Can a brother get some love for his Bryant pick?
Commentary by PalmerSucks
November 5, 2014
Warning: extreme self-congratulatory language ahead.
“If the Stillers pass on Benjamin they’d do well to look in later rounds at all-world WR Sammy Watkins’s receiving counterpart at Clemson: Martavis Bryant. Bryant goes 6’4” and runs like a deer; in fact he’s said to be faster than Watkins. Bryant could be developed into the big, field-stretching target the team has lacked since Plaxico Burress.”
--PalmerSucks, Stillers.com pre-draft look, May 6, 2014
You have to love all the Martavis Bryant man-love going on right now. If it’s not ESPN spouting his stats, it’s Irvin on the NFL Network reciting his college history. Yeah, everybody just knew this guy was going to rock, um hum, you betcha. Yeah, guys, you knew it all along.
Bullshit.
Someone find me a link to any Stillers site, or for that matter any of the big-money TV guys, who recommended the team draft Bryant last spring. The fact is, aside from yours truly, nobody was talking up Bryant, fixated as they were on his big-name teammate, Sammy Watkins. The fact that Bryant lasted til the end of the 4th round tells you most teams didn’t exactly have him top of mind, either. (I won’t go into details about that day, only to tell you that when it came time for the Stillers to pick, my TV-screen screaming was second only to when they refused to take Roethlisberger right away.)
Back then, Martavis Bryant was just the kid who played alongside Watkins at Clemson. Now – he may just turn out to be that school’s biggest NFL success story in 2014.
I figured Bryant would be good, but damn, 5-TDs-in-3-games good? (For the record, Watkins has also notched 5, but in 8 games.) That makes him Big Ben’s top TD maker this current hot streak; of the 12 scores Ben’s tossed the last couple weeks, a full one-third have been to Bryant. Even I, the Bryant fan, didn’t think he’d make such an impact this fast.
I said before the season started that Markus Wheaton was the key to the offense. That’s because the Stillers needed a receiving threat to keep all the coverage off Antonio Brown. Instead, Bryant has become what Wheaton needed to be: a serious second receiving option.
Speaking of Wheaton, anyone notice how his game’s been raised a notch since Bryant’s been playing? Some guys respond to praise, others are motivated by competition (or as I like to call it, fear for your job). It looks like Wheaton falls into the latter category.
Now as strong as Bryant’s looked, he’s been far from perfect. Sunday Night he goofed on a low ball he needed to scoop up. As I’ve said, he’s not as polished and pro-ready as Watkins, and his game needs work. He’s a project who needs a fair amount of development.
And that’s exactly what should get you all excited.
Bryant’s upside potential is simply tremendous. His downfield speed is remarkable, and his size makes him the cure for the team’s red-zone problems.
His foot-drag in the end zone vs. the Texans is the kind of thing that can’t be taught. When Bryant does reach his potential, he’ll be a real nightmare for DBs.
I’d go as far as to say the season changed when the team activated Bryant, and blessedly ended the asinine Justin Brown experiment. Bryant is the kind of jumbo-sized, fast WR the game – and rules – currently favor. And to think it only took six weeks for the team to wake up and realize it. Great job, dudes.
Again, the Stillers offense is now what drives the team. Specifically, that refers to the passing game, regardless of what certain owners think constitutes “Stillers football.” The good news is, the team now possesses a franchise QB, an elite WR (in fact the best in the game right now) and a legitimate downfield receiving threat opposite him. If – and this is a big if – the o-line can keep Ben clean, there’s no telling what kind of numbers they can put up this season.
I won’t talk more about Brown, who’s become so good he’s making us take the incredible for granted. He’s simply another Mid-American Conference stud who’s driving the team along with Ben and Harrison. Roethlisberger’s half-season numbers are scary good: 22 TDs, 3 INTs and a sky-high 110.6 passer rating. Why, that might be enough to get Steve Young off his back.
Now then, let me say a few words about Sunday Night, and a game so intense I thought it was 2008 again. First, here’s the difference between a true franchise QB and an overpaid wannabe. When Ben got whacked, he just got mad and shot his QB rating up about 15 points. When Flacco got hit, he started to pout and think about the plane ride home. I have no doubt Harbaugh encourages his guys to take high shots at Roethlisberger, and it was sweet to see him pay the price for it.
Thankfully the Stillers put up enough points to prevent even the classic Ravens victory plan from succeeding. Once again, Jacoby Jones did his best to cover for another Average Joe no-show, with a simply infuriating TD return. But this time, the Stillers own killer B’s corps (Ben, Brown and Bryant) were there to put a cork in it. (Sorry Joe, no free government cheese for you this week.)
Finally, a word about coach. I know Tomlin’s caught a lot of heat lately (led by guys like myself). In fairness he deserves props for the team’s turnaround. Last year the team started out 0-4 and finished at .500, one bad call away from making the playoffs. This season the team’s come back strong after the disaster in Cleveland. Mike may not be the football genius we thought he was when hired, but keeping things from falling apart is a coaching skill not possessed by everyone.
If the coaches and front office realize what the true strength of the team is (hint: it doesn’t involve throwing 12 bubble screens a game), the 2014 Stillers have a shot to make some noise. A top-tier QB throwing downfield to legit receiving threats, supported by skilled backs like “Bong” Bell and “Phillies” Blount, gives them the best chance to win. Likewise, the team needs to realize the limitations of its defense, and not be shy about sticking with the young DBs who’ve stepped in for Allen and Taylor. (McCain will learn in time to stay with passes rather than stop and watch them float by.)
For the last few years, the Pittsburgh Stillers have faced two major problems: a defense that yields big plays and late drives, and an offense that bogs down on the opponent’s side of the field. One of those problems appears to have been solved. However, for the Stillers to be considered a true contender, they must show their defense is for real. Unfortunately, there are still too many doubts left to be confident. Lost in all the euphoria in the Colts win is the fact that Luck still put up big yardage and points.
So now, on to the pathetic Jets; let’s hope it’s not a trap. A Bungals win over Cleveland is key, with two games against Cincy coming up for the Stillers.
And remember, this November, the next time you hear some jagoff on The Worldwide Leader spout off about Bryant, ask yourself where this clown was in May.
For Stillers.com, this is PalmerSucks.