Artie Burns Quietly Displaying Marked Improvement In Second Season

[polamalubeast]

I don’t want to jinx it, but in my opinion, Pittsburgh Steelers second-year cornerback Artie Burns is really having himself a nice start to his second season. More than a year after he had a lot of people pulling their hair out after his name was called after “the Pittsburgh Steelers select…” during the 2017 NFL Draft in the first round, he is looking like the smart pick.

And I fully admit that I was certainly among those who had a lot of doubts about him and worried that the pick might just be a bust. He was an underclassman who even at that level was not a full-time starter, but more concerning to me is that he had a very obvious lack of physicality.

Well, that seems to be pretty much gone now. I have seen little to no issues with him from a physicality standpoint so far this year, and I think that shows. In truth, he really should have been a subject for a film room session from me this week, but I had so many other things that I wanted to get to that it just ended up not happening.

He has so far recorded three tackles in each game, all of them coming against the pass, but on only two of those six tackles did the play net a first down. In fact, he has two tackles for a yard’s gain or fewer, the other one even going for a loss of a yard.


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[Hawkman]

Nice!

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

I am pleasantly pleased how Burns has progressed. His college tape showed a guy that plays in bail because he doesn't have a smooth backpedal or hip turn and had a tendency to peek to the QB and cheat in coverage, instead of relying on good technique. He still plays in bail technique and can get beat by the underneath out, as he turns his back to make the turn, but when they play with safety over the top, his long arms make it tough to throw over when in "bail and trail". He's a hard worker and its showing up, but I think he fits the scheme well.

He isn't a guy that I think you match up against a WR and have him follow, like Janoris Jenkins, Pat Petersen, etc. He plays the right side, plays outside technique, with help over the top(in cover 2 man under) and that way he really has to cut inside and drive on those throws, or chase things down going one way.

[polamalubeast]

[Mojouw]

I would really like to see a charting of where the completions are going. I feel like they are going to "odd" places. A lot of balls getting caught by backs and TEs against "hole in zone" and "randomly isolated LB" with a bit of Joe Haden getting tested.

My point, if teams are unable or unwilling to take shots outside the hash marks or down the field to WRs, I will watch a parade of short crap to backs and TEs all season.

[Hawkman]

I would really like to see a charting of where the completions are going. I feel like they are going to "odd" places. A lot of balls getting caught by backs and TEs against "hole in zone" and "randomly isolated LB" with a bit of Joe Haden getting tested.

My point, if teams are unable or unwilling to take shots outside the hash marks or down the field to WRs, I will watch a parade of short crap to backs and TEs all season.

Watching yesterday, was wondering if Flacco was respecting our CBs. Haden has burned him a few times.

[teegre]

I will watch a parade of short crap to backs and TEs all season.

That would be fine by me... as long as the defense can tackle (in order to keep those short gains from becoming long gains).

As in:
If the opposition is forced to take 12-15 plays in order to get into the red-zone, I'm confident that somewhere along the way, Shazier, Heyward, or Watt will create a splash play that will kill the drive.

[polamalubeast]

For the moment,the opponents of the steelers have completed 61% of their pass and they have only 8 yards per completion!!!!

But the real test of this defense will start in the game against KC and they need to be better against the run too.

[Born2Steel]

I am not afraid of any offense. This defense has been solid since the second half of last season. Think about this, James Harrison has played only 7 snaps in 4 games this season. And we haven't missed a beat.

[Mojouw]

Watching yesterday, was wondering if Flacco was respecting our CBs. Haden has burned him a few times.

Maybe. But Flacco looks like a QB who has lost his confidence. He had multiple openings to go all moonball Joe and through a combination of his usual fear of pass rushers (both real and phantom), a bit of respect for the Steelers CBs, and then something "else" he didn't take any of those shots.

That "else" looks like whatever it is that happens when an NFL QB just isn't any good anymore.

[Born2Steel]

Hard to load up and launch it with a sore back also.

[polamalubeast]

I am not afraid of any offense. This defense has been solid since the second half of last season. Think about this, James Harrison has played only 7 snaps in 4 games this season. And we haven't missed a beat.

I am one of those before the season that I was very confident with this defense, but they need to prove how they will do against the elite offense.

If they are able to be competitive against every offenses in our schedule and they are better against the run, this defense will be elite, but that's their next step.

[Mojouw]

That would be fine by me... as long as the defense can tackle (in order to keep those short gains from becoming long gains).

As in:
If the opposition is forced to take 12-15 plays in order to get into the red-zone, I'm confident that somewhere along the way, Shazier, Heyward, or Watt will create a splash play that will kill the drive.

Yup! Only real problem I see with the pass defense currently, is that Haden and Davis still seem to have a bit of "feeling" out period to get through. Right now, the easiest place to complete deeper passes against the Steelers is at the seam between the zone responsibilities of Haden and Davis. That isn't surprising and hopefully just kinda sorts itself out over the next few weeks.

[Born2Steel]

I am one of those before the season that I was very confident with this defense, but they need to prove how they will do against the elite offense.

If they are able to be competitive against every offenses in our schedule and they are better against the run, this defense will be elite, but that's their next step.

I'm not saying this is an 'elite' defense. Yet. The defense has been solid. Teams don't put up big numbers on us as a rule. AND this defense is still improving. What impresses me is our front 7. If these guys continue to get pressure at their current rate, Burns is going to shine brighter. Hilton is a playmaker behind them. Even our safeties are looking pretty good. I put all those positives on the guys up front.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Did anybody see him play press man against Wallace yesterday??

[polamalubeast]

Yup! Only real problem I see with the pass defense currently, is that Haden and Davis still seem to have a bit of "feeling" out period to get through. Right now, the easiest place to complete deeper passes against the Steelers is at the seam between the zone responsibilities of Haden and Davis. That isn't surprising and hopefully just kinda sorts itself out over the next few weeks.

Flacco has never been that bad as he is at this moment,so much that I would not be surprised that the Ravens will want a new QB in the next off season if Flacco continues to be bad like that.

- - - Updated - - -

I'm not saying this is an 'elite' defense. Yet. The defense has been solid. Teams don't put up big numbers on us as a rule. AND this defense is still improving. What impresses me is our front 7. If these guys continue to get pressure at their current rate, Burns is going to shine brighter. Hilton is a playmaker behind them. Even our safeties are looking pretty good. I put all those positives on the guys up front.

I agree!...In my opinion,this defense is close to be in the top 5 too.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Curious, has anybody looked at what the QB ratings were of the teams the Steelers have faced so far? Kizer, Keenum, Glennon, Flacco.

[polamalubeast]

Curious, has anybody looked at what the QB ratings were of the teams the Steelers have faced so far? Kizer, Keenum, Glennon, Flacco.

This is why no one says that this defense is elite right now.But no doubt, this defense has talent.

[Mojouw]

Curious, has anybody looked at what the QB ratings were of the teams the Steelers have faced so far? Kizer, Keenum, Glennon, Flacco.

Well, I assume you know that the #'s are not good! In all seriousness, I would argue that the Steelers faced some decent defenses through 4 weeks across the board, but they have yet to really face a functioning offense.

QB rating on PFR
Kizer - 50.9 and its looked worse than that by all reports.
Keenum - 94.4 and almost totally skewed by one great game against Tampa and then two terrible games against Steelers and Lions. Figure "terrible" is closer to the truth.
Glennon - 76.9 and benched for a rookie
Flacco - 65.0 and he looks totally shaken right now.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Well, I assume you know that the #'s are not good! In all seriousness, I would argue that the Steelers faced some decent defenses through 4 weeks across the board, but they have yet to really face a functioning offense.

QB rating on PFR
Kizer - 50.9 and its looked worse than that by all reports.
Keenum - 94.4 and almost totally skewed by one great game against Tampa and then two terrible games against Steelers and Lions. Figure "terrible" is closer to the truth.
Glennon - 76.9 and benched for a rookie
Flacco - 65.0 and he looks totally shaken right now.

I knew it would not be good and am actually surprised Glennon rated better than Flacco.

My point is that I would not be taking the click bait that the Steelers secondary is as great as the stat geeks want to point out. I watched as Burns walked up to Wallace to play bump and run....but if anybody recalls seeing that play, they know who got spun around like a top. Lets not even talk about run support vs the Bears.

[Psycho Ward 86]

AJ Green x2, TY Hilton, Jordy/Davante, Brandin Cooks, Deandre Hopkins coming up soon. Cant wait to see how he fairs against the best of the best

[fansince'76]

I knew it would not be good and am actually surprised Glennon rated better than Flacco.

My point is that I would not be taking the click bait that the Steelers secondary is as great as the stat geeks want to point out. I watched as Burns walked up to Wallace to play bump and run....but if anybody recalls seeing that play, they know who got spun around like a top. Lets not even talk about run support vs the Bears.

It also wasn't that long ago that this defense was getting torched by the Case Keenums of the world. Hell, even Johnny Rehab dropped almost 400 yards on it. I'm happy for the improvement, regardless of degree.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

It also wasn't that long ago that this defense was getting torched by the Case Keenums of the world. Hell, even Johnny Rehab dropped almost 400 yards on it. I'm happy for the improvement, regardless of degree.

Agreed, the defense is better and the front 7 is always a factor. Look at the D line and the pressure getting to the QB is improved, although the lack of production from #98 is a bit worrysome to me. I'm just saying that the Steelers really haven't played a good QB yet, so we should temper the hype a bit on the secondary IMO.

[BurghBoy412]

Artie needs to improve a little against the run.

[Craic]

It also wasn't that long ago that this defense was getting torched by the Case Keenums of the world. Hell, even Johnny Rehab dropped almost 400 yards on it. I'm happy for the improvement, regardless of degree.

Ain't that the truth. My problem is they have me so confused . . . whenever an offense hands off the ball I hold my breath, but when they go to the air I relax.

[st33lersguy]

I am just glad the D is shutting down weak Os, that itself is a sign of improvement. I agree though that the real test will be against the top Os

[FrancoLambert]

Anybody miss Ross Cockrell????

[43Hitman]

Anybody miss Ross Cockrell????

Who?

[86WARD]

Is the defense really shutting down opposing teams run games?

[Mojouw]

On yesterdays Depot podcast, they were talking about how the Ravens rushed the ball for 82 yards on 15 carries. 74 of them or something came on 2 of those carries. So I mean, outside of big splashy runs, they totally are. It was the same with Chicago. Same with Vikings. And Cleveland, who really cares?