix and the unique receiving ability that he brings to the position. Run some sets with Bell and Deangelo Williams on the field at the same time, and occasionally split Bell out to force mismatches.

There's still a ton of talent on the field if the remaining players stay healthy.

[steelreserve]

I wouldn't say that Sanders was awful but I agree that people seem to be forgetting about all of the drops by him when he played for us. He was nothing special.


Talented but could never seem to live up to his occasional flashes, is how I would put it.

The difference between him and Wheaton is that Sanders was an all-around receiver who could fill any role (and get open on his own), he just wasn't great at it when he was with us. Wheaton is a situational receiver who has maximized his potential in that role, but can't get open on his own against decent defenders. Even thought they put up similar yardage totals and both played as "The #3 Receiver," they strike me as very different players.

[Mojouw]

How can Coates be labeled a one trick pony three games into his second year?

Come on folks. He has made some mistakes, but he has made more big plays than anyone except AB in limited snaps. Let him get more playing time as the outside receiver and let Wheaton play more slot. That gives the team and Ben the closest configuration to having Martavis Bryant in the lineup.

Coates will continue to develop and improve with playing time. He is already a player that the defense has to worry about every play. Those guys don't grow on trees.

If they let him play, they will be rewarded by having an explosive player on the field that will create space for the other receivers. He's the only guy that can take the top off of the defense currently on the roster. He is the WR that can help make everyone else better if he performs well, because he can do more of the things Bryant can do than anyone else.

Ben is having some communication problems with the young guys. The overthrow of James that everyone is talking about is a good example. There was a replay from behind Ben showing that James slowed down to sit down for Ben just as Ben was throwing the ball to lead him down the field. That's just one example of some of the learning process that is going on with so many inexperienced players on the field. At some point, they will start to figure it all out, and they will be consistent performers with a higher ceiling than putting someone like DHB on the field.

AB, Coates, and Wheaton on the field together is the most talented set of WR's they can put out there right now. I think they should go with that most of the time to have the most success. Add Bell to the mix and the unique receiving ability that he brings to the position. Run some sets with Bell and Deangelo Williams on the field at the same time, and occasionally split Bell out to force mismatches.

There's still a ton of talent on the field if the remaining players stay healthy.

This is something I can totally agree with.

[86WARD]

How can Coates be labeled a one trick pony three games into his second year?

Come on folks. He has made some mistakes, but he has made more big plays than anyone except AB in limited snaps. Let him get more playing time as the outside receiver and let Wheaton play more slot. That gives the team and Ben the closest configuration to having Martavis Bryant in the lineup.

Coates will continue to develop and improve with playing time. He is already a player that the defense has to worry about every play. Those guys don't grow on trees.

If they let him play, they will be rewarded by having an explosive player on the field that will create space for the other receivers. He's the only guy that can take the top off of the defense currently on the roster. He is the WR that can help make everyone else better if he performs well, because he can do more of the things Bryant can do than anyone else.

Ben is having some communication problems with the young guys. The overthrow of James that everyone is talking about is a good example. There was a replay from behind Ben showing that James slowed down to sit down for Ben just as Ben was throwing the ball to lead him down the field. That's just one example of some of the learning process that is going on with so many inexperienced players on the field. At some point, they will start to figure it all out, and they will be consistent performers with a higher ceiling than putting someone like DHB on the field.

AB, Coates, and Wheaton on the field together is the most talented set of WR's they can put out there right now. I think they should go with that most of the time to have the most success. Add Bell to the mix and the unique receiving ability that he brings to the position. Run some sets with Bell and Deangelo Williams on the field at the same time, and occasionally split Bell out to force mismatches.

There's still a ton of talent on the field if the remaining players stay healthy.

To this point he's pretty much been nothing but a one trick pony. I want him to show us more. I was probably his biggest supporter on draft day...as a matter of fact if you go back and look at the draft thread, it's probably documented there. I know he can do more but at this level, he hasn't shown it...yet.