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View Full Version : CB Cockrell vaults ahead of Boykin on depth chart



stillers4me
09-19-2015, 09:27 AM
Ross Cockrell is the next man up at cornerback. He spent much of the week working the boundary as William Gay switched to the nickle. It's an unexpected role for the second-year player, who was signed Sept. 5, a week after he was released by the Buffalo Bills.


“My role is to serve this defense as best I can,” Cockrell said. “We'll see what that turns out to be, but I'm prepared for everything. They don't bring you on the team unless you're ready to play.”


Cockrell has been thrust into the lineup, mostly because of injuries to Cortez Allen and Brandon Boykin. Boykin was limited in practice earlier this week with a groin injury but practiced Friday. Allen's right knee was heavily wrapped, and he isn't expected to play in Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers at Heinz Field..........



Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/9115515-74/cockrell-week-steelers#ixzz3mC8NPbNn

steelreserve
09-19-2015, 02:02 PM
Well that's just super.

CaSteel
09-19-2015, 02:18 PM
Why trade for Boykin if your not gonna use him?

ALLD
09-19-2015, 02:20 PM
Ross Cockrell is the next man up.
Cockrell has been thrust into the lineup.



Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/9115515-74/cockrell-week-steelers#ixzz3mC8NPbNn



The dude has a porn star name and is living the dream.

katmandu
09-19-2015, 03:44 PM
Why trade for Boykin if your not gonna use him?--->>
Boykin was limited in practice earlier this week with a groin injury...<<---

Shoes
09-19-2015, 03:47 PM
Must be Mitchell infecting the secondary with groin pulls. Cortez is probably out also, he'll be spending his time texting Mendenhall and Sweed during game time.

salamander
09-19-2015, 05:00 PM
I truly don't understand this team's mentality sometimes. :doh:

86WARD
09-19-2015, 07:34 PM
Well.................

Count Steeler
09-19-2015, 08:56 PM
How does he vault ahead if Boykin is injured? Makes it sound like Cockrell has been amazing in practice or something. Turns out that Allen and Boykin are both hurt.

Journalism. pfft.

86WARD
09-19-2015, 09:32 PM
How does he vault ahead if Boykin is injured? Makes it sound like Cockrell has been amazing in practice or something. Turns out that Allen and Boykin are both hurt.

Journalism. pfft.

Thought the exact same thing. Journalism is just super, super lazy and desperate anymore. I'm sure if Boykin was 100%, Cockring wouldn't see the light of day. This should be an interesting SUnday...

CaSteel
09-19-2015, 11:33 PM
--->> <<---
Boykin hadn't played even when healthy

katmandu
09-20-2015, 10:39 AM
Boykin hadn't played even when healthy
One game. He's brand new to the system and was not yet ready for that game.

Sent from my VK810 4G using Tapatalk

Count Steeler
09-20-2015, 11:52 AM
One game. He's brand new to the system and was not yet ready for that game.

Sent from my VK810 4G using Tapatalk

Sorry Kat, but I don't buy that. On at least 2 plays he could have been the 11th man. Even if he didn't move that would be an improvement.

When it comes to managing personnel this coaching staff has a lot to answer for.

Boykin could have played in at least 20 snaps, with no knowledge of the call and still would have been better than the secondary that was on the field.

hawaiiansteeler
10-04-2015, 11:45 PM
patrick donovan @Pat_Jside
@Alex_Kozora a lot of ppl think Boykin isn't playing to save an early draft pick. I believe it's more than that. What's your thoughts?

Alex Kozora Retweeted patrick donovan
That's too nefarious. They probably value him most in the slot. And Gay will always be the top slot corner.

Christian Dangerous @Christian_Gonzo
@Alex_Kozora Is Cockrells play making it harder for Boykin to get time?

Alex Kozora Retweeted Christian Dangerous
Absolutely. Team isn't going to take Cockrell out of the lineup now.

https://twitter.com/Alex_Kozora

Steeldude
10-05-2015, 12:27 AM
I wasn't impressed by Cockrell slowing up on that TD pass.

86WARD
10-05-2015, 02:11 AM
Is Gay playing in the slot more than he is outside?

Mojouw
10-05-2015, 08:46 AM
Boykin is 5 foot 9 or 5 foot 10. Cockrell is 6 foot. There is your answer. The Steelers have been looking for a taller CB since Ike started to decline. Cortez is a basket case and may never play again, if Cockrell plays at least even to Boykin in practice - he is going to get the nod on game day.

No conspiracy. No bizarre coaching decisions. Simply that Cockrell possess a physical attribute that the Steelers want in their outside CBs - he is tall.

Merchant
10-05-2015, 10:51 AM
I wasn't impressed by Cockrell slowing up on that TD pass.

Were you impressed when he made the interception? And then again when he made the fumble recovery?

Cut the guy some slack. He barely has any experience and played very well I thought given the circumstances.

Steeldude
10-05-2015, 11:11 AM
Were you impressed when he made the interception? And then again when he made the fumble recovery?

Cut the guy some slack. He barely has any experience and played very well I thought given the circumstances.

Were you impressed when he slowed up on the TD pass?

No, I wasn't impressed at all with his fumble recovery. A ball bounced off Flacco's knee and he happened to be there. I don't see how that is impressive, IMO. It's great to get a turnover, but it was hardly an impressive feat.

That being said, I hope he continues to improve. Hopefully he can replace Blake.

Skinart82
10-05-2015, 11:38 AM
Were you impressed when he slowed up on the TD pass?

No, I wasn't impressed at all with his fumble recovery. A ball bounced off Flacco's knee and he happened to be there. I don't see how that is impressive, IMO. It's great to get a turnover, but it was hardly an impressive feat.

That being said, I hope he continues to improve. Hopefully he can replace Blake.

You were not impressed with the unreal amount of concentration it took to make that fumble recovery? It didn't just bounce in his gut and he grab it, he actually had to have sideline awareness and the awareness to keep the ball from moving all while tapping his toes like a pro receiver. I was very impressed, I was impressed with the jump he made on the interception too. The kid seems to have talent, granted it's one game, maybe he sucks after, but for right now, I'm impressed. You don't think Revis ever slowed up trying to locate the ball and then gave up a TD, it happens to the best of them.

steelreserve
10-05-2015, 11:57 AM
Were you impressed when he slowed up on the TD pass?

No, I wasn't impressed at all with his fumble recovery. A ball bounced off Flacco's knee and he happened to be there. I don't see how that is impressive, IMO. It's great to get a turnover, but it was hardly an impressive feat.

That being said, I hope he continues to improve. Hopefully he can replace Blake.


Are you kidding? That was a great play to get us the ball back. He had to be in the right place, right time, AND make a hell of an effort.

I am right there with you on replacing Blake. That guy has been nothing but a liability for us this season. Sucks, because I had some hope for him. But Cockring is just as young with theoretically just as much upside, so he he turns out to be the better of the two, fine by me.

tube517
10-05-2015, 12:01 PM
Is Gay playing in the slot more than he is outside?

He has been for quite a while, I think when they go to 3 CBs

SteelerFanInStl
10-05-2015, 01:14 PM
Boykin is 5 foot 9 or 5 foot 10. Cockrell is 6 foot. There is your answer. The Steelers have been looking for a taller CB since Ike started to decline. Cortez is a basket case and may never play again, if Cockrell plays at least even to Boykin in practice - he is going to get the nod on game day.

No conspiracy. No bizarre coaching decisions. Simply that Cockrell possess a physical attribute that the Steelers want in their outside CBs - he is tall.
If this is true, why did we draft 2 CBs who are 5' 10" and 5' 9"?

Mojouw
10-05-2015, 01:57 PM
If this is true, why did we draft 2 CBs who are 5' 10" and 5' 9"?

Desperation? Honestly I have no idea. But look at their track record. They always want one tall guy in the mix.

As to the draft, I assume the logic was best CBs remaining according to the team. Coupled with the fact that almost all the existing CBs on the roster are set for FA or have totally voidable contracts, it was time to restock the cupboard with anything and everything.

86WARD
10-05-2015, 03:53 PM
Which is a terrible way to draft.

SteelerFanInStl
10-05-2015, 04:15 PM
Desperation? Honestly I have no idea. But look at their track record. They always want one tall guy in the mix.

As to the draft, I assume the logic was best CBs remaining according to the team. Coupled with the fact that almost all the existing CBs on the roster are set for FA or have totally voidable contracts, it was time to restock the cupboard with anything and everything.

It seemed like they were going for "ball skills" in this draft in regard to the secondary. If they regard "ball skills" so highly, it would seem like Boykin would be playing more.

I shouldn't try to analyze what this team does regarding the secondary though because most of it doesn't make sense.

Rotorhead
10-05-2015, 04:31 PM
I'm happy he is out there, he is making plays. Hopefully Boykin can heal and be healthy for the stretch run too. Would be nice to not have worry about our secondary every time the ball is thrown. Now that our Rush is much improved our def is getting better. Maybe our injured draft pick will be good next season and we will field a half decent backfield.

ALLD
10-05-2015, 05:18 PM
Two turnovers pushes him to the first string. We haven't seen 2 TOs in a long time let alone by the same player.

TeeTee
10-05-2015, 05:21 PM
Thought the exact same thing. Journalism is just super, super lazy and desperate anymore. I'm sure if Boykin was 100%, Cockring wouldn't see the light of day. This should be an interesting SUnday...

It should be, but I think Monday will be even more compelling. :plane:

- - - Updated - - -


Two turnovers pushes him to the first string. We haven't seen 2 TOs in a long time let alone by the same player.

He seems to just have a knack for it; that recovery of the fumble on the sidelines was pretty damn impressive. How many CBs would have hauled that ball in while keeping both feet inbounds?

StillCurtains
10-05-2015, 06:08 PM
The TRUE problem is not having Cockrell and Boykin in at the same time! Cockrell is 6'0. He covers well and has BALL skills! He should start on one side. As for Boykin! Seen this guy play his WHOLE career in Philly! He's not some camp body project player that the Steelers usually get. He has good cover skills and picked off passes against receivers like Dez Bryant.

I believe that they either are not playing him because they don't want to give up that 4th rd draft pick, or he complained about playing time. If he complained he has every right to. He's the best corner on the team hands down.
He SHOULD be starting on the other side.

I Love Willie Gay! Smartest corner on the team and has decent coverage and ball skills. Only problem is, he doesn't have the speed and athletic ability to stay with guys like Dez Bryant on the outside. He needs to stay in the slot where he can play against smaller receivers.

Yes Boykin is small, but he has more speed and athletic ability than Gay to play outside to go along with his coverage and ball skills.

Now Blake: They need to get this dude the HELL of the field!! He's a practice squad project at it's finest! If he wants to lay hard hits on people then put him on special teams! He offers NOTHING! Has speed but CAN'T COVER! He makes NO plays on the BALL. He CAN'T LOCATE the BALL, and NEVER TURNS for the BALL.

It's absolutely disgraceful for him to be even CALLED a corner let alone start over Boykin.

TeeTee
10-05-2015, 06:25 PM
I know this is going to sound insane, but Boink may be sitting because they don't like too much confidence. You read that right; players who don't adopt the posture of "The coaches and this franchise are so awesome, I am just lucky to breath the same air as they do" often find themselves in disfavor. That attitude existed even more with Dick here, but I think it is a team philosophy and was here with Cowher as well. I think Boink has the 'tude of "I'm good and I know it" so they "put him in his place" by not giving him playing time.

StillCurtains
10-05-2015, 06:48 PM
I know this is going to sound insane, but Boink may be sitting because they don't like too much confidence. You read that right; players who don't adopt the posture of "The coaches and this franchise are so awesome, I am just lucky to breath the same air as they do" often find themselves in disfavor. That attitude existed even more with Dick here, but I think it is a team philosophy and was here with Cowher as well. I think Boink has the 'tude of "I'm good and I know it" so they "put him in his place" by not giving him playing time.

I don't think that sounds crazy at all. Boykin is a very confident guy. He exudes confidence. Corner is the MAIN position that you need to have that attitude. Jarvis doesn't look to confident out there! Also isn't that what they had Blake starting for over Cortez even before he was hurt?

They were comcerned about Cortez's confidence but won't play Boykin who more than has it. That's just about as backwards as you can be! This is just one of those things that make me wonder about the decisions this staff makes.
We've seen our corners in past years just shutter going into a game knowing they are against a Dez Bryant, Julio Jones, Megatron, TY Hilton snd etc.

Now you have a corner that has no fear in taking on any one of them and you don't want to play him.
Makes alot of sense! I totally agree with you. With THIS coaching staff, being confident and not being STAR STRUCK by big name Wr's gets you a spot on the bench.

So you're assessment may be a SAD fact, but I don't think it's CRAZY at all.

86WARD
10-05-2015, 07:34 PM
I know this is going to sound insane, but Boink may be sitting because they don't like too much confidence. You read that right; players who don't adopt the posture of "The coaches and this franchise are so awesome, I am just lucky to breath the same air as they do" often find themselves in disfavor. That attitude existed even more with Dick here, but I think it is a team philosophy and was here with Cowher as well. I think Boink has the 'tude of "I'm good and I know it" so they "put him in his place" by not giving him playing time.

Doesn't sound insane at all...there has already been a president set like that with Justin Brown and Lance Moore.

st33lersguy
10-05-2015, 09:21 PM
This is the same coaching staff who insist on wasting 3 roster spots on Dri Archer, Cam Thomas, and Landry Jones

Mojouw
10-05-2015, 10:59 PM
This is now officially the most ridiculous thing ever. We have really gone down the rabbit hole now.

This is all just so insane. I shudder to think what it will be like in a few weeks...

teegre
10-06-2015, 06:59 AM
Let me see if I have this correct:

Cockrell gets two turnovers... and people want him benched??? :huh:

Count Steeler
10-06-2015, 09:34 AM
Let me see if I have this correct:

Cockrell gets two turnovers... and people want him benched??? :huh:

I think the pressure is on Blake.

tube517
10-06-2015, 10:04 AM
Let me see if I have this correct:

Cockrell gets two turnovers... and people want him benched??? :huh:

Benched? He should be cut. :sarcasm: :chuckle:

katmandu
10-06-2015, 10:18 AM
Benched? He should be cut. :sarcasm: :chuckle:
How much does Boykin have to play before the Steelers give up that 4th round draft pic ?



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SteelerFanInStl
10-06-2015, 10:33 AM
Let me see if I have this correct:

Cockrell gets two turnovers... and people want him benched??? :huh:
I don't think anyone is saying that Cockrell should be benched. He's obviously earned more playing time.

The question is about why Boykin isn't playing more. He has proven success in the NFL but the Steelers continue to give him limited chances.

It definitely seems like the whole Lance Moore thing from last year.

Count Steeler
10-06-2015, 12:24 PM
How much does Boykin have to play before the Steelers give up that 4th round draft pic ?



Sent from my VK810 4G using Tapatalk

Think it was 60% of the defensive snaps.

StillCurtains
10-06-2015, 12:51 PM
Let me see if I have this correct:

Cockrell gets two turnovers... and people want him benched??? :huh:

No Dude!

Take some time to read everyone's responses. My issue is that due to the fact that Gay lacks the speed and atheleticism to play outside against top level WR's, he should be relegated to the slot.
Cockrell should START on one side, Boykin should start on the other over BLAKE who is absolutely USELESS!!!

Blake has NO ball skills, can't locate the ball, doesn't turn around for the ball, and can't COVER!
I want corners that can get the defense off the field by playing the ball, not someone that can make a HARD HIT after giving up a first down and extending the opposition's drive!

teegre
10-06-2015, 01:54 PM
I think the pressure is on Blake.

Indeed.

And, on Cortez Alken.

Count Steeler
10-06-2015, 01:57 PM
Indeed.

And, on Cortez Alken.

I keep forgetting about Cortez. Just imagine if we could dial back the clock and bring back the Cortez that showed so much promise. "The game is 90% mental and the other half physical". Once the mental is gone, it is almost impossible to get it back, then the physical doesn't even matter. Lots of great athletes that never could play in the NFL.

teegre
10-06-2015, 02:04 PM
The question is about why Boykin isn't playing more.

Over Cockrell: No.
Over Blake: I get that.

More importantly...

Because of his groin injury: Most likely.

Really, this reminds me of a discussion (on an all-NFL board) that went on for weeks: Sheldon Brown vs. Pete Hunter. Back and forth, back and forth, who was better than whom... for days upon weeks... until I interjected that they both sucked.

In other words, we discussing the nuances between the 3rd & 4th CBs... who both suck.

- - - Updated - - -


I keep forgetting about Cortez. Just imagine if we could dial back the clock and bring back the Cortez that showed so much promise. "The game is 90% mental and the other half physical". Once the mental is gone, it is almost impossible to get it back, then the physical doesn't even matter. Lots of great athletes that never could play in the NFL.

Great post.

Limas Sweed dropped that catch in the AFCCG... and never recovered.

Carlton Haselrig made the All-Pro team and felt that he had too much success too early (there was nowhere to go but down)... and ended up naked & suicidal in a hotel room.

The body can only do what the brain lets it.

Count Steeler
10-06-2015, 02:09 PM
Then you have freaks of nature like Jerry Rice and Antonio Brown. They are that upper echelon of athlete that have an over abundance of mental assuredness and a drive to continue to improve and be the best. They are never satisfied with today's production, they want to do more tomorrow.

Lambert and Greene and the 70's Steelers had that drive as a team. Thinking back about that team just leaves me with goose bumps all the time.

teegre
10-06-2015, 02:23 PM
Then you have freaks of nature like Jerry Rice and Antonio Brown. They are that upper echelon of athlete that have an over abundance of mental assuredness and a drive to continue to improve and be the best. They are never satisfied with today's production, they want to do more tomorrow.

Lambert and Greene and the 70's Steelers had that drive as a team. Thinking back about that team just leaves me with goose bumps all the time.

Talking about mental fortitude & desire, this is the story about the 70s that always gives me chills:

Joe Greene is at training camp, and during one practice, he doesn't want to be there (no veteran really does). It's hot, it's humid, and it's exhausting. So, he tells Noll that his shoulder hurts. Noll sends him to the trainers.

Greene walks in, prepared to tell the trainer some sob story, when Greene looks over and sees Rocky Bleier being worked on. Bleier's legs are purple from his ankles to his butt... but, the trainers are wrapping his legs so that he can go back out to practice.

The trainer turns to Greene, and asks him what's wrong... to which, Greene says "Nothing" and went back to practice. As Greene said: 'If Rocky wasn't going to quit, then neither was I."

Many players experienced that that same sort of "Bleier-induced motivation" during the 70s. Which is why my dad says that he considers Bleier to be the MVP of that team. Not the best, but the most valuable.

hawaiiansteeler
10-06-2015, 02:27 PM
Talking about mental fortitude & desire, this is the story about the 70s that always gives me chills:

Joe Greene is at training camp, and during one practice, he doesn't want to be there (no veteran really does). It's hot, it's humid, and it's exhausting. So, he tells Noll that his shoulder hurts. Noll sends him to the trainers.

Greene walks in, prepared to tell the trainer some sob story, when Greene looks over and sees Rocky Bleier being worked on. Bleier's legs are purple from his ankles to his butt... but, the trainers are wrapping his legs so that he can go back out to practice.

The trainer turns to Greene, and asks him what's wrong... to which, Greene says "Nothing" and went back to practice. As Greene said: 'If Rocky wasn't going to quit, then neither was I."

Many players experienced that that same sort of "Bleier-induced motivation" during the 70s. Which is why my dad says that he considers Bleier to be the MVP of that team. Not the best, but the most valuable.

that's a cool story, I had never heard that.

thanks for sharing...:drink:

Steeldude
10-06-2015, 02:46 PM
Talking about mental fortitude & desire, this is the story about the 70s that always gives me chills:

Joe Greene is at training camp, and during one practice, he doesn't want to be there (no veteran really does). It's hot, it's humid, and it's exhausting. So, he tells Noll that his shoulder hurts. Noll sends him to the trainers.

Greene walks in, prepared to tell the trainer some sob story, when Greene looks over and sees Rocky Bleier being worked on. Bleier's legs are purple from his ankles to his butt... but, the trainers are wrapping his legs so that he can go back out to practice.

The trainer turns to Greene, and asks him what's wrong... to which, Greene says "Nothing" and went back to practice. As Greene said: 'If Rocky wasn't going to quit, then neither was I."

Many players experienced that that same sort of "Bleier-induced motivation" during the 70s. Which is why my dad says that he considers Bleier to be the MVP of that team. Not the best, but the most valuable.

Sadly, players like that no longer exist today.

cali_fan
10-08-2015, 02:04 AM
The dude has a porn star name and is living the dream.

I'm crying lolololol

hawaiiansteeler
10-08-2015, 11:57 AM
No Dude!

Take some time to read everyone's responses. My issue is that due to the fact that Gay lacks the speed and atheleticism to play outside against top level WR's, he should be relegated to the slot.

Cockrell should START on one side, Boykin should start on the other over BLAKE who is absolutely USELESS!!!



who is this Boykin person you refer to? :noidea:

hawaiiansteeler
10-08-2015, 10:49 PM
Snapshot: Ross Cockrell

JIM WEXELL

PITTSBURGH -- He's the son of two Ivy Leaguers and he himself went to Duke.

Yep, Ross Cockrell's a pretty smart guy.

But smarts have only taken him so far. In his brief career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cockrell has also made plays.

"Flavor of the month," Mike Tomlin called him the other day.

And why not?

Cockrell is young, bright, good-looking, smart, he's making plays and he's a fresh face in the locker room.

The son of two Columbia University graduates, both engineers, Cockrell was born in Detroit and raised in Charlotte as a Miami Dolphins fan because his father, a wide receiver at Columbia in the early 1980s, was a fan of Dan Marino.

Cockrell played high school ball in Charlotte and caught 29 passes for 459 yards and 11 touchdowns and led the Charlotte Latin Hawks to the state championship game as a senior. But he received only one scholarship offer, so he took it and went to Duke.

"I thought I had a pretty good high school career," Cockrell said of the sparse interest. "I went to a smaller school, and I was a small kid. I was really small. I was about this height but I was just really skinny, just nothing but skin and bones."

The skinny six-footer stepped into the Duke lineup as a redshirt freshman, and his big game that year -- and the one that ties Cockrell's emergence with the Steelers to Monday night's game in San Diego -- occurred during the biggest game of Dontrelle Inman's college career.

Who? "Dontrelle Inman? Oh, the guy from UVA?" Cockrell said.

Yep. Inman made a career-high 10 receptions for 239 yards and a touchdown in that 2010 game for Virginia. But Cockrell intercepted two passes and Duke won, 55-48.

Cockrell will likely renew acquaintances Monday night with Inman, who now plays for the San Diego Chargers.

"Yeah. he's number 15. Yeah, I know who he is," Cockrell said. "I didn't realize he was the one who killed us back then. I do remember somebody having a monster game."

That was the last Cockrell saw of Inman, who spent 2011 on the Jacksonville practice squad, then two years in the CFL, and then last season with the Chargers. He caught 12 passes for 158 yards last season, but didn't make a big, meaningful play until last week against the Cleveland Browns.

Inman -- playing opposite Keenan Allen with Malcom Floyd (concussion), Stevie Johnson (hamstring) and Jacoby Jones (ankle) injured -- took a short pass 68 yards to the Cleveland 1 to set up a touchdown in a tight game the Chargers eventually won.

"I assume they're all going to be out there," Cockrell said of the other injured receivers. "You have to."

And assume that Cockrell will be the No. 3 cornerback again after leaping over Brandon Boykin on the depth chart soon after the Steelers claimed Cockrell off the waiver wire just before the start of the season.

It wasn't so much that Cockrell beat Boykin for the job; it's more that Boykin is a slot corner and the Steelers prefer William Gay in the slot.

When a third wide receiver enters the game, the Steelers send in Cockrell to play opposite Antwon Blake as Gay moves inside. Boykin remains the odd man out.

to read rest of article:

http://www.scout.com/nfl/steelers/story/1596650-snapshot-ross-cockrell