Trouble at WR could mean a few game planning changes on how and where we pass the ball

[Six Rings]

While I believe Moncrief will be the other starter, if he struggles with a transition to his new team, the Steelers might have to change things up. Most rookie WR's struggle. I expect Johnson to be more of a 3rd WR his rookie season ( And I question how he will separate from NFL DB's as its not the MAC ) than a starter, and who knows if we can count on Washington for anything. We might lack a dependable #2 WR which means teams will double Ju-Ju and play us up and close, as we lack a deep threat. The Steelers could have had players like DK Metcalf, or Parris Campbell if the did not trade up to get Bush. Both would be deep threats an ideal compliments to Ju-Ju.

The Steelers might have to shift their offensive philosophy around a bit if they lack a true #2 WR, and use the Running backs and Tight End a bit more in the passing game plan until someone emerges at WR. So we would become more a a screen, and play action type of team. Less risk, but less scoring and big plays would be the tradeoff, meaning the defense will have to be able to hold the other team from scoring 24+ points to win a game.

The wait for our #2 WR to emerge could be over once the preseason ends, or it might take a full season. We'll see. IMO, it's our biggest quesiton mark heading into camp.

[steelreserve]

If everything goes wrong, what you said could happen. More likely though, Moncrief will be decent but not great; Johnson will be the #3 and being matched up against the third CB of the other team is how he will get open; and anything we get out of Washington is a bonus, but more than likely stays on track to be the "tock" in our "tick-tock" pattern of drafting one good receiver then one bad one.

This will be good enough to get the job done, let Juju have some space, and maybe not torch people for 400 yards a game, but still move the ball and score points.

[hawaiiansteeler]

the Cheatriots are proof you don't need a bunch of good WRs to win Super Bowls.

[Edman]

The Steelers won two Super Bowls last decade with Hines Ward and a group of nobody role players at wideout.

Santonio Holmes, Antwaan Randle El, Cedrick Wilson, Quincy Morgan, and Nate Washington have rings.

Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant, Markus Wheaton and Mike Wallace do not.

[polamalubeast]

If the worst case scenario happens....yeah we are in trouble.

[tube517]

Haven't even played one second of preseason and the doom and gloom at receiver is high.

[Six Rings]

the Cheatriots are proof you don't need a bunch of good WRs to win Super Bowls.

I think New England has some good WR's. They get open and have fine hands. Diva WR's, when was the last time they won a super bowl? TO, Brown, D Bryant...those types? They don't.

[Mojouw]

I think New England has some good WR's. They get open and have fine hands. Diva WR's, when was the last time they won a super bowl? TO, Brown, D Bryant...those types? They don't.

Yeah. The whole idea that they don't have WR talent needs to die an ugly death. They always have at least two guys who can legit get open on anyone. They just typically lack a big bodied deep threat. But that was what Gronk was for.

Edelman. Amendola. Welker. Just an assembly line of precision route runners who are always open 5-12 yards down the field or over the middle and catch everything thrown in their direction.

[st33lersguy]

The majority of new England's wrs are greatly helped by bellichick and Brady. The majority of wrs tend to drop off dramatically on other teams. Danny amendola is one example, he went to miami and disappeared (RB James White a key contributor in Bellichick's offense also disappeared when he went to Tennessee this year)

[pczach]

Yeah. The whole idea that they don't have WR talent needs to die an ugly death. They always have at least two guys who can legit get open on anyone. They just typically lack a big bodied deep threat. But that was what Gronk was for.

Edelman. Amendola. Welker. Just an assembly line of precision route runners who are always open 5-12 yards down the field or over the middle and catch everything thrown in their direction.

You can also go back to Randy Moss dominating for them. And with all those WR's, they have had elite TE play. Having Gronk to be able to take over games at any moment is somehow brushed aside as if he isn't part of the receiving game. When they had Gronk and Hernandez......my God.....how do you stop that?

That is what is so aggravating about the media pushing the "Tom Brady does all this with no weapons" myth. They also almost always have dominant OL play, with the ability to power block. To say Tom Brady is doing it alone is one of the great lies of the 21st century. He's a great player, but without protection from his OL, and a scheme and talent to beat defenders quickly....he has no other dimension of his game to fall back on.

Is he great? Definitely yes.

Did he do it without significant help and talent around him? Hell no.

[polamalubeast]

Brady is of course a all-time great,but their running game was also a big key to their success in 2018 ..... That offset the fact that Gronk was in decline as a receiver.

[Born2Steel]

Gronk did it all. Great blocker, receiver, and made you double him downfield. Don’t be surprised if he ’unretires’ after mid season and returns to NE.

Just like all the Brady accolades Ben deserves credit for making better WRs out of some of the scrubs he’s had to throw to as well. If guys can’t get open for Ben they pretty much can’t get open.

[Mojouw]

Gronk did it all. Great blocker, receiver, and made you double him downfield. Don’t be surprised if he ’unretires’ after mid season and returns to NE.

Just like all the Brady accolades Ben deserves credit for making better WRs out of some of the scrubs he’s had to throw to as well. If guys can’t get open for Ben they pretty much can’t get open.

Ben made Cobi Hamilton and Demarcus Ayers look like viable NFL WRs. That’s quite an achievement.

[EzraTank]

the Cheatriots are proof you don't need a bunch of good WRs to win Super Bowls.

Exactly, this whole thread screams chicken little. We'll be just fine. People forget Washington was a rookie last year and just assume every rookie is going to be Juju now. We will have four good receivers in Juju, Washington, Moncrief and Johnson. And let's not forget that Samuels was a great WR at NC State if he's needed and then Switzer is there as well.

WE WILL BE FINE.

[polamalubeast]

Ben made Cobi Hamilton and Demarcus Ayers look like viable NFL WRs. That’s quite an achievement.

That's one of the reasons why I'm not too worried about this WR core

2016, after Brown it was awful .... I'm sure our receivers as group will be much better than it was in 2016, even though JuJu is not AB as a player for now.

[steelreserve]

Yeah. The whole idea that they don't have WR talent needs to die an ugly death. They always have at least two guys who can legit get open on anyone. They just typically lack a big bodied deep threat. But that was what Gronk was for.

Edelman. Amendola. Welker. Just an assembly line of precision route runners who are always open 5-12 yards down the field or over the middle and catch everything thrown in their direction.

It's much easier to get open when you know what play the other team is running. All of those guys are great when they're running to a predetermined spot on the field and there's no one within 5 yards (which you rarely get just by faking someone out). But then against tight man coverage, suddenly none of them can get open on their own at all and we beat them twice in a row, hmm ...

Also, all those players were pretty dogshit before going to New England, I mean even Welker, who's probably their most famous annoying little shit WR, was mostly known as a return specialist with the Dolphins. Although he was still an annoying little shit, that didn't change.

I guess this does all go to show that your main point is right on, though. You don't "need" a superstar receiver to win titles, with or without asterisks - a couple decent ones will do just fine, and if you're cheating, you don't even need that.

[polamalubeast]

It's much easier to get open when you know what play the other team is running. All of those guys are great when they're running to a predetermined spot on the field and there's no one within 5 yards (which you rarely get just by faking someone out). But then against tight man coverage, suddenly none of them can get open on their own at all and we beat them twice in a row, hmm ...

Also, all those players were pretty dogshit before going to New England, I mean even Welker, who's probably their most famous annoying little shit WR, was mostly known as a return specialist with the Dolphins. Although he was still an annoying little shit, that didn't change.

I guess this does all go to show that your main point is right on, though. You don't "need" a superstar receiver to win titles, with or without asterisks - a couple decent ones will do just fine, and if you're cheating, you don't even need that.

Yeah, if you play the zone against the pats and Brady, you have no chance .... We have seen that again in their game against the Chargers in the playoffs.Tight man to man is the key.

[pczach]

Exactly, this whole thread screams chicken little. We'll be just fine. People forget Washington was a rookie last year and just assume every rookie is going to be Juju now. We will have four good receivers in Juju, Washington, Moncrief and Johnson. And let's not forget that Samuels was a great WR at NC State if he's needed and then Switzer is there as well.

WE WILL BE FINE.

I agree. They will be fine.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Haven't even played one second of preseason and the doom and gloom at receiver is high.

I have to credit some fans. The doom and gloom game is in mid-season form.

I cant wait for the "training camp heroes" edition threads. Where the names like Kevin "2-G" Fogg, Shaquim Philips, Demarcus Ayers, Terrell Watson are showered with optimism for being the underdog, while fans trash the 3rd round draft pick they didn't have on their personal big board.

[86WARD]

I have to credit some fans. The doom and gloom game is in mid-season form.

I cant wait for the "training camp heroes" edition threads. Where the names like Kevin "2-G" Fogg, Shaquim Philips, Demarcus Ayers, Terrell Watson are showered with optimism for being the underdog, while fans trash the 3rd round draft pick they didn't have on their personal big board.

Lol

[hawaiiansteeler]

trouble at every position could mean a few game planning changes on how we play defense and offense...

[munchy]

the Cheatriots are proof you don't need a bunch of good WRs to win Super Bowls.

\

true, but only if you have a good coach

[hawaiiansteeler]

\

true, but only if you have a good coach

maybe the offensive coordinator has more to do with that than the head coach?

[polamalubeast]

They are young, but the potential is going to be there.