There are only three ways that a wide receiver gets open. But especially down the field, well five actually if you count the quarterback and O-line.
They physically out man their guy at the point of attack, they run an absolutely great route, or the D-back makes a mistake. That's it...
And as evidence I'll give you exhibit A, does anyone remember the Penn State game in Happy valley? Spievey got caught peeking in the back field and got beat for an 80 yard touchdown and couldn't recover in time?
they didn't get the deep one more time that game. I like Riley but when a wide receiver doesn't get open it's typically on the wide receiver or the offense didn't have enough time to get it to him. Or didn't have the confidence to throw it to him because he drops balls, quite frankly people are open down the field all the time I assume you guys go to football games live... somebody is always open.
The OC/play caller takes way way way way way way too much blame for when an offense sputters.