So what, all of a sudden William Gay is Rod Woodson?

[Discipline of Steel]

I'd just like to point out another Guy who has exceeded expectations in a big way so far....and that's Gay. The man has played like a bona fide NFL cornerback for a few games in a row now. Like the nickel defense with 6 DBs we rolled out this week: Ike, Gay, Allen, Troy, Clark, and Shark.

[SidSmythe]

No No No!! Rod Woodson is William Gay!!

[Iron Shiek]

He was my main concern on defense going into the season. Glad it's been working out.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

No No No!! Rod Woodson is William Gay!!

Maybe in a few years we can say that the Woodson kid belongs in the same sentence as the vaunted WILLIAM GAY. (his name must be in larger letters because the regular sized font is too small to capture his greatness).

[Shawn]

Fans have a hard time getting a bead on Gay because he is notoriously inconsistent. He can look solid one season and be a problem the next. I have always felt he hasn't gotten a fair shake because of this...but there is no doubt he has the talent to play the position. Maybe it's the Lake effect kicking in...who knows.

[Snatch98]

Fans have a hard time getting a bead on Gay because he is notoriously inconsistent. He can look solid one season and be a problem the next. I have always felt he hasn't gotten a fair shake because of this...but there is no doubt he has the talent to play the position. Maybe it's the Lake effect kicking in...who knows.

He's always been a physical corner. In the past some of his more notable "gaffes" have been via heinous mismatches that he himself could not control. A good example would be when he was massacred by Gronkowski. Fans have keyed on those moments and as you mention above never really gave him a fair shake. Add in Lake and some solid DB coaching and everyone sees what we're now getting. Very high character guy with a good motor, above average tackling and now some coverage skills to match.

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

My head may tell me you guys are right, but I just keep having these mental images of his losing games for us a few years ago (not to mention the AP bug-on-back-waving-legs pose). I know it's not fair, but it's going to take either a long time, or some game saving defends for me to get past that.

It'd be similar to if Adams started blooming into a killer Left Corner over the next season or two ... it would take a while for the bad memories to be washed away ...

[Ernie]

Gay was pretty solid his last year in Pittsburgh..

Doesn't surprise me at all that he's having a good year.

[Chadman]

My head may tell me you guys are right, but I just keep having these mental images of his losing games for us a few years ago (not to mention the AP bug-on-back-waving-legs pose). I know it's not fair, but it's going to take either a long time, or some game saving defends for me to get past that.

It'd be similar to if Adams started blooming into a killer Left Corner over the next season or two ... it would take a while for the bad memories to be washed away ...

If Adams becomes a killer left corner, he'll have an obvious height advantage.

[SteelCrazy]

William Gay thriving in return

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The ball left Joe Flacco's hands and William Gay's eyes grew wide.

And not in a good way.

Flacco's pass early in the third quarter last Sunday was heading for Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Jacoby Jones, who just so happened to be the man Gay was supposed to be covering. One problem. Jones was long gone and the Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback knew it.

When asked if Jones' advantage was maybe a half-step, Gay shook his head and held up his right hand as if to say, ''Stop.''

''Come on now,'' Gay said. ''I was beat.''

That is, until the ball arrived. When Flacco's heave floated down into Jones' outstretched hands, Gay reached out and swatted it away. The well-timed deflection preserved Pittsburgh's lead in an eventual 19-16 victory. It also underlined Gay's importance for a secondary that is starting to look like its usual self.

Back with the Steelers after spending an ill-fated year with the Arizona Cardinals, Gay has blossomed from insurance policy to nearly indispensable starter. His sure tackling and unshakable confidence are among the reasons Pittsburgh (2-4) believes it can somehow rally from its horrific September.

''This is a long football season, 16 games, and we finished the first quarter 0-4,'' Gay said. ''Now, we've moved on into the second quarter, and we're 2-0 in the second quarter.''

And the Steelers have done it by shutting down the high-flying (if erratic) New York Jets and bottling the defending Super Bowl champion Ravens. Pittsburgh enters Sunday's game in Oakland (2-4) fourth in the NFL in pass defense while allowing a league-low five touchdowns through the air.

Not bad for a secondary that lost Keenan Lewis and his AFC-leading 23 pass deflections in 2012 to New Orleans in free agency. The Steelers planned on moving Cortez Allen to Lewis' spot, but Allen underwent minor knee surgery shortly after training camp began and has struggled to stay healthy.

Enter Gay, who thrived as a nickelback in Pittsburgh from 2007-11 before signing with the Cardinals after Arizona made him an offer - not to mention a pay raise - he couldn't refuse.

It didn't work out. Though Gay collected two interceptions and helped the Cardinals finish fifth in yards passing allowed, the team plummeted from a 4-0 start, finishing 5-11. Coach Ken Whisenhunt was fired, and Gay suddenly found himself out of work when Arizona cut him even though Gay had one season remaining on his contract.

Though getting released hurt, Gay wasn't exactly surprised.

''If Arizona went 11-5, 12-4 last year, I probably wouldn't be sitting here talking about the Steelers,'' Gay said. ''That's the way the business is.''

Gay's job hunt didn't last long. The Steelers have a long track record of welcoming back wayward sons with open arms. They needed a veteran backup in the secondary and didn't want to waste time bringing a newcomer up to speed.

''William definitely fit us,'' defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau said.

Even if the initial fit called for Gay to be an insurance policy if Allen faltered. That was fine by Gay, who conceded his family kept its allegiance with the Steelers during his unsuccessful trip west.

He returned to Pittsburgh hungry but hardly humbled. Confidence has never been an issue for Gay, whose nickname ''Big Play Willie Gay'' is practically self-anointed. As Allen's rehab dragged on, Gay leapt at the chance to work across the field from Ike Taylor.

Though the Steelers aren't exactly ballhawks, it's not an important part of the job description in Pittsburgh, where the premium is on getting opponents to the ground. That's hardly a problem for Gay, who plays bigger than his 5-foot-10, 183-pound frame.

''Everybody is starting to see what tackling means as a cornerback, and Gay has always been a solid tackler,'' Taylor said.

Taylor pointed out a key third down on which Gay tackled Ray Rice to force the Ravens to settle for a field goal. It wasn't a flashy play by any means. That didn't make it an unimportant one.

''If you were to sit down and watch tape, it's a bigger play than the plays that these corners (on other teams) are making,'' Taylor said.

Gay allows he might not be the most gifted athlete in the secondary and knows he'll be attacked regularly as teams try to avoid throwing the ball at Taylor. That's fine by Gay.
''I'm just comfortable playing with a group of guys who love the game,'' he said. ''I don't care where I'm at. Put me at safety and I'll do what I do.'


Read More: [url]http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2013/football/nfl/wires/10/24/2000.ap.fbn.steelers.big.play.gay.1st.ld.writethru .1026/index.html#ixzz2igetBKa2[/url]

[flippy]

I've always said Gay reminds me of Deshea. Not great. And he'll get beat if matched up on big WRs. But he plays headsy. Has a knack for making a smart play now and again. And is always in position. He's like the Larry Foote of DBs. And no one would hate him so much if he didn't get trucked by AP one time. I really think everyone has held that over his head to this day while judging his play.

[flippy]

He was my main concern on defense going into the season. Glad it's been working out.

My main concern was Ziggy and McClendon. At least we've addressed Ziggy with Heyward. And McClendon hasn't been getting snaps. I don't think that's any coincidence. Heck at the beginning of the season, I was more concerned about the DLine than the OLine. Both seem to be evolving in the right direction.

[SteelCrazy]

My main concern was Ziggy and McClendon. At least we've addressed Ziggy with Heyward. And McClendon hasn't been getting snaps. I don't think that's any coincidence. Heck at the beginning of the season, I was more concerned about the DLine than the OLine. Both seem to be evolving in the right direction.

yea, they have been playing with only 2 D Lineman. I like the results of DL's new scheme.

[Discipline of Steel]

You mean St LeBeau is adjusting his defense to get the best players on the field?

[flippy]

You mean St LeBeau is adjusting his defense to get the best players on the field?

People from Pittsburgh just like to complain. While I was in town, I heard so many people criticizing DL. And the funny thing is these are the same people that wanted to replace Hampton with McClendon, get rid of Foote, and were irritated we brought back Gay. We've all seen how the D has struggled with McClendon, and the loss of Foote, and then how well Gay has been playing. Plus we've had to deal with injuries to Woodley/Troy/James in the last year. Now the departure of Hampton/James/Lewis this year. And subpar draft picks in guys like Hood/Worildis that didn't pan out like they should. Add it all up, and why wouldn't we expect the need to transition on D?

Now we've got new packages that we're using almost as our base D. We've got rookies and first year players in the mix. And things look like they're turning really quick. And everyone in Pittsburgh is questioning DL. I really don't get the logic.