Steelers' Training Camp Position Battles: Nickel CB

[D Rock]

Re: Steelers' Training Camp Position Battles: Nickel CB

Don't know who wins it at this point in the off season. What I do know is the return of McFadden, another year for Gay, year 2 for Burnett & Lewis, and the addition of a raw talent like Butler...Makes the CB position a strength.

Before the draft & as the draft unfolded I was worried. After the trade for McFadden...It went away! The question marks of the young players can sort themselves out now. It doesn't have to be this year with McFadden starting.

I'll take Gay through Butler against another teams 3-5 WRs if they had to be matched up in man. However, in this system, #3 & #4 CB need to be instinctive in a zone. Those guys can give you that until they are ready to step in at #1 & #2. Taylor & McFadden in base will be the difference. Troy is back healthy and whomever ends up being #2 & #3 for nickel & dime will have at least a year under his belt or more. Unless...This Butler kid looks as good with the pads on as he did in OTA's. He has skills.

wouldn't it be great if CB was a position of strength instead of the weakness it was last year?

Will it make a difference if Troy misses any time? The defense seems to collapse without him. Hopefully Will Allen can do more than Ty Carter.

There's what the issue was. I don't think the problem was that the defense can't survive without Troy, I think the problem was the the defense couldn't survive with Carter.

You take away the leagues fastest and most athletic safety and replace him with one of the oldest and most physically challenged safeties, and something is bound to break in an awful way.