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Jets vs. Steelers: Martavis Bryant Emerging as an Option for Pittsburgh

Justin K. Aller

You may not realize it, but Antonio Brown is leading the NFL in receptions. You also may not realize it, but Brown finished second in receptions last season. Over the past few weeks, a new weapons has emerged for Ben Roethlisberger, rookie wide receiver Martavis Bryant.

Bryant was a fourth round pick from Clemson. He has five touchdowns in the last three games. Yes, he was available when the Jets selected both Jalen Saunders and Shaq Evans in the fourth round. Bryant was a prospect based very much on measurables, 6'4" with a 4.41 time in the 40 yard dash and a 39 inch vertical.

Over the past few weeks, he has displayed this tremendous athletic ability.

That was his touchdown against Houston.

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That was one of his two against the Colts.

As much as the athleticism, though, he's impressing me by the way he's beating coverages in the red zone.

He's one on one with a corner and forces him to take an outside technique by faking outside before coming inside to an open part of the field.

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Now let's take a look at one of his touchdowns against Baltimore.

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The Ravens appear to be in a pretty basic cover three zone. Bryant takes his route deep enough and then sits down in the crease in no man's land between the zones of two deep defenders. Touchdown.

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Bryant seems like he's growing as a player to go with his immense physical tools, particularly as a red zone threat. With all of the other weapons the Jets have to focus on stopping, that is probably not a great thing for Sunday. The Jets have had too many breakdowns in the red zone because cover guys misdiagnose the play and don't communicate.