Week 1 in the NFL did not go as planned for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Missing two of their biggest playmakers, the offense struggled early to do much of anything against the Patriots and the defense failed against dynamic tight end Rob Gronkowski. With both Le'Veon Bell and Martavis Bryant missing due to suspensions, the Steelers were forced to rely on depth which worked out in the run game, but not in the passing game.
In place of Bell who was a star last season, veteran DeAngelo Williams is getting the start and more carries than he has seen lately. He proved that age is simply a number as the running back put up 127 yards against the Patriots. He looked strong as a downfield rusher in place of the versatile Bell and Roethlisberger believes he could be a big part of the team's offense even when the full roster is back on the field.
"It's something we're very happy with what he did, but we all kind of knew what we were getting in DeAngelo," Roethlisberger said, per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "He puts the work in every day. He's a great a football player. When L. Bell comes back, it doesn't mean we're going to put him on the shelf. I think he's proven he can be a guy who can help give Le'Veon breaks. If he's tired, he won't be nervous to come out because he knows he has a guy who can step up right behind him and do great things."
Make no mistake, when Bell returns to the field he will be the workhorse. The running back had 290 carries last season which ranked him third in the league behind DeMarco Murray and LeSean McCoy. Roethlisburger might like what he sees from Williams, but do not expect Bell's workload to be lighter upon return.
One change Week 2 could see for Pittsburgh is an increased role for rookie Sammie Coates. With Bryant out, Antonio Brown is the leading receiver with Darrius Heyward-Bey and Markus Wheaton seeing time on the field. Coates was inactive for Week 1 despite being drafted in the third round. Instead, undrafted rookie Tyler Murphy got the nod. Roethlisberger believes Coates can be a star for the team, but he simply needs more work on the field to make it happen. The rookie could see time in Week 2, but do not expect his role to be large if much of anything at all.
"He just needs to keep getting work, keep getting confidence and keep putting the work in to get mentally ready, both in the playbook and on the field," Roethlisberger said, via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "When you have the best on the field in your room in Antonio Brown, just do everything he does. You come in as a college guy, and it's not easy because you [played] a whole college season, then an offseason training, and then you have to get right into it. There's no time to rest. So it's not easy."
