Five offensive story lines entering training camp

The Steelers wrapped up their offseason on Thursday when they completed their three-day minicamp. The team will reconvene July 25 for training camp in Latrobe. 

Here are my top five offensive story lines entering training camp:

5. The development of Martavis Bryant.

The Steelers saw how important a legitimate No. 2 receiver was to their offense last season. In the first six games, when Bryant was on the inactive list, the Steelers were 3-3 and sputtered on offense. With Bryant in the lineup, the Steelers went 8-2 and posted juggernaut stats. Bryant is a candidate to have a breakout season, and he might have to be. Opposing teams are going to do everything in their power to stop Antonio Brown, who had 129 receptions for 1,698 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. The 129 receptions are the second-most receptions in a single season in NFL history, behind only Marvin Harrison, who had 143 catches in 2002. In 2003, Harrison had only 94 receptions. What happened to the Colts offense? Reggie Wayne got more opportunities, and he stepped up and caught 68 passes, 19 more than the previous season. Look for Bryant to do the same because defensive coordinators won’t allow Brown to torture them the way he did last season.

4. Goal line efficiency.

The Steelers drove the ball up and down the field last season better than any other team in the league, but when they got near the goal line their execution unraveled. The coaches spent the spring putting an emphasis on goal line satiations by drilling it every day during OTAs and minicamp. The Steelers scored just 20 touchdowns on 74 snaps inside the 10-yard line. That’s a 27 percent conversion rate, and it pales in comparison to the top percentages posted by the best goal line offenses in the league. Houston, for example, converted at a 45 percent clip to lead the league. With the talent the Steelers have assembled on offense there isn’t any reason they can’t be one of the top goal line offenses.

3. Improve the running game

The best running teams can run even when defenses know when it’s coming. The Steelers made a big improvement in their rushing stats in 2014, going from 27th in the league the previous year to 16th. But they didn’t run well down the stretch as they averaged fewer than 50 yards over their final four games (playoffs included). The way Ben Roethlisberger and the receivers carved up defensive backfields last season it’s a good bet defensive coordinators will drop more players into coverage and force the Steelers to prove they can run. The offensive line returns intact, but DeAneglo Williams must show he can carry the load early in the season when All-Pro back Le’Veon Bell is out serving his three-game suspension.

2. Avoid another slow start

Yes, the Steelers have a built-in excuse with Bell missing the first three games, but they can’t start 2015 the way they did 2014. The Steelers scored 17 points or fewer in three of the first six games last season. That can’t happen again. The defense is rebuilding on the fly, and the offense might have to outscore some teams early in the season until the defense can find its footing. It’s not going to be easy without Bell, but the Steelers have enough other skilled players to get the job done. They had better step up to the challenge because their season might depend on it.

1. Step up in crunch time

There is no guarantee the Steelers win the AFC North again and make the playoffs, but if they do the offense has to step up when the games really count. The last three times the Steelers played in the playoffs they went home losers. Roethlisberger’s recent playoff history pales in comparison to his early playoff performances. In his past three playoff games, Roethlisberger has thrown four touchdowns and five interceptions, with a combined quarterback rating of 76.0. Even with his 22.6 rating in Super Bowl XL, Roethlisberger still managed to post an overall rating of 97.6 in that Super Bowl year, his second season in the league. If the Steelers are good enough to get back to the postseason they need Roethlisberger to rekindle the magic he showed regularly as a young quarterback.

Coming Monday: top 5 defensive story lines