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Thread: Steelers to Sign DeMarcus Van Dyke (CB)

  1. #1
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    Steelers to Sign DeMarcus Van Dyke (CB)

    The fastest man at the 2011 combine is going to be a Pittsburgh Steeler.

    Pro Football Talk has learned that the Steelers will sign cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke. Van Dyke was waived by the Raiders on Monday when they signed veteran corner Joselio Hanson.

    Van Dyke, who passed through waivers unclaimed, ran a 4.28 40 at last year’s combine. That helped him become a third-round pick of the Raiders, who were never shy about picking up players who could run like the wind.

    As they say, you can’t teach speed. Van Dyke’s problem is that he sometimes made it look like he couldn’t be taught cornerback either. He was part of a Raiders cornerback corps that allowed opponents 251 yards per game through the air. None of the five cornerbacks who saw extensive time for the Raiders last season are still with the team, with Van Dyke helping to author his own pink slip with a rough night in a preseason game against Arizona.

    Still, he’s got that speed and he’s 6’1″, which is a combination that makes football people try to make it all work out. Ike Taylor and Keenan Lewis are set as the starters in Pittsburgh, with Cortez Allen and Curtis Brown in reserve. Van Dyke will try to work his way into the rotation while working with defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau and other Steelers coaches try to put his impressive physical tools to better use on the field.

    There’s no word of a corresponding move, although the Steelers could place rookie guard David DeCastro on injured reserve with the designation that he’s able to return after eight weeks.

    [url]http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/09/06/steelers-will-sign-demarcus-van-dyke/[/url]
    2019 Mock

    1. ILB
    2. CB
    3. ILB
    4. S
    5. CB
    6. ILB
    7. S

  2. #2
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    What does this mean for Essex? I dont think Van Dyke is eligible for the practice squad, but im not sure how many games he played last year.
    2019 Mock

    1. ILB
    2. CB
    3. ILB
    4. S
    5. CB
    6. ILB
    7. S

  3. #3
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    Ah, the good ole days of Slick (Andy Van Slyke).

    That guy was always a fan favorite. The hustle, the guys he threw out at home plate. What wasn't to like about the guy.

    Let's hope Van Dyke is another Pittsburgh cult classic.

  4. #4
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    Apparently looked good in practice but total fail in games:

    [URL="http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=72230&draftyear=2011&genpos=CB"]http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings...2011&genpos=CB[/URL]


    and Raiders gave up:

    Would the real DeMarcus Van Dyke please stand up

    by [URL="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Levi%20Damien"]Levi Damien[/URL] on [URL="http://www.silverandblackpride.com/2012/8/25/3268387/would-the-real-demarcus-van-dyke-please-stand-up"]Aug 25, 2012 3:19 PM PDT[/URL]


    • There has been an imposter on the [URL="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/oakland-raiders"]Raiders[/URL] this year. Physically he is the looks like Raiders corner [URL="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/130926/demarcus-van-dyke"]DeMarcus Van Dyke[/URL], but his performance has been inconsistent. The one version shows up big in practice while the other version gets lit up on game day. What we don't know is which Van Dyke is the imposter.



    Last week, defensive coordinator Jason Tarver called out Van Dyke's play in the game versus his play in practice.
    "DeMarcus, I would really like to see him play like he plays out here, and just play with what we know he can do." Said Tarver. "And he's heard that from me this week, so that's what I'd like to see him do. Play like he plays at practice, because he plays pretty good at practice."
    This Statement resonated with the second year corner.

    "It's my second year so I can't really talk about what happened in years past." Said Van Dyke. "Coach JT is trying to get us right for the game and he's doing a great job with it right now.
    "You know, I've got to pick it up. I'm not satisfied with how I've been playing. I haven't been playing like I thought I was supposed to be. But it's a process, it's game by game, preseason games. So hopefully this game I'll come out and play good.
    "I've just got to just go out there and play ball. I'm doing too much thinking I think, and Coach Tarver, he gave me a lot of advice, just telling me to go out there and just play ball. Don't worry about making mistakes, just play like I was the first two weeks of camp... just too much thinking of trying to make a play, just pressing too much I think."
    Van Dyke is not a starter so he may escape having to face [URL="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/19053/calvin-johnson"]Calvin Johnson[/URL]. But then again, he has not faced the number one corners against either the [URL="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/dallas-cowboys"]Cowboys[/URL] or the [URL="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/arizona-cardinals"]Cardinals[/URL] and he still have up quite a few bit catches. The [URL="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/detroit-lions"]Lions[/URL] offense offers a threat all its own, even without Megatron pulling down Matt Stafford passes.
    "Their offense is pretty up-tempo. They have great receiver, they have a great quarterback, and I'm really excited to see how we do against these guys. They have one of the better receivers and one of the best quarterbacks in the league right now.
    Coach Tarver also said on Wednesday that he is not as concerned so much with stats or stopping the opposing offense every time. He prefers a bend but don't break type of approach. As he says "control what you can control." Van Dyke is using that philosophy to try and keep him from getting to down on himself.
    "You're going to take some bad, you're going to take some good." Said Van Dyke. "It's how you bounce back from it."
    The time to bounce back may be today for DVD. Performing in practice is one thing. But if the guy that shows up for the game doesn't match that production, the team will not be comfortable putting him on the field.
    Van Dyke will likely have about one quarter to play in this game and try to instill some confidence in his coaches. If he gets torched again, we may not see him in Silver and Black much longer.

  5. #5
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    This is a surprising move. It is not like us to sign a project player at this stage (especially when we are short on OL and WR).
    Even if Bill Belichick was getting an atomic wedgie, his face would look exactly the same.

  6. #6
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    Carnell Lake to the rescue. If anyone can teach this kid to play to his potential it is Lake. If he does we just robbed the rest of the NFL. It does create a logjam at CB but that is a great problem to have. Maybe the plan is someone eventually shifts to Safety which is a desperate need depth wise.
    "My team, may they always be right, but right or wrong...MY TEAM!"

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by steelblood View Post
    This is a surprising move. It is not like us to sign a project player at this stage (especially when we are short on OL and WR).
    It leads me to believe that the Steelers were looking at him last year but the Raiders grabbed him before they could. IMO, they must have been pretty high on Van Dyke to do this.
    "My team, may they always be right, but right or wrong...MY TEAM!"

  8. #8
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    Steelers Depot wrote a nice article on it & him this morning in it they talk about his stengths weakness, and the fact that hes had to different coaches and no training camp his first year. I like the pickup hope that Carnell can do something with him. He'll do wonders for my nickle and dime packages in Madden 13
    Last edited by TD386Steel; 09-07-2012 at 09:43 AM.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Oviedo View Post
    It leads me to believe that the Steelers were looking at him last year but the Raiders grabbed him before they could. IMO, they must have been pretty high on Van Dyke to do this.
    I'm holding out hope that this move could be filed under the "Nobody wants to play for the Raiders" category when we revisit how the Steelers ended up with Van Dyke down the road. It isn't how a kid should handle himself professionally but I am not naive & know it just happens. I am hoping this is the case and the Steelers staff makes something out of him.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by TD386Steel View Post
    Steelers Depot wrote a nice article on it & him this morning in it they talk about his stengths weakness, and the fact that hes had to different coaches and no training camp his first year. I like the pickup hope that Carnell can do something with him. He'll do wonders for my nickle and dime packages in Madden 13
    YES!! good idea. But unless i'm blitzing him I will probably manually control him
    Here We Go Steelers, Here We Go...
    Here We Go Steelers, Here We Go...
    Here We Go Steelers, Here We Go...!!!

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