Three rookies could start on defense this season for Steelers

[Slapstick]

After Golson went on IR, the Steelers were desperate for CB help. That is why they traded for him. I don't know if he had issues with coaching or not. I don't really care. The Steelers were short a CB and needed a good one...

Again, if Ross Cockrell doesn't shake loose from Buffalo, maybe Boykin gets a chance to play sooner...like I said before, the Steelers looked at Boykin as a slot corner...the Steelers preferred Gay in the slot...over time, it was proven that their best bet was to put Cockrell and Gay outside and Boykin in the slot...I don't know why it took so long and I'm not sure it even matters anymore...

[Eddie Spaghetti]

says more about the group in front of them as much anything, imo

cockrell/mccullers/golden isn't exactly a murderers row of talent to overcome. all three are semi marginal NFL players at best, with cockrell being the best of the 3

i doubt it happens, but it doesn't hurt to sell the vision to a young guy

[feltdizz]

then why did tomlin trade for him?

Because we needed depth at CB due to Golsons injury.

[SidSmythe]

THREE ROOKIES starting on DEFENSE isn't a reflection of how great our draft was but more of a reflection on how many holes our defense has in it.
Heading into the DRAFT we didn't have a LEGIT STRONG SAFETY or NOSE TACKLE. A Case could be made that we are thin at CORNER but we do have Starting Experience at the position.
ROLB is up in the air still also.

Years past we never had holes like this and were looking to the DRAFT to fill in our STARTERS.
Will be it be exciting to see some guys get on the field?? Yes .... but it's a case of "hope for the best, prepare for the worst"

[Iron City Inc.]

pleeeaaase, this all all lip service.
last year a proven veteran db was brought in thru a trade(boykins) but supposedly didnt play because he couldnt grasp the butler system.
now 3 rookies with zero nfl experience and all defined as 'raw' are suppose to come in and start?
this is nothing more than tomlin putting extra pressure on his current dbs and nt to work harder so a rookie doesnt beat them out while giving the rookies the thought that they can start if they work hard and hit the playbook

Well I believe Squid is right in Tomlin is pressuring the vets to keep their jobs. However if the rookie is working to pick things up quickly AND is better then the vet Tomlin would have to play that cat. He is not a rookie coach who is looking over his shoulder. Wouldn't we want that anyway. A year back Moats started at lolb n it took some time but Dupree passed him and didn't look back. Lets see how it shakes out this year. I believe by 2nd half of 16 our first 3 picks have a shot to start. Now it's not like the bar is set high at lcb, ss and nt as the roster sits today.

[Steelwolf]

Meh...let's hope our offense can keep putting up the numbers then again we left alot of 7's off the board once they got into the red zone

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Not to be the pessimist of the board, but I doubt we have 3 rookies starting this season. In fact, I'd be shocked if we did.

All of these guys we selected need development. They're all a work in progress. The most ready physically is probably Hargrave, but he hasn't had to go against top competition at the college level week in and week out, let alone being ready for NFL level competition.

Maybe Davis can make the transition the fastest because he's such a smart kid with versatility in his game.

Burns seems like he might need at least a year imho because he's a press corner that may struggle pressing NFL sized WRs at the LOS and he doesn't seem to play well off the ball.

Agreed.

pleeeaaase, this all all lip service.
last year a proven veteran db was brought in thru a trade(boykins) but supposedly didnt play because he couldnt grasp the butler system.
now 3 rookies with zero nfl experience and all defined as 'raw' are suppose to come in and start?
this is nothing more than tomlin putting extra pressure on his current dbs and nt to work harder so a rookie doesnt beat them out while giving the rookies the thought that they can start if they work hard and hit the playbook

I think you're dead on.

[squidkid]

Because we needed depth at CB due to Golsons injury.

so tomlin trades a draft pick for an unproven cb that doesnt get along with coaches?
doesnt sound like a very bright move

[Slapstick]

You can say he was unproven. That's stupid, but you could say it.

[Slapstick]

Well I believe Squid is right in Tomlin is pressuring the vets to keep their jobs. However if the rookie is working to pick things up quickly AND is better then the vet Tomlin would have to play that cat. He is not a rookie coach who is looking over his shoulder. Wouldn't we want that anyway. A year back Moats started at lolb n it took some time but Dupree passed him and didn't look back. Lets see how it shakes out this year. I believe by 2nd half of 16 our first 3 picks have a shot to start. Now it's not like the bar is set high at lcb, ss and nt as the roster sits today.

You are the one who is dead on...

[skyhawk]

THREE ROOKIES starting on DEFENSE isn't a reflection of how great our draft was but more of a reflection on how many holes our defense has in it.
Heading into the DRAFT we didn't have a LEGIT STRONG SAFETY or NOSE TACKLE. A Case could be made that we are thin at CORNER but we do have Starting Experience at the position.
ROLB is up in the air still also.

Years past we never had holes like this and were looking to the DRAFT to fill in our STARTERS.
Will be it be exciting to see some guys get on the field?? Yes .... but it's a case of "hope for the best, prepare for the worst"

This.

[Captain Lemming]

Three rookies potentially starting on defense. What a refreshing change. Wouldn't have happened before Butler. Get best talent on the field.

So ridiculous OV. How many times must I shoot this ridiculous assertion down?

2013 We started a rookie day one and eventually two rookies became starters a third got significant playing time
2014 We started a rookie day one and eventually two rookies became starters

Before that? When we had some of the best defenses in the league? You don't start rookies on a loaded defense. Does Haley hate rookies, cause you know he ain't starting a rookie on a this dominant offense.

Butler? Really? I like the guy (thankfully Lebeaus GENIUS rubbed of on him ) but nothing leads one to believe he is especially rookie friendly.

2015 Butler started ZERO rookies day one and ONLY ONE became a starter ON A BAD DEFENSE. And Dupree (who had to wait behind very average Moats of all people) is WAY better than Jones who started day one under Lebeau.

[RuthlessBurgher]

So ridiculous OV. How many times must I shoot this ridiculous assertion down?

2013 We started a rookie day one and eventually two rookies became starters a third got significant playing time
2014 We started a rookie day one and eventually two rookies became starters
Before that? When we had some of the best defenses in the league? You don't start rookies on a loaded defense.

2015 Butler started ZERO rookies day one and ONLY ONE became a starter ON A BAD DEFENSE. And Dupree (who had to wait behind very average Moats of all people) is WAY better than Jones who started day one under Lebeau.

Don't let facts get in the way of a good ol' LeBeau bash...

[feltdizz]

so tomlin trades a draft pick for an unproven cb that doesnt get along with coaches?
doesnt sound like a very bright move

in hindsight it wasn't a smart move.

but neither was starting Blake last year.

sometimes we get it wrong.

[phillyesq]

So ridiculous OV. How many times must I shoot this ridiculous assertion down?

2013 We started a rookie day one and eventually two rookies became starters a third got significant playing time
2014 We started a rookie day one and eventually two rookies became starters

Before that? When we had some of the best defenses in the league? You don't start rookies on a loaded defense. Does Haley hate rookies, cause you know he ain't starting a rookie on a this dominant offense.

Butler? Really? I like the guy (thankfully Lebeaus GENIUS rubbed of on him ) but nothing leads one to believe he is especially rookie friendly.

2015 Butler started ZERO rookies day one and ONLY ONE became a starter ON A BAD DEFENSE. And Dupree (who had to wait behind very average Moats of all people) is WAY better than Jones who started day one under Lebeau.

The only defenses that start 3 rookies are bad defenses. I don't want a bad defense.

I'd love to see contributions from all three guys by the end of the year, but if Hargrave, Burns and Davis are all starting week 1, the defense is not likely to be very good.