Lake: Our CBs are all playing well

[WindyCitySteel]

This is quite literally insane. None of our CBs can cover anyone. Week after week receivers run wide open all over the field and the coaches are OK with it?

[URL]http://pit.247sports.com/Bolt/Steelers-coach-explains-Brandon-Boykins-limited-role-on-defense-41210924[/URL]

When asked what would need to happen for Boykin to have a more expanded role on the defense, [URL="http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/pit/pittsburgh-steelers"]Lake said[/URL]: "Somebody else would have to be playing badly right now. I have faith and confidence that he can play. It's just that we're doing OK."

[RobinCole]

Week after week our own receivers are wide open all over the field. Nobody can cover nobody these days.

[Slapstick]

Week after week?

We are top five in the league in sacks...

We are top five in scoring defense (points per game)...

We are in the top half for INTs...

All with our defense "not covering anybody"...

[Slapstick]

In addition, as was pointed out a few weeks ago, the Steelers have played against 6 out of the NFL's top 10 offenses...

To have given up some yards passing should not be shocking when considered in context...

[WindyCitySteel]

And near the bottom of the league in passing yards allowed. Points are more important, of course, but yards are not meaningless. It's rare that our D gets a 3-out, as such, the field is consistently flipped on our O.

[Captain Lemming]

Well Mr Lake has actually played the position pretty well for a safety, and played with arguably the GOAT at corner. He knows a bit more about what constitutes good play @ the position than you or I.

Either his comments are about play relative to their talent, or (more likely ) meant not to destroy the or confidence. A corner that lacks confidence tends to play worse.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

I don't think Lake really believes what he said. It's patently obvious that Antwon Blake is weak in coverage. Maybe, as Lemming says, Lake is trying not to damage his confidence.

From the little playing time they've allowed Boykin (23 snaps?!), I can only conclude that Lake and the other coaches don't think he has much to offer this D.

[Shoe]

But if you think about things, individuals are doing their jobs. Gay is his usual dependable self; I like Cockrell as a nice complementary guy (nickel/dime)... he's just being thrust into a role he's not ideally suited for; same with Blake, who is a similar-level guy--I do admire Blake for his spunkiness, just doesn't have the talent to be on the field as much as he is covering the level of guys he's asked to consistently cover. If we had a true "#1 CB", these other guys would slot down... and our CB situation would feel so much better.

I think that is what Lake may be trying to say?

[BURGH86STEEL]

What's even more insane is that fans expect the coaches to throw players under the bus. Throwing players under the bus is a quick way to lose players and the team.

The CB's are playing ok considering what the coaches have to work with.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

If we had a true "#1 CB", these other guys would slot down... and our CB situation would feel so much better.

A #1 CB should be high on the Steelers' priority list this coming offseason.

[Shoe]

A #1 CB should be high on the Steelers' priority list this coming offseason.

Obviously remains to be seen, but I think Golson has the sort of potential to be a star.

[Sugar]

A #1 CB should be high on the Steelers' priority list this coming offseason.

It's quite possible that they already have him on IR.

[RuthlessBurgher]

A #1 CB should be high on the Steelers' priority list this coming offseason.

I think the top priority will be a safety to start next to Mitchell. Will Allen is now the same age Troy was when he retired. If Shamarko was the answer, we would have seen something...anything...by now. Golden is a decent fill in option, but more a special teams captain than a defensive starter. I'm actually hoping that we can sign Eric Weddle as a free agent so that we can take the BPA in the draft rather than going after our biggest need.

[fordfixer]

Keith Butler: I'll like our defense when we win the Super Bowl

[URL]http://steelerswire.usatoday.com/2015/11/18/steelers-defensive-coordinator-keith-butler-history-career-2015/[/URL]

By: Daniel Sager | November 18, 2015 9:00 am ET




Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler is two things: blunt and a hard man to please.

Thankfully for those of us who transcribe thoughts into words, Butler delivered both when asked if he likes where his defense is at on Tuesday.

“No,” Butler said. “I’ll like where our defense is at when we win the Super Bowl.”

Sunday’s win over the Browns was a return to normalcy for the Steelers defense, as they allowed nearly 400 yards but very few points, holding Cleveland to its second-lowest scoring total of the season in a 30-9 win.


In fact, the Steelers are back to their top-five standing in the NFL in scoring defense. Don’t tell Butler, though.

“All that stuff is good. But we have to do better with our coverage ability and not giving people 300 passing yards per game,” he said. “We don’t want to be that.”

The Steelers have allowed a 300-yard passer in five games this season, and are allowing 278 yards per game overall, the sixth-worst total in the NFL. Pittsburgh has, however, been getting it done on the ground, allowing just two 100-yard rushers this season on their way to 93 yards a game (fifth-best in the league) and only three touchdowns (second-best in the league).

Although Butler’s endgame involves a parade down the Boulevard of the Allies later this winter, the Steelers defense has been performing markedly better than perhaps even the highest expectations applied to them pre-training camp, so it’s fair to say both Keith Butler and the Steelers defense have been a surprising bright spot of 2015.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Obviously remains to be seen, but I think Golson has the sort of potential to be a star.

I think Golson projects to be more of a slot CB than a #1, but I'd gladly be wrong about that. I agree with Ruthless, a safety to replace Will Allen needs to be a top priority as well. Defensive backfield is the team's #1 area of concern right now, IMO.