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 鈥� 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 鈥渢riplets鈥� 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鈥檙e also seeing the timely progression of Ladarius Green, their offseason replacement for Heath Miller at tight end, and it鈥檚 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 鈥� as Coates has dealt with two broken fingers (index and ring) on his left hand while continuing to play 鈥� 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鈥檚 not that the Steelers lack depth. It鈥檚 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鈥檚 practice, Roethlisberger was pleased to say on his Tuesday radio show that 鈥淪ammie Coates is starting to come back to us on offense.鈥�
Wednesday was another solid practice showing for Coates.
鈥淵eah, it鈥檚 better,鈥� Coates said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 getting better. It鈥檚 starting to heal.鈥�
Coates said the important thing is to instill confidence in Roethlisberger.
鈥淚鈥檝e just got to keep catching the ball at practice and show him that I鈥檓 ready,鈥� 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 鈥淴鈥�, or split end, on Wednesday.
Brown was given both days off and it鈥檚 provided practice time for the 5-9, 190-pound Ayers.
鈥淭hey want me to stay tuned to the game plan,鈥� Ayers said. 鈥淐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鈥檓 on scout team or running with the ones. Gotta chance to do some good stuff with Ben today, and I know Ben loved that.鈥�
Specifically, Ayers said Roethlisberger liked the way he caught up to a deep throw.
鈥淗e told me 鈥楪ood job. Way to keep giving effort on the play,'鈥� Ayers said. 鈥淎nd then I heard Coach Haley say a couple times 鈥楰eep DA in because he鈥檚 giving effort.鈥� Things like that let me know I鈥檓 progressing and make me want to go harder for my teammates.
鈥淲hether I鈥檓 playing or not playing, we鈥檙e in a position where we need the win, and when my number鈥檚 called I鈥檒l be ready. These guys can trust me, too.鈥�
FOURTH OLB SPOT
Arthur Moats confirmed that he rotated with Jarvis Jones at Wednesday鈥檚 practice for what appears to be the final active outside linebacker spot in Sunday鈥檚 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鈥檛 giving any thought to what it might mean.
鈥淚f you are worrying about whether you鈥檙e active or not active, you鈥檙e not going to be focused on your craft,鈥� Moats said. 鈥淚f you focus on your craft, you focus on getting better every day and when your number鈥檚 called, whether it鈥檚 this week or next week, you鈥檙e going to be prepared and you鈥檙e going to make the most of your opportunity. You can鈥檛 sit here and just dwell on 鈥楢m I the guy? Am I not the guy? I wasn鈥檛 rotating. I was rotating.鈥� You鈥檝e just got to control what you control, man. I just feel like if you make plays and you鈥檙e productive, as Coach Tomlin says, you鈥檒l keep the dogs off you.鈥�