On the Steelers: Luck is just around the corner

The parade of journeymen, backups and rookie quarterbacks the Steelers faced this season ends Sunday at Heinz Field when they must defend against the most prolific passer in the NFL.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is no Brian Hoyer, no Mike Glennon, no Ryan Fitzpatrick, no rookie like Blake Bortles making his second NFL start. And that could be bad news for the Steelers, who have had problems stopping those other quarterbacks while staggering to a 4-3 record. How might they deal with the likes of Luck, the NFL’s best passing offense and best offense overall?

“We have to work to minimize Andrew Luck and what he is able to do with his legs and with his arm, and how he administers the offense,” coach Mike Tomlin said.

Luck, in just his third season, leads the NFL with 2,331 yards passing. He and Peyton Manning are tied at the top with 19 touchdown throws. To hear Tomlin talk, Luck is more dangerous to defend than Manning or Tom Brady.

“What he’s able to do as plays break down with his legs, I think, creates an interesting discussion of problems for you from a defensive standpoint; problems that quite frankly the other two guys you mentioned don’t present and probably never have presented,” Tomlin said. “He’s his own unique animal. He’s a very talented football player and one to be reckoned with.”

Luck has 98 yards rushing on 30 official carries. He has been sacked 11 times.

His favorite receiver is T.Y. Hilton, who has 47 receptions for 711 yards. Longtime Colts receiver Reggie Wayne is next with 38 receptions, but is hurt and might not play. Yet that won’t leave Luck without a bevy of others to choose from: halfback Ahmad Bradshaw, who leads the Colts with six touchdown catches; Hakeem Nicks; tight ends Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener, with eight touchdowns between them; and halfback Trent Richardson.

“They are a formidable group on offense with a variety of weapons with a guy under center that has proven that he is capable of doing it at a high level,” Tomlin said.

“They are up in the 40s in terms of some of the points that they have scored in recent weeks. They average 37 minutes in terms of time of possession. We have to work to minimize that. Obviously it’s going to require a great effort by us.”

But can they? The Steelers pass defense ranks 13th in yards allowed. They have just four interceptions and 10 sacks. The only quarterback ranked in the top 20 in passer rating in the NFL they played through the first seven games is Joe Flacco, who led Baltimore to a 26-6 victory in the second game of the season.

After opening the season with losses to Denver and Philadelphia, the Colts have won five in a row, including a 27-0 rout of Cincinnati Sunday at home. Luck threw for 344 yards.

And he can pass, too

Antonio Brown, quadruple threat?

Brown leads the AFC with 50 receptions and 719 yards receiving. He has 8 yards rushing on three carries. He has returned 15 punts for 126 yards. And now he has thrown his first touchdown pass, of 3 yards to Lance Moore Monday night. That made him 2 for 2 for 20 yards passing this season. For his career, he is 3 of 5 for 35 yards with one interception.

“Antonio has proven to be a guy that’s capable of delivering plays for us whether it’s running the ball or throwing the ball,” Tomlin said. “I don’t think that’s the first ball he’s thrown this year and definitely not the first ball he’s thrown since he’s been here. You just want to put the ball in playmakers’ hands and he is that.”

It was the first Steelers touchdown thrown by someone other than a quarterback since another receiver, Antwaan Randle-El, threw two in the 2010 season. Randle-El also famously threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to Hines Ward in Super Bowl XL.

Receiver rotation

Wide receivers Martavis Bryant and Darrius Heyward-Bey probably earned more playing time after their performances against the Texans.

Bryant, suiting up for the first time, made his first NFL catch a good one for a 35-yard touchdown. Bryant had a second catch for 5 yards. Heyward-Bey came up with a clutch 17-yard reception on third down.

The Steelers used those two together in somewhat of a rotation with Markus Wheaton and Moore. Wheaton, who has been the No. 2 starter with Brown, did not catch a pass.

“I like what transpired in the stadium,” Tomlin said. “Basically, when called upon, a lot of different guys delivered. Maybe not a second, third or fourth, per se, but situationally or by package or by concept, we’ll just continue to work that division of labor and put those guys in the position to do what they do best, obviously geared toward having balance within the group and leaning on the physical strengths of all the men.”