Coming into the 2014 OTA's and training camp, there were two wide receivers on the Pittsburgh Steelers roster who could say they caught a touchdown for the franchise during a regular season game. Those two being the team's top receiver, Antonio Brown, and Derek Moye.
Moye earned his way onto the roster last season and made two receptions in 2013, both against divisional opponents. After battling in training camp to play his first game in the team's second of the season, Moye caught a one-yard touchdown pass from Ben Roethlisberger in Cincinnati for the team's second touchdown of the season. His only other reception was a 19-yard reception in the team's lone 2013 victory against the Baltimore Ravens.
Moye's advantage in 2013 was his height and the Steelers' lack of depth at his position. This year, while most of his competition consists of unproven players, Moye finds himself in a more heated competition to get back onto the roster which he played seven games for in 2013.
Probably what has worked against Moye the most has been the increase in production this training camp from Justin Brown. Brown has worked his way up the depth chart in the eyes of Pittsburgh's coaching staff and looks to have taken a significant lead on Moye. Brown was a 5th round draft pick last season for the team, and Moye's one year of experience may have been the edge that led to the team choosing him instead of the former Oklahoma Sooner. This year Brown has that year of experience under his belt and hhas gained the approval of his teammates; especially after he worked his way through a broken nose in OTAs.
Moye also is working against the fact that the team may not need an extra receiver with the speedy Dri Archer looking like a solid weapon for Roethlisberger. If Moye does not improve on his four catches for 32 yards that he put up against the New York Giants last week, he may be on the last line of cuts to come on the Steelers roster. Working against him is the stiff competition and the fact that he won't be working with Ben Roethlisberger but either or both of his lack-luster backups in Bruce Gradkowski and Landry Jones.
Moye has his work cut out for him over this preseason.