FanPost

Proposed Changes to the Secondary

After watching the loss to the Cheaters, I'm frustrated and concerned that the Steelers secondary is going to be a weakness that is exploited throughout the season. After the better part of a bottle of Kettle One vodka, I have figured out how we can fix the secondary... we just need to get guys playing in the correct position. So, here is what I propose:

1. Move Mike Mitchell to Strong Safety: The Mitchell experiment has failed. The guy is tough, but he can't play center field and certainly cannot match up with with the better TEs and RBs in the league. He is, however, a guy that looks to come up and hit someone. Seems like a SS to me, especially if we are moving to a Cover 2. In that coverage, the SS has to come up and fill an alley that is formed between the efender that is keeping contain and the backside pursuit. Mitchell seems a natural fit.

2. Move Cortez Allen to Free Safety: The guy has lost his confidence and it is clear Allen can't deal with the stress of being on an island all alone. In a Cover 2, however, he could play a deep side and match up well with TEs and RBs out of the backfield due to his speed and good height. No matter how it plays out, he has to be better than what we saw out of Golden and Mitchell, which was a disaster.

3. Move Sharmarko Thomas to Slot Corner Back: I love this kid and have been pulling for him since he was drafted, but it is time to give up the goose and see if he can play in the slot. He still has blazing speed and quickness, plus he is nasty and likes to hit, so he would be the perfect CB in the slot. He could use his natural athletic ability to run with the likes of Edleman, and also come up in run support when the other team tries to run against our nickel package.

4. Start Brandon Boykin in place of Antwon Blake. Boykin may be the best CB and cover man we have on the roster. All reports are that he didn't see a down against the Cheaters for two reasons: a) the Coaching staff may not trust his knowledge of the Defense; and b) they may have kept him out because they are worried about him playing over 60% of the snaps and turning the conditional 5th round pick into a 4th round pick that they have to give up due the trade with the Eagles. I'm sorry, but I have throw the BS flag here. First, he is simply better than Blake and it sends the team the wrong message to put anything but our best players on the field. Second, we should try to win every game now and worry about the draft when the season ends. Third, if there is any doubt about his understanding of our D and the corresponding potential for blown assignments, it can't be any worse than what happened against NE. Not only that, but Boykin is a seasoned veteran that should pick up the D. The coaches need to show faith in the guy and maybe that will help us re-sign him next year.

So, that is my two cents for fixing the secondary. I'll be happy to share any further epiphanies in the future, induced by vodka or otherwise.

Go Steelers!

The opinions shared here are not those of the editorial staff of Behind the Steel Curtain or SB Nation. These posts are not approved in any way by the editorial staff of this web site.