The Steelers will be missing one of their best playmakers in 2016, as wide receiver Martavis Bryant has been suspended for the entire season for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. Will Pittsburgh’s offense be as effective without him?
Le’Veon Bell is not concerned.
In a recent NFL Media podcast, Bell expressed confidence that the Steelers and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will adjust.
“I think the sky is the limit for our offense regardless,” Bell said, as transcribed by Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. “I look back when I watched last year, I didn’t play and the offense it still don’t matter. The times when Ben was out and [Michael] Vick came in, we still came in and moved the ball. When I came out, DeAngelo [Williams] came in.
“We got guys, we got depth and I think the fact that we have all of that depth and we have playmakers everywhere, I think our offense is still going to be just as dynamic. Obviously Martavis would make it a lot easier but we still have that next man up and that’s the kind of things we’ve been doing.”
It’s hard to argue with Bell. Bryant missed the first four games last season, and Roethlisberger still managed to throw for more than 350 yards in each of Pittsburgh’s first two games before getting hurt in the third. Guys like Markus Wheaton and Sammy Coates will have to step up in Bryant’s absence, and there’s no reason to believe they won’t.
The Steelers sure have come a long way since Roethlisberger was critical of one of his coaches.
