Home 2015 NFL Draft Steelers Addition of Coates Brings More Questions Than Answers

Steelers Addition of Coates Brings More Questions Than Answers

by Steeldad

With their third round selection, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected wide receiver Sammie Coates from Auburn. While the Steelers definitely needed another receiver I’m not sure that Coates was the best decision here.

He’s just under 6′ 2″ and has the prototypical size and speed you look for in a receiver but there’s two key things that really worry me with him.

First of all, he drops way too many passes. It’s something that haunted him at Auburn and again in the pre draft games and workouts. The other knock is that he and his quarterback Nick Marshall were often on different pages.

That won’t fly in the NFL and it sure as heck won’t fly with a veteran QB like Ben Roethlisberger. Ironically, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein compares Coates to current Steeler Martavis Bryant. This leads me to another issue.

Why go get another guy like that?

Coates does not have the return skills the Steelers desperately need either and that was something I really thought the Steelers would look for in a receiver.

Coates had 34 receptions for over 700 yards and four touchdowns but he also had an alarming drop rate of over 19%. In other words, he drops one of every five balls thrown his way.

Obviously I hope he rounds into a solid contributor for this team but I really think there were better options in the third round.

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6 comments

Steel City Retro May 2, 2015 - 3:37 am

we needed to be going defense with every pick possible in at least the first 4 rounds. Don’t tell me there wasn’t value in the 3rd round in the secondary! Gawd Colbert pisses me off!

luis mendez May 2, 2015 - 3:44 am

I tottaly aggre . What are they thinking in the draft room ? Every year is getting worst.

bob graff May 2, 2015 - 11:45 am

Poor drafts are common lately and only time will time. But looking at big picture i hate to say it but the Ravens seem to be starting off well. Best of luck the rest of the way.

Rob Henderson May 2, 2015 - 1:24 pm

Big body receiver who can take the top off and dig out the safety. Imagine Coates & Martavis on a post and AB on a quick slant with Lev Bell coming out of the backfield. Who are you goi g to key on?

steeldad May 2, 2015 - 2:51 pm

He has all the tools Rob but those drops are hard to ignore. Is it a concentration problem? I worry that means he will struggle making adjustments too. Certainly hope he turns out to be a stud.

Vittorio Di Stazio May 2, 2015 - 7:07 pm

Have you fans forgotten the guy who is there to teach him on how to fix his issues in Antonio Brown. Coates was the best player available on there board. The Steelers thinking is this and I agree with it: give archer and anyone else on the team an opportunity to show what they can do as a returner and we have a backup option in AB. Besides more than 50% of AB’s punt returns were for a few yards and for kick returns the NFL has all but eliminated that part of the game due to head injuries so why worry about that. Unless the opponent is kicking from the 30yrd line just forget about KR. Coates is another Big WR target that will help the Steelers and besides the only pick that Steeler fans should be mad about is Jesse James. I still don’t see why you take him when your answer for TE is already on the roster but knowing how Steeler fans are they don’t ever want to give a guy like Blanchflower a chance to showcase what he can do and if that offends some people or makes them mad: good, cause I see no NEED for TE in this draft.

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