The Steelers haven’t made any big splashes on offense in free agency this offseason with running back DeAngelo Williams standing as the biggest addition to the unit almost two weeks into the new league year.
A lack of new names doesn’t mean an aversion to change in Pittsburgh, however. Offensive coordinator Todd Haley has identified a couple of players he expects to play bigger roles in their second NFL seasons.
Wide receiver Martavis Bryant got a late start to the season, but made his first appearance in Week Seven and caught eight touchdowns over the rest of the season as a potent deep threat. Haley would like to see Bryant make a bid for an even bigger role in 2015.
“We are looking for him to come in and make a push against Markus Wheaton for that No. 2 spot and continue [to] give us big-time production, specifically in the red area where a big target like that can make a big impact,” Haley said, via the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
After Bryant hit the lineup last season, the Steelers scored more than 31 points per game and went 8-3. Running back Dri Archer was part of that mix as well, but never had Bryant’s impact while running the ball 10 times and catching seven passes. Archer won’t be pushing for a starting job in 2015, but Haley has designs on a more prominent role.
“The important thing is that we do have a role for him if he is going to have a helmet on Sundays and he gets his five and six touches a game,” Haley said. “Any one of those plays he has the chance to take it to the house with that speed. Let’s just have a little patience and let him continue to develop and we will definitely have a plan to get him touches throughout the season.”
Both players offer the potential for big plays to a Steelers offense that gets them from Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell as well. As long as everyone’s healthy, that should lead to another big offensive season in Pittsburgh.