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The 2016 Secondary - my questions and concerns


Last year, after watching the Steelers lose to the Cheaters, I submitted a post about changes that should be made in the secondary. I said things like, "move Mike Mitchell to SS," "move Cortez Allen to FS," move "S. Thomas to Slot CB," and "start Boykin over Blake." Needless to say, the Steelers did not adopt any of my suggestions, and rightly so. This season, after watching three games, I have the following questions and concerns, rather than "suggestions,".

1. Why is Mike Mitchell playing Free Safety? Last year I argued that "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."

I admit to being a little drunk when I posted this last year, but it still seems to make sense to me.

2. Why is Sean Davis playing Slot CB and SS, when he appears to be a very good fit as a FS? I know, I know, you may be thinking that the Steelers' SS and FS is supposed to be interchangeable, but as we move more and more to a Cover 2, the required skill set is markedly different. Based upon his experience in college, and the Steelers using him in the slot, he seems perfect to play FS in a Cover 2: he has the size and speed to play a deep side and match up well with TEs down the seam and tall WRs that go deep. He is smart, so he can help call the coverage, and he had good ball skills. Seems like a great choice for a deep ball hawk that could deny the opposing offense the chance to take the top off the D.

3. Why isn't Sharmarko Thomas playing SS? I have always pulled for this kid. He has blazing speed and quickness, he is nasty and likes to hit, so he should be put into a spot that plays to his strengths, Being a SS in a Cover 2 would allow him to use his natural athletic ability and aggression to fill the alley in run support.

4. Why is Artie Burns playing on D, but we have seen nothing of Justin Gilbert? Seriously, how does a rookie play, but nothing for a veteran in this D? I know we just acquired Gilbert, but he could have been worked into the games, even if only for obvious passing downs or perhaps at the very end (4th Q) in the blowout by the Eagles? Is this another example of the FO bringing in someone that the coaches may not have asked for like Boykin?

5. Will the DBs ever play up to their potential? Can you imagine a defensive backfield of Burns and Gilbert on the CB spots, Davis at FS, Thomas at SS, and Golson at Slot CB and their ALL playing up to their potential and draft position?

Those are my questions, my concern for this group is fairly simply and oft-repeated my fellow fans: if a rookie QB, even a great one like Wentz, can light up the D like last Sunday, what is going to happen when we play the elite QBs in the league? My hope is simply that Deebo finds his fountain of youth and crushes them before they can throw the ball to the wide open targets down the field.

Go Steelers!

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