hawaiiansteeler
07-27-2018, 12:39 AM
Davis to free safety just a start to solving defensive issues
By JIM WEXELL
LATROBE -- Sean Davis barked out calls as the new free safety in the Steelers' first practice of training camp Thursday.
That's just one fix to an overall defensive problem of communication issues that dogged the Steelers last season, particularly after Ryan Shazier went down with an injury.
Shazier won't return this season, but the hope is that a semblance of group intelligence will.
Just how does a team practice to improve its communication?
"By just rolling the ball out and doing just that," said Mike Tomlin. "Not taking anything for granted, general fundamental communication things that happen pre-snap, things that happen post-play, the quick reviews of route concepts or gap responsibility in the run game. All really good defenses do a good job of that, whether it's in pre-play or in the review fashion post-play."
The Steelers were a mess defensively after Shazier went down, and it wasn't just the secondary, where former strong safety Davis has been moved to the more leadership-oriented free safety spot and Morgan Burnett was signed to play strong safety.
The Steelers are also working free agent Jon Bostic in at linebacker. On Thursday he rotated in the base with Tyler Matakevich and replaced him on most snaps in the nickel alignment next to Vince Williams.
to read rest of article:
https://247sports.com/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/Article/Davis-to-free-safety-just-a-start-as-Steelers-work-to-solve-defensive-issues-120118580/
By JIM WEXELL
LATROBE -- Sean Davis barked out calls as the new free safety in the Steelers' first practice of training camp Thursday.
That's just one fix to an overall defensive problem of communication issues that dogged the Steelers last season, particularly after Ryan Shazier went down with an injury.
Shazier won't return this season, but the hope is that a semblance of group intelligence will.
Just how does a team practice to improve its communication?
"By just rolling the ball out and doing just that," said Mike Tomlin. "Not taking anything for granted, general fundamental communication things that happen pre-snap, things that happen post-play, the quick reviews of route concepts or gap responsibility in the run game. All really good defenses do a good job of that, whether it's in pre-play or in the review fashion post-play."
The Steelers were a mess defensively after Shazier went down, and it wasn't just the secondary, where former strong safety Davis has been moved to the more leadership-oriented free safety spot and Morgan Burnett was signed to play strong safety.
The Steelers are also working free agent Jon Bostic in at linebacker. On Thursday he rotated in the base with Tyler Matakevich and replaced him on most snaps in the nickel alignment next to Vince Williams.
to read rest of article:
https://247sports.com/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/Article/Davis-to-free-safety-just-a-start-as-Steelers-work-to-solve-defensive-issues-120118580/