Pittsburgh Steelers: Secondary Housecleaning Continues
The Pittsburgh Steelers and defense used to be synonymous. But there’s been a disconnect of sorts in recent years, most notably in the secondary.
It’s pretty hard to total the third-most sacks in the league and then watch only two teams in the NFL allow more passing yards during the season.
But never say never in football. The Pittsburgh Steelers managed that feat of sorts in 2015, allowing 29 touchdowns through the air as well. A team that has spent its last three first-round picks on linebackers (Jarvis Jones, Ryan Shazier and Bud Dupree) has not used one on a cornerback since 1997 (Maryland’s Chad Scott).
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That figures to change in a very big way on April 28. Pittsburgh’s front seven has very few question marks (with the possible exception of nose tackle). Defensive ends Cameron Heyward (7) and up-and-comer Stephon Tuitt (6.5) are exceptional players, the combination teaming for 13.5 of the club’s 48 sacks.
Ageless James Harrison and steady Lawrence Timmons had five sacks each in 2015. Dupree (4), Shazier (3.5) and Jones (2), as well as veteran Arthur Moats (4) contributed to the pass rush as well.
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Then it gets a little (a lot) shaky. So what has happened to the Steelers’ last line of defense? It was a topic of discussion nearly three months ago.
“It’s a combination of things,’’ Steelers president Art Rooney II said to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette back in late January. “We’ve made some mistakes, there’s no denying that, regarding some of the evaluations. Having said that, we still have players in that group that we think can improve. That’s what we are looking forward to, having that group get better as the years go on. That’s what we are looking for this upcoming offseason.”
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Bouchette also had the details on what the recent release of five-year pro Cortez Allen will do for the secondary, as well as the financial ramifications for the organization. He was a big disappointment the last year or so and hardly saw the field this past season due to a knee issue.
Elsewhere, cornerback Antwon Blake had a pair of interceptions last season but struggled mightily for most of the year. He’s now a member of the Tennessee Titans, hoping to get back on track with former Pittsburgh defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau.
Last offseason, the Steelers made a deal to get Brandon Boykin from the Philadelphia Eagles. Once he saw more action during 2015, he was pretty effective. But the experience defender was eligible for free agency after the season and he’s now a member of the defending NFC champion Carolina Panthers.
Sure, cornerback William Gay has really come into his own since returning to Pittsburgh in 2013 after a brief stint with the Arizona Cardinals. And unheralded corner Ross Cockrell was a terrific pickup last offseason and could be a starter in 2016.
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Head coach Mike Tomlin and defensive coordinator Keith Butler are hoping a pair of 2015 draft choices can help. Second-round pick Senquez Golson (Mississippi) never saw the field this past season due to injury, while fourth-rounder Doran Grant (Ohio State) was a member of the practice squad all year.
The bottom line is that this is a Steelers’ club with an opportunity to do some good things. But none of that will happen if their play at cornerback remains near the bottom of the league.