Unheralded Steelers secondary spearheads turnover turnaround

[hawaiiansteeler]

Unheralded Steelers secondary spearheads turnover turnaround

November 22, 2015
By Ray Fittipaldo / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

http://www.post-gazette.com/image/2015/10/18/ca236,0,2600,1576/20151018mfsteelerssports12-1.jpg

Veteran safety Mike Mitchell, with cornerback Ross Cockrell right behind him, intercepts a pass intended for Arizona Cardinals receiver John Brown in a Steelers victory last month at Heinz Field.

If you didn’t think the Steelers pass defense could get worse after last season, you were wrong. The Steelers are on pace to give up 278.4 yards per game, 25 more per game than last season when they finished 27th in the NFL against the pass and set the franchise record for most passing yards against in one season.

But what the Steelers give up in yardage they take back in turnovers, something coach Mike Tomlin desperately wanted after three seasons of limited turnover production.

The Steelers forced only 20 turnovers in 2012 and ’13 and 21 last season. Through 10 games this season, they’ve forced 18, which ranks fifth in the league.

The defensive backs have been front and center in the turnaround. Of the team’s nine interceptions, all but one has come from the secondary. And of the team’s nine forced fumbles, four have come from defensive backs.

“Before the season, we made a goal for our secondary, improving our turnover ratio and getting more turnovers,” said cornerback Antwon Blake, who has forced a fumble and intercepted two passes, one of which he returned for a touchdown.

“We’ve been working hard on that and it’s showing up. Guys are doing a good job of taking advantage of the plays that are coming to us.”

The most intriguing part of the resurgence is the personnel. The Steelers invested two draft picks in cornerbacks in the spring, but neither is playing. Second-round pick Senquez Golson is on injured reserve with a shoulder injury and fourth-round pick Doran Grant only recently was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster. Projected starter Cortez Allen also is on injured reserve with a knee injury.

The Steelers are doing it with Blake, a former undrafted free agent who was the fourth cornerback last season; Ross Cockrell, who was picked up off waivers in September after Buffalo cut him; and veterans William Gay, Mike Mitchell and Will Allen.

Only Gay and Mitchell were starters entering training camp.

“I didn’t know what we had with some of the guys,” defensive coordinator Keith Butler admitted last week. “There have been some surprises, some not. Our safeties are playing good. Our two corners are doing a good job for us. Ross is doing a good job for us.

to read rest of article:

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2015/11/22/Unheralded-Steelers-secondary-spearheads-turnover-turnaround/stories/201511220077

[hawaiiansteeler]

here are the latest Pro Football Focus CB ratings:

Antwon Blake ranks next to last at #109 of 110 CBs with a minus-18.6 rating while Ross Cockrell is the Steelers’ highest-rated CB at 2.8 which ranks him as the 34th best CB out of 110...

[steelreserve]

I don't know if it's the stellar ball-hawking abilities of our DBs, or the fact that we're not playing plain vanilla defense as much, and the increase in chaos and disruption makes some bad throws fall into their hands.

Actually, I do know - it's the second one. And I would say Heyward and Tuitt are spearheading the effort that's allowed THAT to happen.

[Rotorhead]

Pass Rush cures secondary woes!

[j-d-s]

This all happened only because Boykin was kept riding the bench!

[hawaiiansteeler]

This all happened only because Boykin was kept riding the bench!

Boykin is rated the 2nd highest Steelers CB by PFF behind Ross Cockrell:

1) Ross Cockrell 2.8
2) Brandon Boykin 0.4
3) William Gay -1.1
4) Cortez Allen -4.3
5) Antwon Blake -18.6

[86WARD]

How can he be rated if he hasn't really played?

[Count Steeler]

How can he be rated if he hasn't really played?

Doesn't sit in the doghouse properly?

[hawaiiansteeler]

How can he be rated if he hasn't really played?

Boykin has played 23 out of a possible 700+ defensive snaps.

tbh, his PFF grade is pretty meaningless...

[Steel Peon]

Antwon Blake ranks next to last at #109 of 110 CBs with a minus-18.6 rating while Ross Cockrell is the Steelers’ highest-rated CB at 2.8 which ranks him as the 34th best CB out of 110...

I'm so confused by these PFF numbers.......how can there potentially be 64 starting CBs in the NFL, yet Blake rates #109, which is below a boat load of guys sitting on the bench? How does Cockrell rate so highly, when I've seen him get burned plenty of times, and to my best recollection way more often than Blake? I just can't figure this out.

[fansince'76]

How can he be rated if he hasn't really played?

Which should tell people just how worthless PFF ratings are.

Monkey-spanking material for fantasy football nerds, nothing more...

[hawaiiansteeler]

BTSC 2016 NFL Mock Draft: Midseason Edition

By big_jay71 on Nov 6, 2015

Pittsburgh Steelers: Tre'Davious White CB, LSU

Team needs: CB/SS/LT/LG

2016 free agents:Kelvin Beachum, Ramon Foster, Steve McLendon, Willie Gay, Antwon Blake, Mike Adams, Sean Spence, Brandon Boykin, Will Allen

Will the Steelers ever invest a first round pick in the secondary? That's the question that seemingly every Steelers fan utters aloud before every NFL draft over the last several seasons. With Dick LeBeau no longer running the defense, will we see Keith Butler but the trend of waiting until the middle rounds to try and improve our secondary?

The Steelers have more needs than just in the secondary heading into the 2016 draft. With Kelvin Beachum and Ramon Foster headed for free agency, Pittsburgh could see complete turnover on the left side of the offensive line. Throw in top backup Mike Adams into the free agent pool and it could become absolutely necessary for the Steelers to invest yet another early round pick on an offensive lineman. They were unable to come to terms on a new contract with Beachum before the season started, and it wouldn't surprise me to see the Steelers attempt to lowball him given that he'll be coming back from an ACL injury. If he leaves in free agency that would leave us with the large, and largely unproven, Alejandro Villanueva as Big Ben's blindside protector. At LG it wouldn't surprise me to see the Steelers come to terms with Foster on a manageable short-term deal.

Back to the secondary though, with Willie Gay, Antwon Blake, Will Allen, and offseason trade regret Brandon Boykin all headed for free agency the Steelers should be shopping in the DB aisle of the NFL draft as well, despite spending 2015 second and fourth round picks on Senquez Golson and Doran Grant. Golson has been on IR with a shoulder injury since training camp and Grant was relegated to the practice squad until very recently. Even if Gay is re-signed and Golson comes back from injury and proves worthy of his second round status, the Steelers could still use another dependable CB on the roster.

At safety Will Allen is a year-to-year reliable rental and 2013 fourth round pick Shamarko Thomas has proven himself unable to take hold of a starting position.

So who will the Steelers be looking at in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft? It sounds like it will largely be offensive linemen, cornerbacks, and safeties. As much as they like to spend early picks on the front seven of the defense the Steelers already have first round picks invested in all four of the linebacker positions as well as on Cameron Heyward at DE, and a second round pick was spent on Stephon Tuitt. At NT the Steelers have project Daniel McCullers in case they do not re-sign Steve McLendon.

This draft class is solid in terms of overall depth on the offensive line but is lacking in star power outside of Laremy Tunsil and Ronnie Stanley. Given the Ohio State connection that the Steelers have had in the past, Taylor Decker could be a possible target but he's too much like Mike Adams for anyone's taste. It's likely that even if the Steelers do not re-sign Kelvin Beachum that they will wait until later to spend a draft pick at the position.

At safety there are a lot of intriguing options, I've seen Clemson's Jayron Kearse in the first round of a few mock drafts. He's the nephew of former Tennessee pass-rusher Javon Kearse, and his combination of size and speed will make any draft fan drool. Jeremy Cash is probably the most complete safety in the draft class, will solid overall skills, but even he would be a slight reach here.

This may finally be the year where need and value meet in the middle for the Steelers and they actually spend a first round pick at CB.

LSU has become the de facto DB factory for the NFL, and Tre White is simply the next in line. While not as tall, 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, as his predecessors such as Patrick Peterson, Eric Reid, and Jalen Collins, White is every bit as savoy in providing blanket coverage against opposing WR's, although he does have trouble with tall WR's. He's a very smooth athlete with the ability to flip his hips and go stride for stride with any WR. In addition to his pass-coverage skills, White is also a solid punt return man who has already taken one back for a TD this season. The one area that will make any fan groan is his tackling. He tackles with very sloppy technique that will have to be worked on in the NFL.

http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/pittsburgh-steelers-nfl-features-news-blog-long-form/2015/11/6/9582206/2016-nfl-mock-draft

[86WARD]

Boykin has played 23 out of a possible 700+ defensive snaps.

tbh, his PFF grade is pretty meaningless...

Sounds like an Incomplete to me...