Steelers mixing, matching, winning
PITTSBURGH – In an effort to help revive their passing game, the Steelers might have looked into their past.
In the last two games, the Steelers have mixed and matched their wide receivers based on down and distance and other factors to help achieve desired results.
One grouping includes Markus Wheaton and Lance Moore along with Pro Bowl receiver Antonio Brown. The other employs Martavis Bryant and Darrius Heyward-Bey with Brown.
It’s similar to what the Steelers did in 1995, on their way to a Super Bowl appearance, when Yancey Thigpen was a constant on the field, along with combinations of Charles Johnson, Andre Hastings, Ernie Mills and Kordell Stewart.
Thigpen, like Brown, had a team record-setting performance that season, while the others all made critical contributions.
The different combinations seem to be working for the Steelers (5-3) again this season as they head into a key matchup Sunday night against the Baltimore Ravens (5-3).
Since the Steelers went to the rotation, Brown has been his typical self, catching 19 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns, while Wheaton, Moore, Bryant and Heyward-Bey have combined for 18 catches for 257 yards and four touchdowns.
“I don’t think it’s a first group, second group (thing),” said Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week for the 10th time in his career Wednesday after setting team records with 522 yards passing and six touchdown passes Sunday against Indianapolis.
“It just depends on what personnel and plays you want to run. As long as each guy wires in on what he’s doing on his particular play and grouping, we’re going to keep on rolling.”
The Steelers have settled in on using Wheaton and Moore, both of whom are smaller receivers, with Brown on early downs and when they want to go to shorter routes to take advantage of their quickness.
On third-and-long, they bring in Bryant (6-4) and Heyward-Bey (6-2). Both Bryant and Heyward-Bey are not only matchup problems because of their size, but both are very fast, which creates matchup issues for the defense.
“One group is a no-huddle specific group,” said Roethlisberger. “The other group can be for blocking, big plays. We put in a lot of work. It’s not like I just go out and throw to A.B. and let everyone else throw to everyone else. I’m working with all the guys and making sure we all know what page to be on and where everyone needs to be. You have to comfortable with each guy because you never know when you’re going to use them.”
Heyward-Bey, a former No. 1 draft pick of Oakland, said the Raiders did similar things. But he said typecasting this current group of Steelers receivers would be a mistake.
“I think they just feel like the groups that we put out there, everybody is using their skill sets to their advantage,” Heyward-Bey said. “I don’t think it’s like, ‘Oh, it’s third-and-2, let’s use these people.’ I think it’s the coaches and their feelings on who can execute the best stuff.”
Whatever the rotation, it’s effective.
Roethlisberger is on pace to set career highs in completions, completion percentage, passing yards and touchdown passes. In the past two games, he’s 63 of 82 for 787 yards and eight touchdowns with no interceptions and a passer rating of 138.7.
“We’ve won two games and Ben had an awesome game,” said Heyward-Bey. “So it’s working.”
Tight end Matt Spaeth and safety Ross Ventrone did not practice Wednesday because of hamstring injuries. … Cornerback Ike Taylor (forearm) was a partial participant in practice.