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| Image Courtesy of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |
In addition to the topics listed above, I made a bold prediction that I am sticking by, whether it manifest itself or not. Come the end of the 2015 season, I will own up to the gamble, accepting stark criticism if I'm wrong or welcoming lofty praise if it turns out my prediction was accurate. I'm not one to turn away from any statements I've made, or tries to explain my way out of them. For instance, go back far enough on my twitter timeline and you will see that prior to the 2014 training camp I went out on a limb to predict Sean Spence will snatch the gift of a starting inside linebacker job from rookie Ryan Shazier. Now, whether or not that prediction can be considered bold is up for debate, seeing as though Shazier was a rookie for the 2014 season, albeit a first round pick. It was still enough of a risk to stand as a risky statement given that Sean Spence had yet to see any time on the playing field in regular season prior to the 2014 preseason. Remember? Spence had suffered injuries in his rookie and sophomore campaigns that were severe enough to threaten his career. Many thought his future as an NFL football player was history. Coach Tomlin, however, had not given up on the prospect out of Miami. Then linebackers coach Keith Butler was not so optimistic, stating that he didn't think the speedy draftee would ever play again.
Enough for the look back into past predictions. Are you ready for my bold prediction for the 2015 Pittsburgh Steelers season? Here goes:
Wide receiver Martavis Bryant (Tay) will end the season with more receiving yards than stud wide receiver Antonio Brown.
Mark it down where you heard it, first. I would include that he will finish with more touchdowns in addition to receiving yards, but somehow I think that will be expected given the deep threat that Bryant presents. The possibility of Tay coming down with more yards than Tone is 100% dependent upon injuries to either player. Any significant injuries to Brown and I will void my prediction as there is no risk, there. Any significant injury to Tay leads to the obvious.
With the prediction being out there, now, with no retraction possible, let's clarify a few things. Does this indicate that I believe Martavis will be the better receiver out of the two? That is an absolutely not! What I do believe is that Tone will pose so much of a threat, whether it be intermediate, across the middle, or beating coverage deep, it will attract a great amount of attention from opposing defensive coordinators that it will make Bryant feel as though he is facing Pop Warner secondaries. Bryant and Wheaton will both partake of the buffet, this year, while Brown will have to work a little harder for his contributions to the offense -- which will be significant, however.
Allow me to follow that up with another bold prophecy for the other side of the ball:
At only 20 to 25 snaps per game, James Harrison will lead the Steelers defense in sacks in 2015.
Again, this is barring a healthy Deebo who is able to contribute for more than 75% of the season. Yes! I'm saying that even if Harrison misses a quarter of the season that he will still lead this group of youngsters in getting to the quarterback. The only other defender I see threatening the fruition of this prediction is Cam Heyward, who tied with Jason Worilds to lead the team with 7.5 sacks in 2014. Without OTAs and a training camp under his belt, Harrison was next in line with 5.5 sacks. Arthur Moats was the only other player to come close to Deebo, specifically out of the OLBs room, closing the season with 4.0 sacks.
While Moats appears to be playing with some tenacity and toughness this preseason, I don't think he has the repertoire of moves that Harrison sports. Deebo's dip under the outside hip of the tackle is about the most dangerous I've seen since the Greene/Lloyd duo. Have I even mentioned his strength? All I have to say is, opposing teams better put a seasoned veteran at the left tackle position. Deebo throws around 300lb rookies like rag dolls with his bullrush. Unless Shamarko becomes a sack specialist this season from the safety position (which we witnessed a glimpse of against Green Bay), there just isn't anyone, including Jarvis Jones and Moats, who will threaten Harrison's impact in the pass rush.
What are your bold predictions for the Pittsburgh Steelers 2015 campaign? Yes, we all know we will be representing the AFC in Super Bowl L. Share your performance predictions in the comments.
