Brown Looks To Make Franchise History As Steelers Offense Struggles

by Neal Coolong on Dec 22, 2011 12:01 PM EST

With just 16 receiving yards Saturday against the Rams, Steelers WR Antonio Brown will make history.

When he goes over 1,000 yards for the first time in his career, he and teammate Mike Wallace will become the first Steelers receivers ever to reach the century plateau together, when neither of them were first-round draft picks.

Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes each had over 1,000 yards receiving in 2009 (Holmes 1,248, Ward 1,167), four years after the Steelers selected Holmes with the 25th overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft.

Ward and Plaxico Burress each topped 1,000 yards in 2002 (Ward 1,329 and Burress 1,325) and 2001 (Ward 1,003 and Burress 1,008).

Brown became the second fastest receiver to reach the 1,000 career yards plateau in Week 10 of this season. It took him 19 games, while Wallace hit that mark in his 21st game, Week 7 of the 2010 season. It took Buddy Dial 18 games in 1961-62 to reach 1,000.

While it's unlikely the duo will meet Burress and Ward's record of 2,654 yards as Steelers teammates, they have played in a combined 68 games, while Burress and Ward had played 90 games together when they set their mark.

The individual pieces of this offense seem greater than the sum of their whole right now. Despite a bevy of playmakers, the Steelers are 22nd in the NFL in scoring offense, averaging 20.4 points a game. In the six quarters since Ben Roethlisberger injured his ankle in Week 14, the Steelers have scored 10 points.

Injuries across the offensive line can share some of the blame for sagging offensive production. Most recently, C Maurkice Pouncey has missed all or parts of the team's last four games. Pittsburgh was a top 10 team in rushing attempts last season, but are 21st this year, with 370 (26.4 carries a game).

Pouncey says he expects to play Saturday after missing Week 15, but Roethlisberger may not. He spoke after practice Wednesday, and told the gathered media he has not been told he isn't playing, and will prepare to start unless he hears otherwise.

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we need Manny back

The O looks more fluid when he’s in.

by Majabe on Dec 22, 2011 12:08 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

BA needs to go...

The individual pieces of this offense seem greater than the sum of their whole right now. Despite a bevy of playmakers, the Steelers are 22nd in the NFL in scoring offense

I know this horse has been beat quite a bit in these parts, but I think it is becoming more and more evident with each week/season that this team wins despite BA. It’s more than just play calling (everyone thinks that they can be a play-caller in the NFL, but I think there is a reason the O is more efficient/effective when Ben calls the plays.) It’s everything on the O side. Scheme (5 wide on 3rd & short drives me crazy, but seems to be BA’s favorite formation in those situations), personnel (no true fullback…even “passing” teams like GB and NO use true fullbacks and not some FB/TE hybrid, no offense to DJ), preparation, execution, etc. With the amount of talent on this team, there is just no excuse, including injuries, for not being able to put up more points consistently.

by mjcutri on Dec 22, 2011 1:06 PM EST reply actions

OL

Our offense has been held back quite a bit by the O line. A combination of injuries and poor play. Hopefully we develop a quality, cohesive unit before BB is past his prime

by qwikdoc on Dec 22, 2011 1:20 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

Dixon has a nice arm

If he can run around in the backfield for a bit like the bigger guy who normally does that, and then chuck it deep to Wallace, they might hit their 2600.

Although, something tells me the Browns will focus on that Antonio Brown guy…they may have figured out he’s pretty good.

"Football combines the two worst things about America: It is violence punctuated by committee meetings" -George Will

by lottwasgangsta on Dec 22, 2011 2:05 PM EST reply actions

Dixon's

arm is a spagetti noodle, I don’t agree that he has a good arm. I honestly think he is a mobile Batch without the ability to read defenses.

People don't ever seem to realize that doing what's right is no guarantee against misfortune.
- William McFee

by stillergorillar on Dec 22, 2011 7:12 PM EST up reply actions

He is more mobile

And he is less able to read defenses.

But his arm is not bad; it just is not great.

Plus, if he shines for a couple games, it might = trade bait under the right circumstances,

"Football combines the two worst things about America: It is violence punctuated by committee meetings" -George Will

by lottwasgangsta on Dec 23, 2011 1:10 AM EST up reply actions

He has a decent arm

with very not-so-good accuracy.

"Leave the gun. Bring the Canolis."

by Paulie58 on Dec 23, 2011 2:39 AM EST up reply actions

lol

People don't ever seem to realize that doing what's right is no guarantee against misfortune.
- William McFee

by stillergorillar on Dec 23, 2011 10:24 AM EST up reply actions

I think

that if he were going to shine he would have by now, he is very lack luster IMO. He played a couple of games the last two years and still teams wouldn’t touch him for a fifth. Maybe the injuries affected this and if he gets time teams will be interested, but that is a big if.

People don't ever seem to realize that doing what's right is no guarantee against misfortune.
- William McFee

by stillergorillar on Dec 23, 2011 10:27 AM EST up reply actions

It’s like Caleb Hanie. He played pretty decent in one game (half) then everyone assumed he could always do it. Didn’t work out too well for Chicago this season.

Boy, I'm three generations deep, in gangstadom

by FrankWyt on Dec 23, 2011 10:47 AM EST up reply actions

Probably true

I keep thinking back to that Monday Night game against the Ravens in 2009; he didn’t play great, but he looked better than a lot of people expected, and I was sort of hoping he would break out after this.

If he runs for a pair of touchdowns, and throws for 500 yards in the next two games, maybe Dan Snyder will offer a 2nd round draft pick for him.

"Football combines the two worst things about America: It is violence punctuated by committee meetings" -George Will

by lottwasgangsta on Dec 23, 2011 2:53 PM EST up reply actions

He looked

okay against the Ravens, but looked pedestrian against the Falcons. The running game is what carried that game. He didn’t look very good before being injured in the Titans game either. Just my opinion.

People don't ever seem to realize that doing what's right is no guarantee against misfortune.
- William McFee

by stillergorillar on Dec 23, 2011 7:57 PM EST up reply actions

Initially, I favored Wallace over Brown...

…but two things in Monday’s game showed me otherwise:
1) The incredible catch Brown made running along the sideline (3rd or 4th quarter) where he reached over back shoulder , while off his feet, caught and maintained control of the ball, and got both feet in-bounds (but unfortunately broke his fall with one hand out of bounds). Such body control, and ability to maintain possession, in such a young WR, shows great things are coming for Mr. Brown. I have not seen nearly as much acrobatic control out of Wallace.

2) Wallace, for the second time this season, had a pass picked, and did nothing in terms of converting himself to a defender. Even making allowances for his size, in Monday’s game he made no effort to pursue or otherwise limit the return.

United we Stand, melded like Steel
To Roger Goodell, We'll never Yield.

by PaVaSteeler on Dec 22, 2011 2:48 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

Mike Wallace

will never, ever make the kind of catch that you mentioned Antonio Brown making in the SF game. He’s good a catching the ball in stride and catching it when it hits him right in the numbers. He doesn’t “go out and get it” with his hands like Brown does. The next back-shoulder throw I see to Mike Wallace will be the first.

by pistil_stamen on Dec 23, 2011 3:04 AM EST up reply actions

Boldin had survery today

Out for the rest of the regular season. We might not be out of this quite yet. Let’s go Bengals!

"It’s easy to lie with statistics, but it’s easier to lie without them." -Fred Mosteller
Follow me on Twitter

by John Stephens on Dec 22, 2011 2:55 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

Probably got knee-capped for yelling at Flacco

United we Stand, melded like Steel
To Roger Goodell, We'll never Yield.

by PaVaSteeler on Dec 22, 2011 3:08 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

from

ray ray?

"Well, i asked her for water and she gave me gasoline." tommy johnson by big sugar

by greentreee on Dec 22, 2011 3:32 PM EST up reply actions

No, a cheap shot by Ngata...

…Lewis would have just handled the surgery part.

United we Stand, melded like Steel
To Roger Goodell, We'll never Yield.

by PaVaSteeler on Dec 22, 2011 3:44 PM EST up reply actions

Boldin out might be..

A good thing for the Ravens – one less receiver for Joe to overthrow. Faster checkdowns to Rice.

I'd sooner get Flacco'd out here in the middle of nowhere than lose face in front of my friends and family.

by steeltech on Dec 22, 2011 3:38 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Yep!

Now all the defense has to watch out for are the dump offs to Rice, force the 70s porn star to go through his progressions and he is screwed.

"He had no teeth, and he was slobbering all over himself. I'm thinking, 'You can have your money back, just get me out of here. Let me go be an accountant." I can't tell you how badly I wanted out of there."
- Denver rookie QB John Elway, on Jack Lambert, after Lambert and the Steelers knocked Elway out of his first game as a pro (1983).

by Han on Dec 22, 2011 3:41 PM EST up reply actions

+1

Really. What is up with that stash? Porn stasch really is the only way to describe it…

by BoiseSteeler on Dec 22, 2011 4:41 PM EST up reply actions

For every incompletion he throwns, a single facial hair he grows.

I'd sooner get Flacco'd out here in the middle of nowhere than lose face in front of my friends and family.

by steeltech on Dec 22, 2011 4:43 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

ZING!

Follow me on Twitter

by Neal Coolong on Dec 22, 2011 4:44 PM EST up reply actions

*throws

Of course Its hard to type correctly when someone talks loudly into your direction even when they see you are clearly busy. Rude people, man.

I'd sooner get Flacco'd out here in the middle of nowhere than lose face in front of my friends and family.

by steeltech on Dec 22, 2011 4:46 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

He's has to be one of the best 6th round picks (195th overall) the Steelers have ever made! The Rams can't seem to get a pick right after round 2

join me @ Google+

by Douglas M on Dec 22, 2011 3:25 PM EST reply actions

Brown came from a college "football factory"

The Central Michigan Chippewas!

by crosby87 on Dec 22, 2011 3:50 PM EST reply actions

who? ;op

"Kompromise, my friend, is the essence of diplomacy, and diplomacy is the kornerstone of love... sweeeeeet looooOOOve"

by CheekyMonkey on Dec 22, 2011 4:17 PM EST up reply actions

Hey now! Don’t be dissing the Chips! They have produced such greats as Gary Hogeboom!

Boy, I'm three generations deep, in gangstadom

by FrankWyt on Dec 23, 2011 6:10 AM EST up reply actions

Roethlisberger did not practice today

Safe to say now that Batch will start (though I hope its Dixon).

No matter how “healthy” Ben says he feels he shouldn’t start if he has not practiced.

by Han on Dec 22, 2011 4:18 PM EST reply actions

Why

should he play? Most likely Pittsburgh is playing on the road in the WC round. He needs to sit down both weeks, trust his teammates and get healthy/ready to go.

by pistil_stamen on Dec 23, 2011 3:07 AM EST up reply actions

Manni Mike and Ant

is a nasty combo at wr but will do us no good if the man throwing them the ball cant throw them the ball…so i say we rest ben until we go to mile high in week 18 to see if the miracle worker tebow can compare to the clock tower big ben.
but i also think we rest 88 as well..seeing how he plays one game misses the next too with his foot…the playoffs would do him and us better…leave jericho and hines in there…theyve earned they stats

i think the match ups in the playoffs should be tebow…brady…flacco…very confident that if bens healthy…he shows them how to pass to his recievers..then gets his rematch against favre jr.

by Tank7Polamalu on Dec 23, 2011 11:03 AM EST reply actions