Pittsburgh Steelers: Do They Miss Playmaker Santonio Holmes This Season?

It was one of the most memorable receptions in Super Bowl history. Santonio Holmes was in the back of the end zone and made a full extension, tip-toe grab behind three Arizona Cardinals with 35 seconds to go, giving the Steelers a 27-23 lead and an eventual sixth Super Bowl title.

The six-yard touchdown reception was only a small part of the 2008 playoff run in which Holmes was a one man wrecking crew.

Holmes finished with 13 receptions for 226 yards and two touchdowns, including his nine catch, 131 yard Super Bowl performance. His impact was also felt on special teams where he returned a punt 67 yards for a touchdown.

The clutch performance displayed by Holmes extended beyond the postseason. He always came up big against the rival Baltimore Ravens.

In his nine games against the Ravens, Holmes had 35 receptions for 641 yards. That is an impressive average of 18.3 yards per reception against one of the NFL’s best defenses. He added eight touchdowns and scored in seven straight games.

When it was announced a little over a year and two months after his Super Bowl MVP performance that Holmes was traded to the New York Jets, people were stunned. Certainly the Steelers brought a high draft pick for a Super Bowl MVP coming off his career best 79 reception 1248 yard season.

This was not the case. Pittsburgh was only able to acquire the Jets’ fifth round selection.

It was Holmes’ off-the-field baggage which outweighed his on-the-field production.

Prior to being drafted by the Steelers, Holmes was arrested for disorderly conduct, domestic violence, and assault but had all charges dropped.

During the 2008 season, Holmes was arrested for possession of marijuana and was forced to sit out a game by the Steelers.

The final straw, however, may have been his discretions earlier this year. A lawsuit was filed over a glass that Holmes supposedly threw at a woman in an Orlando nightclub, and Holmes made some poor choices in Tweets that he made, especially including his infamous “wake n bake” tweet.

Holmes was also subject to a four game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

The repeated troubles were too much for Pittsburgh, particularly for a player in the final year in their contract who had a strong possibility of leaving via free agency.

But were the Steelers prepared?

Hines Ward was entering his 13th year in the league, and Pittsburgh brought back Antwaan Randle El whose skills were on the decline.

Pittsburgh added two receivers in the draft as well.

In the third round the Steelers selected Emmanuel Sanders. Pittsburgh then turned their fifth round selection from the Jets into Bryant McFadden and the Arizona Cardinals’ sixth round selection. They would then take wide receiver and returner Antonio Brown.

The Steelers had two opposite ends of the spectrum at receiver: experience and youth.

But, the one wild card in all of this was a second year receiver who flashed a ton of potential as a rookie.

Mike Wallace was coming off of a 39 reception 756 yard season in which he averaged 19.4 yards per reception and scored six touchdowns. He also demonstrated his ability to perform in the clutch: he made a memorable 19-yard sideline touchdown reception with no time left to end the Steelers five game losing streak against the Green Bay Packers.

Could Wallace be more than just a deep threat and develop into an all-around receiver?

Thirteen games into his second season the answer is a resounding “yes.”

Wallace has grown as a player this season and is ahead of where Holmes was at the same point of his career.

With 46 receptions for 946 yards, Wallace has been outstanding and lead’s the league with a 20.6 average. His eight touchdowns already surpass last year’s total.

After using him nearly exclusively as a deep receiver early in the season, Pittsburgh has been integrating Wallace in the short passing game where he has been able to extend short receptions into long gains with his rare acceleration.

In a blink of an eye, Wallace can stretch a bubble screen into a 10-12 yard gain.

Wallace is not afraid to go over the middle, can run the ball on reverses, and is a very willing blocker.

It has become obvious that he is developing into Pittsburgh’s number one option.

Meanwhile in New York, Holmes is having a decent season himself.

With only nine games played, Holmes has 41 receptions for 620 yards, a 15.1 average and four touchdowns.

However, it is the drop like he had last Sunday against Miami, one of five on the season, that makes Holmes an inconsistent receiver.

Holmes is either making great plays or dropping easy passes. He is a boom or bust player.

Although the threat to take any catch to the end zone could have made the Steelers better this season, the emergence of Wallace’s teammates has lessened that impact.

Sanders and Brown are both seeing an increased amount of play time and have combined for 24 receptions for 308 yards with both touchdowns going to Sanders.

Pittsburgh could have used Holmes’ production earlier in the season, but not anymore.

The Steelers mix of veterans and youth not only has them in good position this season but also for years to come.