Why Martavis Bryant Will Be Pittsburgh Steelers' Most Improved Starter in 2015

One offseason can make a world of difference in the NFL. The Pittsburgh Steelers found this out firsthand last year with the development of Le’Veon Bell.

Coming off a solid rookie season, Bell transformed himself and became arguably the best multipurpose running back in the league with 2,215 all-purpose yards. As a result of his performance, he was a First-Team All-Pro, Steelers’ 2014 MVP and was named the 2014 Most Improved Player by the Pro Football Writers of America.

Not only did Bell earn individual accolades, but his production helped lead Pittsburgh to a division title for the first time since 2010. As the Steelers enter the 2015 season, they may need to count on another improved starter to help keep them as a legitimate contender for the Super Bowl.

It is easy to look toward the defense for the most improved player. One of their first-round linebackers—Jarvis Jones or Ryan Shazier—could live up to the hype. Another strong candidate is Stephon Tuitt, who could eventually develop into Pittsburgh’s best defensive linemen.

Although all expect to improve, we have to look to the offense for the Steelers’ most improved player in 2015. Like Bell, Martavis Bryant showed signs of greatness during his rookie season, but he had plenty of room to improve. As he enters his second season, he will play a major role in what could be the best offense in the league.

History of Receivers

Once drafted by the Steelers, it only seems like a matter of time before a wide receiver moves into the starting lineup. Bryant is the next in line to take over as the No. 2 receiver, but as Chris Simms of Bleacher Report points out, it does not have to be next year.

Bryant is essentially a starter as the No. 3 receiver and will eventually have a starring role in the offense, but the Steelers will develop him at an appropriate pace. It is the approach they have previously taken with their young receivers and one that has worked out quite well.  

	Year 1 Receptions	Year 1 Receiving Yards	Year 2 Receptions	Year 2 Receiving Yards
Mike Wallace	39	756	60	1,257
Emmanuel Sanders	28	376	22	288
Antonio Brown	16	167	69	1,108
Markus Wheaton	6	64	53	644
Martavis Bryant	26	549	N/A	N/A

With the exception of Sanders—who had injury issues—each receiver made significant strides in their second season. Bryant should do the same and has already impressed during organized team activities.

Bryant’s career started slow because he still had a lot to learn, according to wide receivers coach Richard Mann, via Chris Bradford of the Beaver County Times:

"Real hard on him," Mann said on Wednesday after the Steelers' OTA at the team practice facility. "But we held him out the first six because he wasn't ready. When he was ready, we let him go."

Mann is confident that Bryant will continue on his developmental track and eventually line up as one of the top receivers on the team.

"This year will be better than last because the confidence is there," Mann said. "We look for him to keep growing. He's definitely not where he needs to be, but he's a lot further ahead than he was this time last year.

"With confidence comes play-making ability. When he's starting to make plays and he's a big old guy, then the sky will be the limit."

Although the pads aren’t on yet, the coaching staff is recognizing Bryant’s effort and it is only a matter of time before he becomes a focal point of the offense.

Focus of Offensive Scheme

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Ben Roethlisberger has played with a lot of talent over the years, but the 2015 version of the Steelers may be the most talented yet.

"I hate to say yes or no, because I don't want to offend anybody else that's been here," said Roethlisberger, via Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. "But you look at stats from the NFL, we had the No. 1 wide receiver and the No. 1 overall back. Kind of hard to argue with those numbers."

A more talented offense should also mean one that puts more points on the board. Despite featuring Roethlisberger, Bell, Brown and Heath Miller, Neal Coolong of Steelers Wire pointed out the Steelers had trouble scoring in the red zone: “The Steelers scored touchdowns on 51.72 percent of their red zone opportunities in 2014, the 19th-best rate in the NFL. That comes despite finishing seventh in scoring at 27.2 points a game.”

With more scoring in mind, offensive coordinator Todd Haley wants to put an emphasis on the red-zone offense.

One of the focal points will be to improve the running game behind Bell and DeAngelo Williams. However, Haley also believes the Steelers should score not just every time they are deep in the opponent’s territory, but every time they are inside the 35-yard line, via Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

“When we get inside the 35 we can’t give points away, whether it’s three points or seven,” Haley said. “We obviously want to score touchdowns, but what kept us from being really good was the fact that we had too many possessions where we had no points. When we get inside the 35 we have to get points.”

While a strong ground game will help, the 6’4” Bryant is also an asset. He caught eight touchdowns in the regular season—and one in the playoffs—as a rookie and should only add to that total in his second season.

Stats via ESPN.com

Not only was Bryant dangerous in the deep passing game with touchdown receptions of 80 and 94 yards, he caught five inside of the red zone as well.

With a renewed emphasis in the red zone as well as the willingness to take shots in the vertical passing game, Bryant will be an ideal weapon in Haley’s offensive scheme. As he continues to refine his game, his role in the offense will only grow.

Development as a Receiver

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

For years, Roethlisberger hoped the Steelers would provide him with a tall receiver. He finally got his wish with the tall and fast, but raw, Bryant in the fourth round of the 2014 draft.

Following a productive rookie season, it would have been easy for Bryant to rest on his laurels and let his natural abilities carry him through the rest of his career. Luckily for the Steelers, he realized he could do much more.

The first order of business was to transform from a tall, lanky receiver into a big, physical one. Mission accomplished as he bulked up to 225 pounds while working out with fellow NFL players at Jay Glazer’s Unbreakable Performance Center in Hollywood.

“Everyone gets bigger and better every year,” said Bryant, via Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “I wanted to make sure I got better. I didn’t want to slack off or become complacent. I had some things I wanted to get done in the offseason, so I went to work.”

Former Clemson and current Steelers teammate Tajh Boyd added that Bryant’s mental game has developed as well:

"

It’s funny, because the roles are reversed a little bit now. I was at Clemson before he got there, and now I’m coming here and asking him questions about what’s going on. To see how much he has grown in a year, just from his mentality and seeing his approach now. It’s only his second year, but his mindset is of a fourth or fifth-year veteran. The guy is going to be special.

"

The physical part of the game was never going to be much of a problem for an athletic specimen like Bryant, once he learned how to use his body. The mental part of the game could have held him back. However, a strong offseason has him believing he can be even better next season, via Jim Wexell of SteelCityInsider.net:

"I'm working harder this year because I'm more prepared. I know what's coming this time," Bryant said. "And the coaches have trusted me just from my preparation and me working on my technique. I'm learning from Coach Mann, learning from Coach Haley, learning from Ben, learning from A.B. and listening to Coach Tomlin."

Watching players such as Roethlisberger and Brown prepare for the rigors of the season has motivated Bryant. He knows his teammates are working hard to be great, and it is his responsibility to follow suit.

Whether it is working out to improve the physical aspect of his game or putting in extra hours studying the playbook, Bryant will enter his second season more prepared. No longer will he have to step onto the field and think about what he is doing, as it will begin to occur naturally.

Of course, all of the work he has put into improving would mean nothing if he cannot run routes. Despite averaging 21.1 yards per reception as a rookie, Bryant does not want to fall under the category as a “one-trick pony.”

With a long stride, Bryant has excellent deep speed, but he is slow to accelerate in short areas. That is why he focused on improving his mobility and quickness.

"Running routes in the sand," Bryant said, via Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. "The beach, the sand pit, wherever."

"I used to not be that way," Bryant said of his mobility. "I used to be just big."

Tomlin took notice, according to Fowler, and yelled “big person with little person skills” following a reception by Bryant during a recent practice.

As Bryant enters his second training camp later this summer, he hopes Tomlin continues to notice his play. He transformed himself physically, has deepened his understanding of the playbook and refined his skills as a route-runner.

Thinking back to training camp last year, it is hard to not notice the parallels between Bryant and Bell. If history repeats itself, there is no doubt Pittsburgh’s offense will be one of the best in the league behind the improvement of their second-year receiver.

Note: Unless otherwise noted, all stats are courtesy of ESPN.com and roster information is courtesy of Steelers.com.  

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