Pittsburgh Steelers rookie wide receiver Sammie Coates got the nod to start on Sunday night against the Vikings in the Hall of Fame game, playing 43 snaps according to our stats, or about two-thirds of the game.
He only came down with one reception during the exhibition for 12 yards, but he flashed in other ways. He also put down a healthy dose of negatives on the day that probably does a good job of summing up where the third-round draft pick is in terms of development at this point in the offseason.
One thing that was clearly evident at times, and was one of his greatest traits in college that drew the Steelers to him, was his ability to work his way through a secondary, as he got past the final defender on a handful of occasions, even if none of them ultimately netted a reception.