5 Steelers who need to step up in Ben Roethlisberger’s absence

2. Antonio Brown

Unfortunately for the Steelers, one thing they learned last year was that the player who could slow down Brown the most was Roethlisberger. This season, Brown has not exactly set the world on fire the way some thought he would. Still, over the first six games he’s averaging 6.8 catches per game, for 81 yards and has five touchdowns.

While those numbers still feel low for Brown, it’s not quite as low as his four-game stint with Landry Jones and Michael Vick last season. In those games, he averaged 4.25 catches per game for 59 yards and did not record a touchdown.

As mentioned, teams are going to come into their matchup with the Steelers with the philosophy of shutting down Brown and forcing anyone else in the passing game to beat them.

Brown and offensive coordinator Todd Haley cannot let that happen. Whether it be screens, drags, slants or anything easy and quick they can come up with, the Steelers have to get the ball into Brown’s hands early and often to survive this injury. Brown is exceptional with the ball in his hands and has the footwork to turn a 2-yard loss into a ten yard gain on any play. The Steelers cannot be afraid to force him the ball, even in tight situations, and let him do his thing.