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Roethlisberger, Bryant showing failure to connect for Steelers

4 min read
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PITTSBURGH – You’ll excuse Ben Roethlisberger if he throws the ball to star receiver Antonio Brown when he’s open.

Or when he’s not open.

Or when he first sets foot on the field on a given Sunday afternoon.

Brown has proven again and again to be a reliable target for Roethlisberger, so much so the Steelers quarterback might be a little too reliant on Brown’s talents.

Finding consistent play opposite Brown was an issue for the Steelers in 2016, but was supposed to be rectified this season with the return of Martavis Bryant from a year-long suspension.

“Two years ago is a long time,” said Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh, when asked if Bryant looks the same on tape as he did the last time he studied the receiver.

“But his skill set looks the same. It hasn’t changed.”

Three weeks into the regular season, however, Roethlisberger and Bryant have had some issues connecting, especially on deep passes.

That was especially the case in Sunday’s 23-17 overtime loss at Chicago, when Roethlisberger targeted Bryant with a pass eight times, including one 40 yards downfield on the Steelers’ opening offensive play of the game. Bryant finished with two receptions for 30 yards.

By comparison, Roethlisberger threw 14 passes to Brown, completing 10 for 110 yards and a touchdown.

Roethlisberger admitted Wednesday he has been too reliant on Brown, who leads the NFL in catches (26) and receiving yards (354).

All of that production, however, isn’t adding up to points. The Steelers are 16th in scoring offense, averaging 21 points per game, a full three points below what they averaged last season.

It’s something Roethlisberger wants to correct as the Steelers (2-1) head to Baltimore (2-1) Sunday with both teams looking to rebound from a loss last week.

“Sometimes I find myself almost zoning on A.B. too much,” Roethlisberger admitted. “We’ve got such a great relationship and he’s so good. I need to take what the defense gives us. Sometimes those guys that might be open, I kind of quickly go to A.B. I need to reel myself back in and just take what the defense gives us. Give us the best play possible, not just the best guy possible.”

It would help if Bryant and Roethlisberger could get their timing down as they had in his first two seasons. Bryant was one of the most dangerous deep threats in football, averaging 17.5 yards per catch.

Roethlisberger’s passer rating when targeting Bryant is just 61.1, half of what it is when he targets Brown or even tight end Jesse James.

But Roethlisberger’s completion percentage to Bryant has never been great because of the number of deep passes he attempts to the speedy 6-5 receiver. The two connected on 54 percent of the time prior to this year. That’s far better than the seven receptions in 18 targets Bryant currently has accumulated.

A couple of the passes against the Bears were drops, but he and Roethlisberger just seemed off with their timing one week after the duo hooked up for three receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown in a win over Minnesota.

“I feel like I didn’t play to the best of my ability,” Bryant said. “I had my hands on the ball a couple times and couldn’t come up with the catch.”

The Steelers felt it would take some time for Roethlisberger and Bryant to regain some of their old magic. In the meantime, they will continue to work on that connection, though that didn’t happen Wednesday.

Roethlisberger has begun taking Wednesday’s off as a way to rest his 35-year-old body, and Bryant was out with an illness.

“There’s a couple things here and there,” said Roethlisberger. “One step here, one step there. A throw being six inches too long, too high, too low, whatever it is so we’re close. We’re not where we were but I guess that’s probably to be expected. I like to think that we’re making strides. Both of us. And like I said, it starts with me.”

Odds and end zones

Center Maurkice Pouncey said he is “100 percent confident” the Steelers will have full participation in standing for the singing of the national anthem in Baltimore. … In addition to Roethlisberger and Bryant, running back Le’Veon Bell (not injury related), safety Sean Davis (ankle), guard Ramon Foster (thumb) and safety Mike Mitchell (hamstring) did not practice. … Linebacker Bud Dupree (shoulder) and tight end Jesse James (shoulder) were limited. … Offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert (hamstring), defensive end Stephon Tuitt (biceps) and linebacker T.J. Watt (groin) were full participants after sitting out the game against the Bears.

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