Home Player Spotlight How the Steelers Can Succeed Without Brown on Sunday

How the Steelers Can Succeed Without Brown on Sunday

by Steeldad

The news that none of us wanted to hear came down today as the Steelers will be without All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown on Sunday in Denver. He was unable to pass the NFL’s final concussion protocols and is not allowed to play. Rather than feel sorry for ourselves or for the team, we need to figure out just how they can win this game without AB, without DeAngelo Williams and with a less than 100% Ben Roethlisberger.

So how do they do it? Let’s examine.

Ben Roethlisberger will have to use everyone at his disposal and he can get help with that from Todd Haley. I think you’ll see Markus Wheaton slide into AB’s spot, Martavis Bryant will man the second spot and Darrius Heyward-Bey will be the third. If the Steelers go four wides, then Sammie Coates will need to get a hat.

That leads me to my larger point. I suggest Haley come out in 11 personnel and not vary from it at all. No two tight ends, no tight end and fullback either. Spread the Broncos out as much as possible and allow Big Ben to audible at the line to either short passes or runs where he feels the Steelers have an advantage.

If Haley chooses to go with multiple tight end look then that allows Denver to pack in their defense and it doesn’t force them to go sideline to sideline nearly as much. The Denver safeties, who didn’t play in the first game, are reportedly not 100% so you have to make them work every single play. Don’t give them a chance to get settled and you do that by taking your speed off of the field.

Depending upon Roethlisberger’s arm, I still find it necessary to take a few shots deep to keep the defense honest, but I really believe the short passing game, which includes Heath Miller and dump offs to Fitzgerald Toussaint, can be successful.

Brown not playing is horrible and is a monstrous setback for this team, but no one is feeling sorry the Steelers and they have no time to wallow in misery. They can do this and couple of big plays from the defense would help too.

photo courtesy sportingnews.com

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