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Pittsburgh Steelers: Coty Sensabaugh A Sound Addition At Cornerback?

By Russell S. Baxter

Sep 12, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams cornerback Coty Sensabaugh (21) throws the ball in warmups before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 12, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams cornerback Coty Sensabaugh (21) throws the ball in warmups before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports /
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The secondary of the Pittsburgh Steelers has been a sore spot in recent years. Now the team has added a journeyman cornerback. Good or bad move?

Despite some improvement from the previous season, the Pittsburgh Steelers still have some issues when it comes to their defensive unit. After a rough showing in 2015 and a shaky start this past year, defensive coordinator Keith Butler’s unit palyed better. But all of that progress seemed like a moot point when Mike Tomlin’s club was exploited by Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.

The promise that we saw during the second half of 2016 was due in part to the play of the club’s top three draft choices of a year ago. Cornerback Artie Burns, strong safety Sean Davis and nose tackle Javon Hargrave all became part of the starting lineup. The team went from ranking 21st in total defense in 2015 to 12th this past year. And a club that allowed the third-most passing yards in the NFL ranked 16th in the same category in 2016.

Still, there was that day in Foxborough. Brady completed 32-of-42 passes for 384 yards and three touchdowns in a 36-17 New England win. So the team continues to look for answers and depth at cornerback. Hence the addition of veteran Coty Sensabaugh.

After four seasons with the Tennessee Titans, he signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an unrestricted free agent last offseason. But things would not work out for a variety of reasons and he finished the season with the New York Giants. Sensabaugh’s best season came in 2015 with the Titans. The team’s fourth-round draft choice in 2012 totaled 58 tackles, a pair of interceptions and a club-high eight passes defensed.

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This is the kind of play the Steelers are looking for in terms of adding depth to the cornerback spot. The new addition is not the final answer when it comes to pass coverage. But with a little more help via April’s draft and the continued development of Burns and Ross Cockrell, Tomlin’s team may start to find some solutions.

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