Steelers' receiver corps needs reinforcements

[mesaSteeler]

Steelers' receiver corps needs reinforcements
PUBLISHED 18 hours and 21 minutes ago
http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/stor...reinforcements
Vinnie Iyer SN Icon Sporting News

One reason for the Pittsburgh Steelers' 31-25 loss in Super Bowl XLV is that their wide receivers couldn't quite keep up with the Green Bay Packers' corps, even though Hines Ward and Mike Wallace made it interesting with touchdowns late in each half.

Going forward, however, it's a position of concern for the Steelers beyond Wallace, a speedster headed toward his third season and what should be the best stretch of his career.
Steelers' receiver corps needs reinforcements

Vinnie Iyer says Pittsburgh is going to need additional wide receivers to step up if it wants to make it back to the Super Bowl.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that both Emmanuel Sanders, who broke his foot in the Super Bowl, and Ward (knee, thumb) are both set to have offseason surgery. The coaches loved what Sanders showed as a rookie but now must worry about his recovery. As for Ward, he turns 35 in March and has taken so much physical abuse over the years as game's toughest receiver, someone always willing to deliver a crack-back block on a linebacker. It's uncertain how much longer he can play.

Then there's also Limas Sweed, a '08 second-rounder who has been on injured reserve since he tore his Achilles' tendon last May. Fifth receiver Antwaan Randle El, 31, was just a familiar stopgap option.

If the Steelers had to move forward with Wallace and Antonio Brown as starters in '11, they would be comfortable with that. The problem is offensive coordinator Bruce Arians and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger like to work with three-and four-receiver formations, but that requires reliable depth. Brown (5-10) and Sanders (5-11) are two smaller receivers, and Wallace stands only 6-0.

Sweed's return would be big, literally, because he is a 6-4, 220-pound target. The Steelers can't count on that and instead should look for a nice-sized possession receiver in free agency or the draft.

Read more: http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/stor...#ixzz1DYaLSXAy

[BKAnthem]

I don't agree with this at all. the Steelers have more immediate needs than WR ....Miller is like a 6th WR anyway...if anything they are stacked over there Ward has 1-2 good years left, Sanders wil be back by Training camp...Randle -El is still serviceable....The problems lie eslewhere

[SH-Rock]

We lost Sanders in the game. If we won the game then this thread wouldn't be here. More immediate concerns need to be addressed.

[Atlanta Dan]

Iyer writes as if Sanders suffered a catastrophic knee injury and Ward is retiring. Ward is coming back for one more year and the Steelers drafted two receivers last year who stepped up to be the #3 and #4 receivers

tt would be nice if a team had 20 draft picks every year and no salary cap to deal with, but the team has issues such as CB, OL, and a still aging DL to address before it looks for a #5 receiver to replace Randel-El next season

[ebsteelers]

we got 6 options at least.

ward, sanders, brown, wallace, randel el, miller, sweed basically going to be his 3rd year since he missed all of last year, and thats when they show most improvement... hed be a big addition

dont forget mendy and redman also as pass catchers..



maybe we need to reinforce the run??

[SoCalFan]

Randle El has got to go!We need a taller reciever for those corner routes.Was hoping we would have signed CFL reciever Andy Fantuz but he signed with the Bears.Plaxico is an option,he is still friends with Ward and Ward said he would welcome him back!(Probably will not happen).If we did something in league,it would free up a first round corner back!

[zulater]

I'm fine with the receivers we have on the roster.

We need help in the defensive backfield first, second, and third.

[MDSteel15]

Here's a FA solution to this if he stay's healthy and Sweed sucks it up!

Steve Breaston (ARI) – The Cardinals know the health of Breaston’s knee better than any other teams. If it checks out clean, they also know his abilities better than anyone else. He’s a breakout star in the making and would form a formidable duo with Larry Fitzgerald if the team could get their quarterback situation untangled.

[Fire Arians]

Originally Posted by MDSteel15

Here's a FA solution to this if he stay's healthy and Sweed sucks it up!

Steve Breaston (ARI) – The Cardinals know the health of Breaston’s knee better than any other teams. If it checks out clean, they also know his abilities better than anyone else. He’s a breakout star in the making and would form a formidable duo with Larry Fitzgerald if the team could get their quarterback situation untangled.

while i don't think wr is an immediate need, i wouldn't be against signing breaston if the price is right

[TRH]

more immediate needs are to be addressed but don't be surprised if we end up with at least one in our 1st 5 picks.
I'd like to see them give Sweed one more all-round shot to make the team permanently (if he's healed properly and can get his head on 100% and catch the ball). It's not unheard of after a player misses one shot, to get his head on straight for one more shot. This obviously would be his last.