As a Hall of Fame receiver who made a living burning defensive backs for five National Football League teams, James Lofton knows a big-play receiver when he sees one. And, as a former 200-meter and long-jump champion at Stanford, he also recognizes smooth speed when he sees it.
That’s what he saw when he watched Martavis Bryant catch a 10-yard slant pass from Landry Jones against the Arizona Cardinals and turn it into his third touchdown of at least 80 yards in less than one full season with the Steelers.
“Patrick Peterson is supposed to be fast, and he pulled away from him,” Lofton said, referring to the Cardinals cornerback who tried to catch Bryant on his 88-yard touchdown. “He ran out of bounds like, ‘I can’t catch that guy.’”
Just 11 games into his career, Bryant is becoming one of the most dangerous big-play receivers in the NFL, a home-run hitter who can beat defensive backs down the field, over the top or simply by just outrunning them with his long-striding, 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame.
After he caught three passes of 36, 38 and 63 yards in a preseason game in Buffalo in August, a team member in the Steelers locker room said Bryant might be the best receiver in the NFL. Even if the statement were hyperbole, it at least points up the meteoric rise and impact he has had in a short period of time.
Bryant could add to that total today when the Steelers (4-2) play the Kansas City Chiefs (1-5) in Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs already have allowed four pass plays of at least 50 yards, most in the league.
“A home-run hitter to me is a guy who has that relaxed, deep speed,” said Lofton, who was the first player in NFL history to have 14,000 receiving yards. “A lot of guys with that short-area quickness, you take Antonio Brown, he can be a home-run hitter but he can be a home-run hitter on a 6-yard pass. The home-run hitters kind of pass the eye test. It’s always that smooth speed.”
What a start
Bryant’s incredible start with the Steelers is one of the most productive in NFL history.
His touchdown catches of 8 and 88 yards against the Arizona Cardinals in his first game back after a four-game suspension and a week off because of an injury gave him 10 scoring passes after just 11 games in a Steelers uniform. According to Elias Sports Bureau, only four players in history have had more through their first 11 games — Odell Beckham of the New York Giants (2014), Bill Groman of the Houston Oilers (1960), Harlon Hill of the Chicago Bears (1954) and Bill Howton of the Green Bay Packers (1952), all with 11.
“Any time he gets the ball in his hands, I think touchdown,” said fellow receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, who was the fastest player in the 2009 draft when he was selected seventh overall by the Oakland Raiders. “He’s a big-play guy. That’s Barry Bonds out there. He’s a home-run hitter.”
Jerry Rice, the NFL’s all-time receiving touchdown leader with 197, is probably considered the greatest home-run hitter among receivers in league history because he had 36 touchdowns of 50 yards or longer. And, since the 1970 merger, no player has more catches of 80-plus yards than Rice (4). The only other player to have four is Green Bay’s Jordy Nelson.
Even Detroit’s Calvin Johnson, maybe the league’s ultimate receiver, has three. DeSean Jackson, who leads all active players with 48 catches of at least 40 yards, also has three. So does Cincinnati’s A.J. Green, who has 16 catches of 50 yards or longer in five seasons with the Bengals. Mike Wallace had three catches of 80 or more yards when he was with the Steelers.
Surprisingly, some receivers who were considered among the best deep threats of all time have only one catch of at least 80 yards in their career. That list includes Lofton, Randy Moss, Reggie Wayne, Marvin Harrison and Chad Johnson.
Others such as Terrell Owens, Steve Smith, Isaac Curtis, Torry Holt and Pierre Garcon have two.
Before the merger, former San Diego Chargers receiver Lance Alworth had five touchdown catches of 80-plus yards in an 11-year career. So did former Dallas Cowboys receiver Bob Hayes. Homer Jones played only seven NFL seasons, six with the New York Giants, but had four touchdown catches of 80-plus.
“With Bob Hayes came the invention of the zone defense because here’s a guy who could outrun everybody on the field,” Lofton said.
That is the kind of company Bryant is keeping with his big-play moments.
Consider:
• Bryant is the only player in NFL history to have three touchdown catches of 80 yards or longer in his first 11 career games, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
• He is the second player since the 1970 merger to have three touchdown catches of 80 yards or longer in an eight-game span. The other is Nelson.
• Bryant had the longest catch in the NFL last season (94 yards), and his 88-yarder against the Cardinals is the longest after six games this season. The only player in league history to have the longest catch in consecutive seasons was Michael Haynes with the Atlanta Falcons in 1992 (89 yards) and 1993 (98).
• Bryant is the first player in 77 years to have touchdown catches of at least 88 yards in each of his first two seasons. Gus Tinsley of the Chicago Cardinals is the only other player to do so in his first two seasons (1937, 1938).
“He’s big and he’s fast — really fast — and he gets to speed fast,” said offensive coordinator Todd Haley. “[Those aren’t] always characteristics that go together. A lot of times you get big receivers like him, they’re more build-to-speed, long speed. This guy, after a couple steps, is full speed, and that full speed is as fast as anyone. And he can catch. It’s a deadly combination.”
As the NFL is quickly discovering.
Gerry Dulac: gdulac@post-gazette.com.
First Published: October 25, 2015, 4:04 a.m.
