Cockrell's continued improvement at cornerback draws raves from Steelers
Mark Kaboly | Sunday, Aug. 21, 2016
It has been nearly a year since the Steelers released 20 players to get down to the NFL-mandated 53-man roster for the start of the season.
Buried at the end of the transaction list that day was what appeared to be an addition most fans wouldn't have noticed.
It read, ‘Signed free agent CB Ross Cockrell.'
“It was like, ‘Hey, we got a new player,' ” safety Mike Mitchell said. “Then before you know it, he's in the starting lineup.”
A year later, Cockrell isn't getting bumped from that spot anytime soon.
The Steelers used a second-round pick last year on Senquez Golson and a first-round pick this year on Artie Burns to help solidify a suspect secondary. The two have been barely on the field for a practice, let alone play in a game.
Some of it is because of injuries. Some of it is because of the surprising emergence of Cockrell.
Cockrell was released by Buffalo during the first round of cuts a year ago. He had to wait around nearly a week before another team showed interest.
He's entrenched as the starter alongside William Gay and is the second-most experienced cornerback on the roster.
“I don't care by what means he got here,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. “We liked him when he came out of Duke. He was a guy we thought had potential to be a good football player. He was available, he came in, he worked hard, he made some plays, and has been a positive contributor to our efforts.”
Cockrell played in every game except the season opener last year and logged nearly 700 snaps. Cockrell filled in when Cortez Allen went down after the first game, and then when Antwon Blake faltered at the end of the season.
Cockrell had a key interception in the end zone of a tied game against the Raiders, and picked up the Jeremy Hill fumble late during the wild-card victory over the Bengals. This was only months after no one wanted him — including the Bills, which invested a fourth-round pick on him in 2014.
“I was definitely shocked when I was cut and just had to wait for the next opportunity,” Cockrell said. “I decided if I got another opportunity that I would do things differently and work harder. I've come a long way. I am continuing to work hard and continue to believe in the process.”
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