Pittsburgh Steelers: Expect big things from Sammie Coates

By Luis Tirado Jr. | May 29, 2015

The Pittsburgh Steelers will definitely be one of the top offenses this upcoming season. One can see why when they made bolstering their wide receiving corps a top priority heading into this offseason and especially the 2015 NFL Draft. With their third-round pick at No. 23, they truly got a steal when they drafted wide receiver Sammie Coates. Not only will he bring a new dimension on the Steelers’ offense, he will contribute in big ways this upcoming season.

At 6’1″ and 212 pounds, Coates will bring size, speed and an ability to haul in plenty of touchdowns for the Steelers. In his collegiate career at Auburn, he contributed 1,757 yards on 82 receptions for 13 touchdowns. His ability to catch tough throws in the clutch will yield incredible results for the Steelers when it comes to finishing long drives in the end-zone.

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Coates should thrive as a slot receiver on the Steelers and use his height to create nice mismatches across the middle of the field while making defenders pay with his speed. Of course he’s not perfect by any means as dropped passes could be what gives him struggles during organized team activities and eventually come training camps.

The Steelers are coming off an 11-5 season that saw them be division champs of the AFC North. If they want to repeat again, it’ll happen thanks to a potent offense that puts Coates in a position to succeed after he gets acclimated to life in the NFL.

If he can make the most out of opportunities that come his way, Coates could very well debut earlier than many expect this upcoming season. If he is defined by having potential but allows dropped passes be what defines him, his NFL debut might not happen until the middle or later part of this upcoming season.

In an article written by Jacob Klinger of Penn Live, it looks like so far during OTAs Coates hasn’t had any issues at all when it comes to dropped passes. Here is what wide receiver Markus Wheaton had to say about that issue that’s plagued him in the past:

"“I haven’t seen that at all,” Wheaton said. “He’s been doing a great job of catching the ball.”"

May 26, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Sammie Coates (14) participates in OTA drills at the UPMC Sports Performance Complex. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

So far, Coates is performing well and if he keeps it up, could turn out to be quite the hidden gem for the Steelers this upcoming season.

With most fans worried that the Steelers might have problems on the defensive side of the football due to all their departures, a continued stellar offense will win them plenty of football games, especially if Coates delivers early and often.

Overall, expect to see big things from Coates as he has the potential to push the envelope for the Steelers and then some as they continue to prove they are one of the top overall teams in the NFL.

With his size and ability to add to the Steelers’ vertical deep passing game, he could very well end up being one of the top offensive rookies playing come next season.

Next: Pittsburgh Steelers: Best draft in NFL in 2015?

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