Martavis Bryant's Return Doesn't Propel Steelers Past Patriots Yet

The Pittsburgh Steelers sit at a crossroads. The same can be said for wide receiver Martavis Bryant.  

An appearance in January's AFC Championship Game would be considered a success for most franchises. The Steelers operate on a Super Bowl standard, though. An embarrassing 36-17 loss to the eventual champion New England Patriots placed everything into perspective for Pittsburgh. 

The storied program wasn't on the same level as Tom Brady and Co. As such, the Steelers must find ways to close the gap between the two organizations. 

Pittsburgh received a boost to its already dynamic offense on April 25, when the NFL reinstated Bryant after he served a yearlong suspension due to multiple violations of the league's substance abuse policy. 

"I know this is my last chance," Bryant told reporters after returning to the team, per ESPN.com's Jeremy Fowler. "I put the right people around me. I have things set up in place for me to succeed and maintain my sobriety. As long as I continue to pass my tests, do what I have to do for my family and take care of my business here, I'll be fine."

With his demons behind him, Bryant can concentrate on what he does best: serving as an explosive deep threat and yards-after-the-catch monster in the Steelers offense.

But how much does his presence impact the Steelers chances of usurping New England? 

Despite the receiver's immense natural talent, he shouldn't be viewed as the missing piece to propel Pittsburgh past the Patriots as the AFC's team to beat. 

Four factors will come into play to explain why Bryant's return isn't enough by itself to spur the Steelers toward another Super Bowl. 

What's Old is New Again

At 6'4" and 211 pounds with 4.42-second 40-yard dash speed, Bryant's skill set is obvious. However, the position requires more than just being able to overwhelm defensive backs with size or pure speed. 

Nothing has changed since his rookie campaign, when head coach Mike Tomlin said he "expect[s] him to consistently make big guy plays," per Steelers Depot's Dave Bryan. 

However, Bryant won't be the same receiver he was when he left, particularly early in the 2017 campaign. No matter how talented any athlete is, it takes time to readjust after missing an entire year. 

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

"It's still going to take time," he said, per Fowler. "With the work put in, the chemistry will come back."

Once the 25-year-old target returns to form, he needs to redevelop his rapport with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. It's not simply an understanding of different coverage schemes and recognition of what routes to run. It's the nonverbal cues great tandems develop over time during any situation. 

This is what Roethlisberger has with Antonio Brown. Whatever he had with Bryant prior to his suspension needs to be reestablished. 

Surrounding Cast 

Brown is the Steelers' top option in the passing attack. That isn't going to change anytime soon.

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

After all, he's consistently been one of the league's most productive receivers. Over the last four years, Brown accumulated 481 receptions for 6,315 yards and 43 touchdowns. Roethlisberger targeted the three-time first-team All-Pro 155 or more times each season during that span. 

Bryant is a perfect complement to Brown, but a talent like Brown, of course, is always going to command top priority in the receiving targets pecking order.

Pittsburgh's top target isn't the only reason why Bryant's production will be limited. Le'Veon Bell is the league's best all-around running back. Not only is he expected to eclipse the 1,000-yard plateau as a runner, but he's also a vital receiving option. 

In 12 games last year, Bell caught 75 passes while being targeted 94 times. Bryant has yet to play a full 16-game season, but he wasn't targeted more than 92 times during either of his first two campaigns. 

Career Trends

Before any statistical arguments can be made for or against Bryant's impact, the fact he has yet to play a full 16-game slate must be mentioned. 

After Pittsburgh selected the Clemson product in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL draft, he missed the first six games of his professional career due in part to an AC sprain. The coaching staff also wanted to ensure he was ready to dominate on a consistent level. 

A year later, the NFL handed the South Carolina native a four-game suspension due to a violation of its substance abuse policy. After the suspension lifted, Bryant couldn't return in Week 5 due to a knee injury. 

Since the wide receiver missed all of the 2016 campaign, he has only played in 21 career regular-season contests of a possible 48. He's been productive over that time, but not as effective as some might think. 

His 14 touchdowns in 21 games can't be overlooked. The lanky target is a tremendous asset in the red zone. However, he has yet to reach the 1,000-yard mark in either of his first two seasons. 

To date, Bryant averages 62.6 yards per contest. If he were to finally play a full 16-game schedule and his average remained, he would barely eclipse the 1,000-yard plateau. Last season, 23 wide receivers achieved the same feat.

According to Pro Football Focus, only Odell Beckham Jr. has averaged more yards per route among third-year wide receivers than Bryant. The latter's effectiveness is based on availability, though. 

Even if the Steelers offense explodes and turns into an unstoppable force with Bryant providing career-best numbers, his impact can still be minimized by an incomplete defense. 

Defensive Adjustments

Pittsburgh finished the 2016 season with the league's seventh-best offense and the 12th-ranked defense. The offense isn't the problem; the defense is. 

In the AFC Championship Game, Brady shredded the Steelers secondary for 384 passing yards and three touchdowns. Pittsburgh's defensive backs appeared lost, suffering multiple breakdowns throughout the contest. 

As a result, Chris Hogan set new career highs with nine receptions for 180 yards and a pair of touchdowns. 

Year	Team Passes	Targets	Percentage
2013	586	165	28.2%
2014	612	182	29.7%
2015	590	195	33.1%
2016	596	155	26.0%

The Patriots didn't do anything special. They simply capitalized on the Steelers defensive deficiencies.

"We knew that they were going to be playing a lot of zones, and that just goes back to all the preparation that we put in during the week," Hogan told Jim Miller during an interview on SiriusXM NFL Radio in late January. "We put in our game plan, [which] was to beat zone."

The Steelers made no major improvements to their secondary this offseason. General manager Kevin Colbert drafted a pair of cornerbacks in Tennessee's Cameron Sutton and Utah's Brian Allen in the third and fifth rounds, respectively. Their inclusion should help to a degree, but defensive coordinator Keith Butler will largely rely upon the same group that Brady torched last season.

Second-year defensive backs Artie Burns and Sean Davis will be expected to develop and play at a higher and more consistent level this fall. Both flashed last season, but they made mistakes as well. 

Instead, Pittsburgh placed more emphasis on upgrading its front seven with the acquisitions of veteran defensive lineman Tyson Alualu and first-round pick T.J. Watt. Meanwhile, New England didn't stand pat after winning Super Bowl LI.

Keeping Up with the Patriots

Bryant is a big piece of the puzzle in the Steelers' attempt to dethrone the Patriots. Pittsburgh built its decades-long track record of success around the ability to identify and develop talent. The franchise doesn't overspend during free agency and usually allows the draft to come to it. 

Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Thus, Bryant's return is an added bonus for a team not accustomed to big-name acquisitions. His ability to expose a defense's flaws is valuable. He may not be the offense's first or second option, but his presence will make the entire unit better. 

However, adding Bryant to the mix might not be enough to make a dent against New England. The Patriots were active in the trade market with the additions of two-time 1,100-yard wide receiver Brandin Cooks, tight end Dwayne Allen and defensive end Kony Ealy. The team also signed Stephon Gilmore to form a top-notch cornerback tandem alongside Malcolm Butler.

Pittsburgh is a dangerous squad. But the organization hasn't done enough, even with Bryant back in the fold, to claim a place atop the AFC. 


Brent Sobleski covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter: @brentsobleski.