:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/21984341/20131027_sal__bs4_028.0.jpg)
According to steelers.com, veteran William Gay has returned to the top of the Steelers depth chart opposite Ike Taylor.
By officially demoting Cortez Allen, the same day they demoted Jarvis Jones, the Steelers are aiming to fix problems from the Oakland game by getting older and slower. Err, I mean, more experienced? It is never a good sign for a 2-5 team to replace two young players that you are supposed to build around with two older players who might each be in their last season with the team.
William Gay has been a consistent performer, and is having a very good season worthy of being named the starter. Unlike with Jason Worilds, it could be argued that the consistent play of the veteran led to the younger player's demotion. However, the Steelers were confident enough in Cortez Allen to let Keenan Lewis walk without offering much of a fight to keep him. Lewis has played rather well in an improved New Orleans defense, while Allen's only big play of the year came on a ball that literally fell into his hands in a loss to Oakland.
While Gay certainly deserves the starting role based on his play, the Steelers depth chart is getting older, which is a move in the wrong direction for a team heading for a long final 9 games.
More from Behind the Steel Curtain:
- Steelers smacked in the face by Raiders: All postgame news and updates
- NFL Trade Deadline: Is moving Sanders an option?
- DeCastro injury not significant but may be limited early in week
- Worilds moves ahead of Jones on depth chart
- NFL Week 9 Power Rankings
- Raiders DC apologizes for flicking off official
- Keisel taking it upon himself to remind team of need to start better
- Bell: We were out-executed
- Maybe no news is good news for DeCastro
- Gilbert, Keisel given top PFF grades in loss to Raiders