Behind the Steel Curtain - Everything you need to know about Steelers 1st round pick CB Artie BurnsA level-headed news-discussion site with a sense of history and communityhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47293/steel_curtain_fave.png2016-05-06T05:00:02-04:00http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/rss/stream/112983512016-05-06T05:00:02-04:002016-05-06T05:00:02-04:00Game breakdowns of Steelers CB Artie Burns
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<figcaption>Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The experts have spoken to the positives and negatives of Artie Burns' game, but why not see for yourself?</p> <p>If you go to YouTube and type in "Miami CB Artie Burns", the first thing which will be displayed on your screen is a long list of highlight films. Highlight films are great, but they can also be misleading. When a player, or team, puts together the best plays of a college player's career, there is no doubt it will be impressive. But what about all those plays which don't make the highlight reel? You know, the bad angles on the ball, the missed tackles and the poor positioning which caused a penalty or a touchdown? Yeah, those get lost on the cutting room floor.</p>
<p>After some searching, I was able to access two games of Artie Burns -- again, not a huge sample size -- where you get to see Burns the player, not just Burns the highlight film.</p>
<p>People have been extremely critical of Burns and his technique. He was labeled as "raw," and rightfully deserves the majority of that criticism, but there are also aspects of his game which deserve praise - areas outside of speed, athleticism and tenacity.</p>
<p>Take some time to watch the film sessions below. They certainly aren't highlight films, but in case you are wondering what to watch for in the videos, here is a short list of things to keep an eye on:</p>
<p>- Body positioning both pre-snap, and post-snap<br>- Footwork in and out of the back-pedal<br>- Angles to the football<br>- Tackling technique<br>- Special Teams ability<br>- Ball Skills<br>- Breaking Speed on the ball/ball carrier<br>- Hand usage while in coverage</p>
<h5>University of Miami vs. Nebraska (2015)</h5>
<p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wbcy5Vd8Cew" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
<h5>University of Miami vs. Pitt (2015)</h5>
<p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Co-abcLn5HY" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p>The tape doesn't lie. There are several plays on both of these films which show glaring deficiencies in Burns' game. He can be a bit "handsy" with receivers down the field, which will certainly draw the attention of NFL officials early and often. His aggressiveness can sometimes be a detriment to his game as he can over run the ball carrier and miss open-field tackles.</p>
<p>However, Burns' speed and athleticism is evident when watching the film. His breaking speed is tremendous, and although not perfect, his footwork does show signs of improvement.</p>
<p>Burns has the physical tools to be a tremendous player, but how he handles coaching and adapts to the NFL style of play will ultimately decide how much he plays in 2016, and his effectiveness in the league for years to come.</p>
https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2016-nfl-mock-drafts-profiles-video-clips-highlights-steelers-analysis-breakdowns-news/2016/5/6/11565664/game-breakdowns-of-pittsburgh-steelers-1st-round-pick-artie-burnsJeff.Hartman2016-05-05T05:00:02-04:002016-05-05T05:00:02-04:00Getting to know new Steelers CB Artie Burns
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<figcaption>Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Artie Burns with their first overall pick in the NFL Draft. We sit down with "The State of the U" writers to get to know Burns from those who covered him in college.</p> <p>When the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Pittsburgh Steelers</a> selected CB Artie Burns with their first round pick in the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft">2016 NFL Draft</a>, the experts and pundits immediately started giving their opinion on the selection. Some criticized the pick and claimed Burns wasn't a good fit for the scheme the Steelers deploy.</p>
<p>When I grew tired of these opinions, I took to SB Nation's University of Miami website, <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjCicC4-sHMAhUBVBQKHTqhCocQFggcMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.stateoftheu.com%2F&usg=AFQjCNGk2DDjPAaWnfneXMf64X4mkMxLXw&sig2=UutmNe5_2pN2VTvg0kq9oA&bvm=bv.121099550,d.dmo" target="_blank">State of the U</a>, to talk to their writers about Burns. After all, who better to give you the low down on a player than those who covered him the past three years?</p>
<p>Check out the interview below:</p>
<p><b>Most Steelers fans didn't know much about Artie Burns leading up to the draft, what are some of the assets he brings to the team?</b></p>
<p><b>SOTU:</b> Well first of all, Burns is a long, speedy, and accomplished athlete. In addition to his prowess on the gridiron, he was an All-American hurdler at UM. But Burns is not a track athlete playing football. He is a football player through and through. He uses his speed and frame to play physical man to man. At Miami he also played quite a bit of zone, and even some safety. So he is also very versatile. His balls skills are also well above average, and he plays the game with a lot of swagger and competitive spirit. Burns had an emotional junior season in Coral Gables, with his mother Dana Smith passing away midseason. Yet he was still able to perform at a high level. This is a high character kid, who will not fail because of lack of mental toughness. He needs some improvements in the subtleties of playing his position, but with good coaching, the sky is the limit. Last but not least, he can definitely play Special Teams, and was fantastic doing so for the 'Canes.</p>
<p><b>Despite being a 1st round pick, many are skeptical of his play at the NFL level. What were his biggest weaknesses while at Miami?</b></p>
<p><b>SOTU:</b> Artie Burns loves to use his hands on receivers. In the NFL he will probably get flagged a lot more than in college, if he continues to do so with out first earning a reputation and/or doing it a little less obviously. Burns also sometimes allowed his man to get inside of him, relying on speed and athleticism more than sound technique to cover his man. He'll need to tighten up those aspects of his game. But for the most part he has no obvious overwhelming flaws.</p>
<p><b>Burns seems to be a player who isn't scared of contact, but also has the speed and athleticism to play the cornerback position well. What would you say is the most overlooked aspect of his game?</b></p>
<p><b>SOTU:</b> I would just say his demeanor. Burns plays the game with a lot of passion, and his confidence/swag is ideally suited to what you want in a cover corner.</p>
<p><b>What were your thoughts on the Steelers taking Burns in the first round with the 25th overall draft pick? Shocked? Or did you believe he was a first round talent?</b></p>
<p><b>SOTU:</b> Frankly I was a bit surprised. I projected him as a 2nd round pick. He has first round talent, no doubt, but he clearly also has room for improvement and development. I assume the Steelers watched his film closely and see a player on the cusp of being special. He's not a finished product, but his upside is undoubtedly high. If Pittsburgh can afford to be patient with him for the early stages of his career, I think the gamble pays off big time.</p>
<p><b>In your opinion, what is Burns' ceiling at the NFL level? Does he have what it takes to be an every down player, or is he too raw to ever be considered a shut down cornerback?</b></p>
<p><b>SOTU:</b> Burns ceiling, is that of a pro bowl player. He compares favorably at this stage of his development to former Miami and current <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Packers</a> corner <span>Sam Shields</span> (who came into the league as a UFA). Shields was as raw as they come, having spent most of his college days at WR. But Green Bay coached him up, and he is now their #1 corner, and one of the better at his position in the league. Burns is just as fast, athletic, and tough as Sheilds, but he is longer and more natural for the position. He also has three years experience in a major D1 program as a corner. The similarities in raw ability should have Pitt fans excited though.</p>
https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2016-nfl-mock-drafts-profiles-video-clips-highlights-steelers-analysis-breakdowns-news/2016/5/5/11580016/getting-to-know-the-intricacies-of-new-pittsburgh-steelers-cb-artieJeff.Hartman2016-05-02T05:45:02-04:002016-05-02T05:45:02-04:00Burns' story has little to do w/ being top pick
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<figcaption>Joe Robbins/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>As Pittsburgh Steelers fans get to know their top draft pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, they will find a lot of tragedy, but little of it has anything to do with him being the team's prized selection.</p> <p>Every person has a story.</p>
<p>Not everyone has a platform like being a top pick for a NFL team, but on Thursday April 28th when Roger Goodell took to the podium and made the announcement the <a href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Pittsburgh Steelers</a> selected cornerback Artie Burns from the University of Miami, fans were certainly scratching their heads.</p>
<p>I had done little research on Burns leading up to the draft, thinking he was at the back end of the top tier cornerback pack, but when the pick was made I, like many others, were sent scrambling for some back story on the newest addition to the black and gold.</p>
<p>Do some digging on your own, and what you find is a story which is both tragic and amazing.</p>
<p>If you haven't heard Burns' story yet, he grew up without a father who was, and still is, incarcerated for cocaine trafficking, and last October he lost his mother to a heart attack. Unfortunately, this isn't an uncommon story in the NFL, but Burns' resolve would certainly follow.</p>
<p>After his mother's passing, Burns -- who just turned 21-years-old -- took his two younger brothers under his care along with his own 19-month-old baby, A.J. So, Burns is in the middle of his Senior season, is now suddenly in charge of not just his own child, but also his two younger brothers. All while trying to improve his skills to the point where he would be ready for the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft" class="sbn-auto-link">NFL Draft</a>.</p>
<p>This is where the Steelers come in, as they made him the 25th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. Most sympathize with Burns' story, but don't think he is looking for sympathy. The tragic tale isn't why the Steelers selected him. Sure, it speaks of him as a human being and his character, but it has nothing to do with how he can impact the team in 2016 and beyond.</p>
<p>While media outlets will cling to his story, what most aren't realizing is why the Steelers truly took Burns.</p>
<p>Burns isn't just a football player, he is an athlete. While in college he also ran track, specializing in the 60 meter hurdles, an event he would break records in. On the football field he would bring an anger and aggression to his game which could help a Steelers secondary which ranked 30th in the NFL in 2015, and played soft on more than one occasion.</p>
<p>The 6-feet 193-pound defensive back plays a physical brand of football, but such a fact doesn't encompass his entire game. He had 6 interceptions in 2015, and is known as a playmaker. His CBSSports profile says the following, "He's a bit raw and undisciplined, but he makes plays. He also has all the measurables you look for in a cornerback these days, and he should step right in and provide help the Steelers need in a big way."</p>
<p>A playmaking cornerback in the Steelers secondary, when was the last time anyone could say that? Without doing a ton of research you might have to go back to Rod Woodson to find one. Burns' story is tremendous, but the player the Steelers drafted is one the fan base should be excited about watching. No, he wasn't among the big-name cornerbacks, but what the Steelers might have received in the draft is a young man with a solid head on his shoulders, with skills to boot.</p>
<p>Sounds a lot like a first round pick, if you ask me.</p>
https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/pittsburgh-steelers-opinions-reactions-news-updates/2016/5/2/11551202/artie-burns-story-is-both-great-and-tragic-but-has-nothing-to-do-withJeff.Hartman2016-04-29T14:04:31-04:002016-04-29T14:04:31-04:00Expert grades for Artie Burns selection
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<figcaption>Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Pittsburgh Steelers selected CB Artie Burns in the 1st round of the 2016 NFL Draft. See how some "experts" graded the selection.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Pittsburgh Steelers</a> went against the grain with their 1st round pick of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft">2016 NFL Draft</a>. Not so much by selecting a cornerback, but the cornerback which selected has many fans up in arms regarding the pick. When the announcement was made the University of Miami product was going to be donning the black and gold, the tweets, Facebook posts and emails started to swirl.</p>
<p>Fans were angry.</p>
<p>Their anger is somewhat misplaced by the fact very few knew enough about this player to even form an opinion. What they knew, is Burns wasn't the player they wanted, expected or knew of. Nonetheless, the deed is done and the Steelers have a new, fresh-faced 20-year-old cornerback with speed and ball skills to boot. When you put it that way it doesn't sound all that bad.</p>
<p>However, after every draft pick there are "experts" (I use that term loosely) give out grades for all the first round selections. Here at BTSC, <a href="http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2016-nfl-mock-drafts-profiles-video-clips-highlights-steelers-analysis-breakdowns-news/2016/4/28/11533574/first-round-draft-grade-for-pittsburgh-steelers-cornerback-artie-burns" target="_blank">we graded the Burns selection a solid B</a>, but many other sites were far less lenient when grading the selection.</p>
<p>Take a look at some of the grades the Burns selection received from the national media:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mock-draft/2016/4/28/11532798/2016-nfl-draft-grades-analysis-winners-losers" target="_blank">SB Nation</a></p>
<p><b>25. Pittsburgh Steelers - Artie Burns, CB, Miami</b><br>The Steelers haven't drafted a cornerback in the first round since 1997. It really showed last season when they finished 30th in the NFL in pass defense and have no clear No. 1 corner on the roster. Burns is big and athletic but was inconsistent at times last season. The grade gets dinged because I had Burns rated in the 50s. He's a player who runs hot and cold, but if he's coached up, he can be a good player. It's just a matter of how fast that and adapting to more of a zone system can happen.</p>
<p><b>Grade: C</b></p>
<p><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1641774&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.profootballfocus.com%2Fblog%2F2016%2F04%2F28%2Fdraft-2016-nfl-draft-pick-by-pick-grades-and-analysis-of-round-1-2%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.behindthesteelcurtain.com%2F2016-nfl-mock-drafts-profiles-video-clips-highlights-steelers-analysis-breakdowns-news%2F2016%2F4%2F29%2F11537894%2F2016-nfl-draft-expert-grades-for-the-steelers-selection-of-cb-artie" target="_blank" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">Pro Football Focus</a></p>
<p><b>25. Pittsburgh Steelers: Artie Burns</b> <br>In a mismatch of skillsets and scheme, the Steelers take Burns with the hope that they can develop his 6-foot plus frame into a dependable player. The problem here, much like the Apple pick to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">Giants</a>, is that the Steelers played more zone coverage than any team in the league last year and that's where Burns has his struggles. His +2.8 coverage grade ranked 42nd in the draft class, and though he does show skills as a man coverage cornerback, but his overall game remains raw. If Pittsburgh plans on altering their scheme to play more man coverage, this pick makes more sense, but at this point, it's an example of a cornerback's size and speed moving him up a draft board at the expense of his on-field play.</p>
<p><b>Grade: D</b></p>
<p><a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/story/25563462/grades-2016-nfl-draft-round-1" target="_blank">CBS Sports</a></p>
<p><b>25. Pittsburgh Steelers: Artie Burns</b><br>He's got a ton of athletic ability and he fills a big-time need. Solid pick.</p>
<p><b>Grade: B</b></p>
<p><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/round-1-s-grades-for-2016-nfl-draft-042443575.html" target="_blank">Yahoo Sports</a></p>
<p><b>25. Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Artie Burns</b> <br>Our least favorite pick to this point of the draft. Yes, Burns is a long-armed press corner with passion and he has overcome a lot in his life to get to this level. But there are teams that have stamped fourth-round grades on Burns, and he might not ever be better than a solid No. 3 corner. There were many better options here - perhaps in the front seven.</p>
<p><b>Grade: D+</b></p>
https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2016-nfl-mock-drafts-profiles-video-clips-highlights-steelers-analysis-breakdowns-news/2016/4/29/11537894/2016-nfl-draft-expert-grades-for-the-steelers-selection-of-cb-artieJeff.Hartman2016-04-29T12:30:03-04:002016-04-29T12:30:03-04:00The pick of Artie Burns not that crazy
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<figcaption>Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The reactions to the Steelers selection of Miami cornerback Artie Burns in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft have been more negative than positive. But if he can become the elite player Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin thinks he can be, Burns will quickly make you forget about your disappointment. </p> <p>Thursday night was one of the darkest in Pittsburgh sports history.</p>
<p>"You mean because the Penguins lost in overtime to the Capitals in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals?" you might be asking. No, it was because the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Steelers</a> used their first round pick (25th, overall) to draft a cornerback with mixed reviews by many.</p>
<p>I didn't have the draft evening I had expected, but that was a good thing. Instead of spending my post-volleyball hours sitting in-front of my laptop, watching pick after pick take place on NFL.com, I spent a pleasant evening out with a friend of mine, just shooting the breeze and decompressing over some margaritas (that was much better).</p>
<p>I got in my car just in-time to hear the few picks right before Pittsburgh's. Like a lot of people, when William Jackson III (the closest thing I had to a draft crush this year) was still there when the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Bengals</a> picked at 24, I thought the Steelers were in the clear and would not only finally draft a corner, but get one that would make the people rejoice.</p>
<p>With Cincinnati's secondary filled with former first round picks and in much better shape than Pittsburgh's, it was easy to assume the Bengals would try to address a real need at another position. However, when Jackson III became the 24th pick of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft">2016 NFL Draft</a>, I thought, "Well, I guess Andrew Billings will be the guy."</p>
<p>As soon as I got home and turned on my radio--literally minutes after Jackson's name was called by the commissioner--I heard the name Artie Burns, and instead of throwing a fit or rejoicing, I thought, "I can see that."</p>
<p>Of course, I knew many other people would react terribly to the selection of Burns, and when I turned on my computer, I wasn't disappointed. I get how you feel, though. In addition to Billings, other interesting defensive linemen were still on the board -- Robert Nkemdiche and Vernon Butler. Had the Steelers selected any of them, there likely would have been more praise than criticism.</p>
<p>And the fact that Pittsburgh selected Burns so quickly after Jackson's name was called just screamed of a knee-jerk response.</p>
<p>I would believe that if it wasn't for the fact that Mackensie Alexander, arguably the third or fourth ranked corner on most boards and a projected mid-first round pick by many, wasn't still available when the Steelers selected. If Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin were hell-bent on drafting a corner but were dismayed when maybe their targeted player was snatched away just ahead of them, don't you think they would have made a "safer" choice in Alexander, just to save face?</p>
<p>However, Tomlin, in-particular, seemed excited about the selection. <a href="http://www.steelers.com/news/draft/article-1/Labriola-on-Round-1/0bf4c60a-610a-4e96-8c45-d7380497931f" target="_blank">Here's a quote from the head coach,</a> courtesy of the Steelers official website:</p>
<p>"There's a lot to be excited about with Artie. He's a third-year player. He has a lot of growth potential. We're excited about the upsides. He's a master at bump-corner, it appears to be something that's a natural element of his game. He's good at the ball, he's good with the ball down the field. He's right at six feet [tall] or just under. He has elite speed. He's a track man also down there at Miami. We're just really excited about him in general. Good player to work with. He can get things going for us in 2016."</p>
<p>Obviously, a head coach or anyone associated with drafting a player in the first round isn't going to act disappointed when addressing the media immediately afterwards, but these guys do theie homework and spend endless hours evaluating prospects. You might have your idea of player rankings. I might have mine, but nobody is closer to the process than a coach, a general manager and the scouts that work for them.</p>
<p>Since Burns' selection, some have questioned a fit from a schematic standpoint. <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1641774&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.profootballfocus.com%2Fblog%2F2016%2F04%2F28%2Fdraft-2016-nfl-draft-pick-by-pick-grades-and-analysis-of-round-1-2%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.behindthesteelcurtain.com%2Fpittsburgh-steelers-opinions-reactions-news-updates%2F2016%2F4%2F29%2F11535444%2Fthe-steelers-selection-of-artie-burns-perhaps-not-as-crazy-as-it-seems" target="_blank" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">As has been pointed out</a>, the Steelers played more zone coverage than any team in the NFL in 2015, but something Tomlin said in his post-draft appraisal of Burns sticks out: "He's a master at the bump-corner, it appears to be something that's a natural element of his game."</p>
<p>Maybe the Steelers did play more zone coverage a year ago, but given the results (30th against the pass), perhaps there's a change in philosophy afoot, with the secondary becoming more aggressive.</p>
<p>At 6'0 and 193 pounds, Burns certainly is big enough to be aggressive and physical as he shadows a receiver all over the field. And like Tomlin alluded to, Burns ran track at Miami and excelled, so he certainly has the speed. Also, if his ball-skills are to be believed (six interceptions and five passes defensed in 2015), he clearly possesses attributes not seen with most of Pittsburgh's defensive backs in recent years.</p>
<p>Is Burns considered a bit of a reach? Maybe. <a href="http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/profiles/artie-burns?id=2555344" target="_blank">Here's a quote from NFL.com draft expert Mike Mayock</a> which can be found on Burns' draft profile: "I know teams with a third-round grade on Burns and others that believe he could end up the best corner in this draft." (Mayock had Burns going to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Cardinals</a> at 29 in his <a href="http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/mock-drafts/mike-mayock/326209" target="_blank">last mock draft on Wednesday.</a>)</p>
<p>Burns might have been considered a first or second round prospect by most, but then, aren't the majority of players selected in the latter-portion of the first round?</p>
<p>Fact is, in the days and weeks before the draft, I saw Burns' name near the end of the first round of enough mock drafts -- including NFL.com's <span>Charles Davis</span>' last mock draft on Tuesday, which had Burns going to the Steelers -- to feel comfortable with the selection.</p>
<p>Here's a quote from Davis, explaining his prediction: "A confident player with some length, Burns can run and make plays on the ball downfield. He's needed to help the Steelers deal with the Bengals' <span>A.J. Green</span> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/">Ravens</a>' <span>Steve Smith</span>."</p>
<p>Artie Burns might not be a sexy pick right now, but if he can ultimately go on to do most of those things mentioned in Davis' quote, he'll quickly begin to grow on you.</p>
https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/pittsburgh-steelers-opinions-reactions-news-updates/2016/4/29/11535444/the-steelers-selection-of-artie-burns-perhaps-not-as-crazy-as-it-seemsAnthony Defeo2016-04-29T08:58:40-04:002016-04-29T08:58:40-04:00Fans should give Burns a chance to prove himself
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<p>Fans were stunned when the Steelers selected CB Artie Burns with the 25th overall draft pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, but maybe they should give him a chance before labeling him a bust.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">In what turned out to be an insanely strange evening which involved a gas mask bong hit on a Twitter feed (since deleted but this is the Internet. Nothing is ever truly deleted) to a cut-off shirt on the red carpet (Ezekiel Elliott), the <a href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Pittsburgh Steelers</a> selected Miami cornerback Artie Burns with the 25<sup>th</sup> pick in the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft" class="sbn-auto-link">2016 NFL Draft</a>. Many in the Steeler Nation were not pleased with this selection at all. Some believed that the Steelers’ front office panicked after the <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cincinnati Bengals</a> selected William Jackson III with the prior selection (much like how in 2014, the Steelers’ front office panicked into taking <span>Ryan Shazier</span> when <span>Kyle Fuller</span> was taken by the <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chicago Bears</a> with the prior pick).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Who really knows? No one can know for certain if Burns would have been available in the 2<sup>nd</sup> round like many believe he would have been. If anything, the first round of the draft this evening should prove one thing that all of us should know by now: the draft is unpredictable.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One player who was deemed the top overall pick a month ago dropped to 13<sup>th </sup>(Laremy Tunsil and his gas mask thanks you, Miami). Another player who was picked as the best player in the draft if healthy was well, not healthy enough to be selected in the first round (Myles Jack and his poor knee). The draft is unpredictable, but one thing is certain: the Steelers needed secondary help and they got it in Artie Burns.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Burns is a long, tall cornerback with great athletic ability and speed, having been a member of the Miami track and field team. He is also a ball hawk who led the ACC in interceptions last season. Burns is also extremely young, as he is going to be only 21 years old before the Week 1 game in Washington (which he will be next week). While all of us can guess how Burns will pan out, this selection should placate the fans who desperately wanted a cornerback taken in the first round. It should also calm the fans who wanted to see cornerbacks over 6-feet and taller.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This pick even bleeds into the team's scheme as well. For those fans who are tired of watching the Steelers’ cornerbacks playing so much off-coverage, well, Burns is a very strong bump-and-run cornerback, a "natural" bump-and-run cornerback as GM Kevin Colbert described him during his last news conference. It should also give the embattled secondary coach Carnell Lake some prime talent work with now that Burns is a Steeler and last year’s second round selection <span>Senquez Golson</span> is expected to be ready for all offseason workouts. Burns might be raw now but it will be up to the coaching staff to help him turn into a reliable cornerback who likely will be asked to cover <span>A.J. Green</span>, Breshaud Perriman, and whoever the <a href="https://www.dawgsbynature.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Browns</a> have as their top receiver twice a season in the next few years.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">General Manager Kevin Colbert has said before he asks every defensive back prospect if he can guard Antonio Brown. Who knows what answer Burns gave the GM, but I for one can’t wait to see Burns lined up against the perennial All-Pro in Latrobe during training camp. Nothing will develop Burns faster than playing against AB on a day-to-day basis. So give Burns a chance before burying him as a wasted pick.</p>
https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2016-nfl-mock-drafts-profiles-video-clips-highlights-steelers-analysis-breakdowns-news/2016/4/29/11535130/steelers-fans-should-give-cb-artie-burns-a-chance-before-burying-himsteeler_chris_52016-04-29T07:45:03-04:002016-04-29T07:45:03-04:00Why you should trust PIT w/ the Burns pick
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<figcaption>Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Artie Burns isn't the pick I'd have made, but I've danced this dance before and it wasn't me who turned out to be right.</p> <p>Three years ago I published my first-ever Fanpost. The leader was this: <i>"I feel... gray"</i>.</p>
<p>The cause? My beloved <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Steelers</a> had just wasted a precious 2nd-round pick on a running back everyone else graded as a mid-3rd value. And they passed on the linebacker that BTSC adored! I wrote something to the effect that I trusted the front office to know better than either me or the common wisdom that I was in a position to collect, but I couldn't help feeling kind of gray nevertheless. The sort of gray you feel on a cloudy, rainy day when the weather geeks had promised you sun for the picnic.</p>
<p>I mean <i>really</i>: <span>Le'Veon Bell</span> over <span>Arthur Brown</span>? What were Colbert & Co. thinking?!</p>
<p>Well, we all know how that one turned out...</p>
<p>I'm not going to hide my dismay over Artie Burns as a 1st-round pick for my beloved Steelers in 2016. It's not the pick that I would have made. And quite frankly it makes me feel sort of gray, as if someone rained on my parade when I had been promised sun instead. I'm not happy. But I've danced this dance before and as the old Scottish saying goes: <i>"Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."</i>* Perhaps I should keep my doubts to myself. The front office probably knows something I don't, and once you put your words in writing it's sort of hard to deny them later on (unless you're running for President, but that's a whole other level of gray we don't need to explore just now).</p>
<p>Moving on to more interesting stuff...</p>
<p>What does this say about how the Steelers rate CB's? The BTSC Board started with Artie Burns at 2:01 but he slid over the course of the process down toward the late 2nd. What is it that the professionals in Pittsburgh saw and we did not? Was it really all about character? If so we should make a note for the years to come.</p>
<p>There. You see? The day may be gray but there's at least one ray of sunshine we ought to be able to find. And you know what? No one knows better than me that rain is what you need to make things grow. For heaven's sake, morel season is just about to arrive. Those are some of the best mushrooms you can find, and out woods are about to be full of them. Yesterday's rains (and I mean the wet ones, not the draft) were just what we needed to get things started. Greene and Washington counties are going to be blooming like crazy by the start of next week. And I'm going to be out there filling a few big baskets with any luck. The rain kind of sucks when you're in the process of getting damp, but I really love the things that happen as a result.</p>
<p>So what's on the horizon for football and the rest of the draft? It seems to me that Day 2 is looking a little grim for the safeties. Both Karl Joseph and Keanu Neal gone in the middle of the 1st? Wow! We liked them both a lot, but not that much. Is the team going to reach for a safety too because the pickings are slimmer than we hoped for? (Uh oh, I used that word...) For that matter, the run on Defensive Tackles that everyone expected simply didn't happen. Day 2 is going to be a D-Line extravaganza from the look of things. I wonder if that is the direction we'll go, or if the team will stun us once again? Now that I think it over, I'm sort of eager to find out.</p>
<p>So what's the bottom line? It feels a bit gray and rainy just now, but good things are expected in real life nevertheless and experience teaches that exactly the same should be expected for my beloved Steelers. If Artie Burns turns out to be Lev Bell but an extra round better there won't be a person among us who won't be saying "I told you so" when 2019 rolls around.</p>
<p>Except, of course, those who are stuck with opinions in print. We will be forced to fess up and admit that maybe the professionals do it better than we do. I admit that it's not the funnest prospect in the world, but it's a whole lot better than going through life feeling gray and wet.</p>
<p><i>* Hey, it's Scottish enough. Scotty said it, he said it was Scottish, and if you can't trust the man who keeps your warp drive running there's a much bigger problem to deal with than draft picks. Right?</i></p>
https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2016-nfl-mock-drafts-profiles-video-clips-highlights-steelers-analysis-breakdowns-news/2016/4/29/11534388/why-fans-should-trust-the-steelers-decision-to-draft-cb-artie-burnsScott Pavelle2016-04-29T06:33:09-04:002016-04-29T06:33:09-04:00Steelers Draft Selection Breakdown: CB Artie Burns
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<p>The Steelers filled a position of need in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, taking cornerback Artie Burns from the University of Miami with the 25th pick.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Pittsburgh Steelers</a> used their first-round pick in the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft">2016 NFL Draft</a> to bolster an ailing secondary, taking Miami cornerback Artie Burns with the 25th overall selection.</p>
<p>Burns, a 20-year-old junior, had a very productive 2015 season for the Hurricanes, intercepting six passes to go along with five pass breakups. Those numbers, and his all-around solid play, helped him earn second-team All ACC honors. The rangy cornerback played in a reserve role during his freshman season in 2013, and cracked the starting lineup in his sophomore year, recording 40 tackles and six pass breakups.</p>
<p>Burns attended Miami Northwestern High School, which has gained notoriety as a football factory, producing several NFL players such as <span>Lavonte David</span>, <span>Amari Cooper</span>, and former Steelers linebacker <span>Sean Spence</span>. A two-sport athlete, Burns won a state title in the 110-meter hurdles three times. At Miami, he earned All-American track and field honors as a hurdler.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, Burns faced tragic hardship in his personal life, when his mother passed away after suffering a heart attack last year. With his father serving a 25-year sentence for cocaine trafficking, Burns has had a lot to overcome off of the field.</p>
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<p>From a measurables standpoint, Burns checks all of the boxes. At 6-foot, 193 pounds, he has ideal size to match up with larger wide receivers on the perimeter. A stellar athlete, he has great length (33 1/4" arms), and big mitts (9 1/2" hands), which he used to break up 14 passes in three seasons at The U.</p>
<h4>PRO DAY RESULTS</h4>
<p><br>Short shuttle: 4.3 seconds <br>3-cone: 6.96 seconds <br>Vertical: 33 inches <br>Broad: 10 feet, 4 inches <br>Bench: 7 reps of 225 pounds</p>
<p>Burns played the majority of his defensive snaps at the collegiate level lined up in man coverage, both off the line of scrimmage, and in press. It's a role in which he excelled, using his length, raw athleticism, and physicality to disrupt receivers and contest throws. His six interceptions in 2015 were the most by a Miami player since the late <span>Sean Taylor</span> snagged 10 back in 2003.</p>
<p>Schematically, Burns is an odd fit for a team like the Steelers, who ran more zone coverage schemes than any other team in the league last year. Perhaps it's a sign that Pittsburgh plans to alter its scheme and play more man coverage going forward. Not since <span>Ike Taylor</span> has the team had a corner who can shadow the opposing teams top receiving option throughout the course of an entire game. In this sense, Burns could add an entirely new dimension to the Steelers' defensive backfield as a true No. 1 corner.</p>
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<p>Burns tape isn't exactly overwhelming. He often lacks proper technique, and relies too heavily on his raw size and athleticism. This was the main reason why most scouts and draft analysts projected him to go in the second or third round, and why many, including myself, see the pick as a somewhat of a reach at No. 25 overall.</p>
<p>The Steelers haven't drafted a cornerback in the first round since selecting <span>Chad Scott</span> with the 24th overall pick in 1997. After finishing with the 30th ranked pass defense in the league in 2015, it's clear that the front office felt it was time to make a serious effort to upgrade the position.</p>
<p>In typical fashion, the Steelers were quick to praise their first rounder, who they view as one of the best corners in the draft.</p>
<p>"We were very excited this young man was available," <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/pittsburgh-steelers/post/_/id/18543/pittsburgh-steelers-draft-miami-corner-artie-burns-in-the-first-round" target="_blank">General Manager Kevin Colbert said</a>. "There's tons of upside with him."</p>
<p>With Burns, Colbert, Head Coach Mike Tomlin, and Defensive Backs Coach Carnell Lake know they have a project on their hands, who probably won't be able to crack the starting lineup in his rookie year. If he puts in the work, however, the young defensive back has the potential to become one of the best lock-down corners in the NFL down the road.</p>
https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2016-nfl-mock-drafts-profiles-video-clips-highlights-steelers-analysis-breakdowns-news/2016/4/29/11534276/steelers-2016-nfl-draft-selection-breakdown-miami-cornerback-artieAndrew.Kipp