The Pittsburgh Steelers, despite winning a tough AFC North last season, are a flawed team. Just like any other roster in the league, the Steelers have some holes that they hoped they filled in the NFL Draft. Naturally, the team expects big things from this year's first and second round picks, Bud Dupree and Senquez Golson, respectively. But will third-round receiver Sammie Coates have an impact this season?
"Ben Roethlisberger will welcome any receiver that runs a great deep ball, which is Coates' forte," ESPN Steelers reporter Jeremy Fowler wrote. "Coates averaged 20-plus-yards per catch last season at Auburn, consistently beating good SEC cornerbacks downfield. Roethlisberger can work with this. But two hurdles exist before Coates maximizes his combination of athleticism and size: He must shake the drops label and show he can adapt to an NFL scheme that requires refined route-running. Save those two factors, Coates is a first-round talent. Coates can make this transition but he might need time, which is why Pittsburgh is an ideal place for him. Their depth at receiver allows him to ease into the lineup."
The case against Coates playing a significant role in his rookie season is a good one. Antonio Brown is an absolute stud and Pittsburgh's secondary receivers in Martavis Bryant and Markus Wheaton are also talented. The duo combined for almost 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2014 and Bryant proved himself as a viable deep threat. Barring an injury, there may not be a lot of opportunities for the talented Coates to show his stuff this year.
But that doesn't mean he's destined to be a no-show for the Steelers. The guy caught 34 passes for 741 yards and four touchdowns last year and posted a blistering 4.43 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. His time will come.
