Starkey: Big day for Gay, Steelers 'D'

[stillers4me]

By Joe Starkey (jraystarkey@gmail.com), PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, November 21, 2010

The fear is palpable, the paranoia plain to see. Steelers fans are so afraid of another late-season meltdown that they have begun to hear things.

Some are convinced that coach Mike Tomlin, after the embarrassing loss to New England, actually said, "We will unleash hell here in November."

Others believe that nickel back William Gay, not kicker Jeff Reed, should have been fired Tuesday.

Those people are delusional. Gay is coming off a horrible game but is having an adequate season. How easily folks forget the big plays he made against Tampa Bay and Baltimore. Not that his performance Sunday was acceptable. A repeat, or even some early struggles today, would give the coaches reason to turn to Keenan Lewis.

But that's not the way I see this day unfolding. I expect Gay and the Steelers' defense to respond in redemptive fashion against the Oakland Raiders. Injuries or not, there is simply too much talent, too much experience and too much pride to let the season slip away on account of shoddy defense.................

Read more: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_710375.html

[LLT]

Uh...actually Gay is NOT having an adequate season....whether it is the lack of pass rush or him being a step behind.

[Galax Steeler]

I hope he plays better then he has been we need to step up and stop the pass.

[cakmakli]

Uh...actually Gay is NOT having an adequate season....whether it is the lack of pass rush or him being a step behind.

Even Gay admitted that. He said on an interview on 93.7 The Fan, that his play so far has just been "fair".

[SteelerFanInStl]

Uh...actually Gay is NOT having an adequate season....whether it is the lack of pass rush or him being a step behind.

I agree. About the only time he's making big plays is when he's on a blitz. Otherwise he's been getting burned one play after another.

[SMR]

Even Gay admitted that. He said on an interview on 93.7 The Fan, that his play so far has just been "fair".

I wonder what HIS definition of "fair" is.

:chuckle:

[LLT]

I agree. About the only time he's making big plays is when he's on a blitz. Otherwise he's been getting burned one play after another.

Great point. He has very good intincts when blitzing. Its sort of like when safety Tyrone Carter played for us. Certain aspects of his game were very smooth but neither he nor Gay have shown that they are/were well-rounded DB's and because of that...teams can/did exploit their weaknesses.

[Psycho Ward 86]

Even Gay admitted that. He said on an interview on 93.7 The Fan, that his play so far has just been "fair".

Boy does he think way to highly of himself.