Ben Roethlisberger throws one of the best deep balls in the NFL. He has ever since he entered the league as a rookie in 2004. Plaxico Burress and Mike Wallace turned their deep-ball chemistry with Roethlisberger into lucrative free-agent contracts with the Giants and Dolphins, respectively. Martavis Bryant was on a similar route until he was suspended by the NFL.
The latest in a long line of Steelers pass catchers to benefit from those high-arcing Roethlisberger spirals is second-year receiver Sammie Coates.
After catching one pass as a rookie, Coates has taken his game to another level this season. He has a reception of at least 40 yards in each of the first five games, becoming the second player in franchise history with a 40-yard catch in five consecutive games.
Wallace set the record when he had at least one 40-yard reception in six consecutive games in the 2011 season.
“Them being fast helps,” Roethlisberger said. “Throw it far and let them make the play.”
Coates is fast. The NFL world knew that when he was timed at 4.43 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine in 2015.
But there are all kinds of fast guys who can’t play in the NFL. The Steelers know that all too well. They’re the team that drafted Chris Rainey and Dri Archer, both of whom ran among the fastest times ever recorded at the combine. Neither could make it in the NFL.
Playing speed is much different. Some players can run fast with the added weight of helmets and pads while others can’t.
“It’s all about, can you play football?” said receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, who considers himself the fastest Steelers player and among the fastest in the league behind Ted Ginn Jr. “Does your speed translate onto the football field? If you run 4.29, but you run a 4.5 on the field, then it’s not translating.”
Coates and Heyward-Bey have game speed, and the NFL has technology to prove it.
Since last season, the NFL has been measuring things such as game speed, distance traveled and other advanced statistics in hopes of giving fans a better in-game experience. Each player has a microchip in their uniform that records the data.
When Coates caught his 72-yard touchdown pass against the Jets Sunday his top speed was 21.78 mph. That was the fastest recorded touchdown catch of Week 5 in the NFL.
“The great thing about today is we can put that technology on him and when a guy is running 23 miles per hour, that’s fast,” Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley joked Thursday after practice.
Heyward-Bey and Bryant each ran over 22 mph last season. Coates said his fastest recorded time since entering the NFL last season was 22 mph.
“We see it all the time in practice,” Heyward-Bey said. “His ability to get down the field is great. Everyone is trying to compare him to [Bryant], but he has his own unique style.”
Haley said he knew Coates’ speed would translate to the NFL because he posted big numbers at Auburn, which competes in the ultra-competitive Southeastern Conference.
“He was a big-play receiver at Auburn,” Haley said. “There was no doubt. He averaged 20-something yards a catch. When you see a guy carry an average around like that, much like Martavis did at Clemson, you know the speed is legit and you know the competition he’s playing is legit.”
But there is more to it than letting guys who run fast sprint under a ball. Roethlisberger said he and his receivers work hard on getting the timing down on designed deep passes every day in practice.
The coaches also work hard to keep defenses guessing. On most deep balls, the receiver running the “go” route is lined up outside the numbers. But on Coates’ 72-yard touchdown catch against the Jets, he was lined up in the slot.
Haley said several things happened on that play that led to the touchdown.
• Coates received a free release off the line of scrimmage.
• It was third-and-8, and Jets cornerback Marcus Williams was sitting on a route to the first-down marker.
• Coates had the ability to almost run the speed limit in a residential area down the Heinz Field turf.
• And last, but most importantly, was Roethlisberger’s part in the play.
“He hit him in stride,” Haley said. “And the pass was perfect.”
Injury update
There was one change in the Steelers injury report from Wednesday to Thursday. Inside linebacker Ryan Shazier, who did not practice Wednesday, was limited Thursday. Coates (finger), offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert (knee), defensive end Cam Heyward (hamstring), safety Shamarko Thomas (groin), offensive lineman Cody Wallace (knee) and receiver Markus Wheaton (shoulder) missed practice.
Cornerback Justin Gilbert (knee), safety Robert Golden (hamstring), receiver Eli Rogers and fullback Roosevelt Nix were full participants and appear ready to play Sunday against Miami.
Ray Fittipaldo: rfittipaldo@post-gazette.com and Twitter @rayfitt1.
First Published: October 14, 2016, 4:00 a.m.
