Power Rankings: Post-Draft Offenses (26-32)

Dec 16, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Heath Miller (83) runs for a touchdown after making a catch during the first half against the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium. The Cowboys won 27-24 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Pittsburgh Steelers
Last Season’s Rankings: #20 Overall Offense (337.5 total yards per game) #12 Passing Offense (251.1 passing yards per game) #28 Rushing Offense (86.4 rushing yards per game)

From Franco Harris to Jerome Bettis, the Steelers have had some of the game’s best running backs. Le’Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount are no exception to that tradition. As a rookie in 2013, Bell was able to rush for 860 yards and eight touchdowns, while adding 45 receptions for 399 receiving yards out of the backfield. With over 1,200 total yards, Bell was one of the league’s most productive rookies. Besides his semi-low yards per carry average (3.5), I believe that Bell has the opportunity to be a productive back in this league. Even if Bell collapses, there is always the re-born LeGarrette Blount to pick up the slack. After getting outed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the former Oregon Duck resurrected his career with a monstrous 5.0 yards per carry for 772 yards and seven touchdowns for the New England Patriots. Despite Blount’s amazing performances in the regular season and in the playoffs, it confuses me how no team picked him up sooner. Regardless though, I see the Steelers actually improving in their running game in 2014. I think that the addition of Blount will help Bell step up his game and make this offense better overall. Perhaps Blount and Bell could be the next best thing next to Detroit’s Bush and Bell combo.

For the Steelers, Antonio Brown is basically Big Ben’s last receiving hope. Besides Lance Moore (1,041 yards and 65 catches on 105 targets in 2012, 457 yards and 37 receptions on 2013), the Steelers have hardly any receiving options, making Brown a very wise investment. First, Brown has already established a connection with Big Ben (261 receptions for 3,561 yards and 15 touchdowns in four years with the Steelers). Second, Brown’s 2013 stats speak for themselves (110 receptions for 1,499 yards and eight touchdowns in 2013). Brown will most likely see even more passes thrown his way with Emmanuel Sanders and Jerricho Cotchery both off with different teams. Last season, Brown ranked fourth in the NFL with 165 total targets from Ben Roethlisberger. I think that with Brown as a focal point in the Steelers’ passing game, the former Central Michigan WR will see many more targets and many more receptions. Other receiver for the Steelers is former Oregon State product Markus Wheaton. During his senior season Wheaton caught 91 passes for 1,244 yards and 11 touchdowns, capping off a 2,944-yard, 227-catch, and 16-touchdown career at OSU. I think with this Steelers passing offense, a lot is left to be desired, causing their ranking to dip quite a bit. I have full faith in Ben Roethlisberger’s ability to lead the offense (career 92.6 passer rating and 219 career passing touchdowns), however I do not have faith in the Steelers’ receiving corps without Cotchery and Saunders. Hopefully Wheaton and Moore can step it up in 2014 and provide some help to the likely double or triple covered Antonio Brown.