Mike Mitchell (inadvertently) makes case to start Allen over Troy

Interesting article. Mitchell essentially calls the people who think Allen should start over Troy ignorant and then, IMO, makes the case at the end of the article that Allen should absolutely start over Troy. He needs to know where the other safety is and have confidence that the other safety is taking care of his assignments. Troy's freelancing at least contributed to making Mitchell look pretty bad earlier this season. At least Allen's discipline and consistency have stopped most fans from thinking Mitchell was the worst free agent signing since Sean Mahan.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...=3303268&utm_source=FB - SNF on NBC&utm_tags=

 

Is Troy even practicing to be able to play?

 

I think Troy is one of the tenured vets who don't have to practice to play. It's my understanding that he's healthy enough now to play but Tomlin certainly doesn't sound committed to starting him.

 

Cam Thomas is the worst signing since Sean Mahan. Mike Mitchell remains in the running, though.

I get that having a more conventional safety play has helped the secondary out a lot, but the blown coverages are only a part of what makes him a bad player.

It's also important to note that Will Allen's play has stepped up considerably since he's been back in the line up. We talk a lot about how he's playing more conventionally than Troy, but he's played a number of years here - and been dropped at least once - and this is the best I've seen him play. So it's good that Mitchell is giving him kudos, even if there are perhaps unintended consequences for what it says about Troy.

 

How in the heck could I forget about Cam't Thomas?! You are absolutely correct!! He is the worst by far, probably of all time!

 

I think Allen should be starting. Troy is one of my all time favorite steelers but he doesn't have it anymore. I actually would throw him out there every once and awhile as a LBer when we go into the physco package. Then that would leave a qb guessing again is he covering the TE or is he blitzing.

 

I'm good with Troy getting a hat and being a part of, NOT the starter. His liability in coverage is key and Allen has much more upside in this area. Keep Ike Taylor off the field by any means necessary!

 

Flacco loves to throw deep and Troy can't cover the deep routes anymore. He's not even in a position to make a play on the ball anymore. I mean, the guy has 1 pass defence all year long. That tells me that he hasn't been anywhere near the ball on passing plays. I could see Troy being more effective against a team that uses mostly short or intermediate throws, but Flacco loves going deep, and Troy will get burned when that happens.

If Troy starts and plays the majority of snaps, he's going to seriously hurt us

 

You might add that he'll have a ton of tackles and the whole board will implode under the calls of how bad Mitchell and Gay are. Or, why they even have McCain on the team.....

 

You lost me. Troy doesn't have a ton of tackles this year nor would I expect him to have a ton of tackles in any game he plays. He's a lot slower than he used to be and he's not getting involved in plays like he used to

 

Rumor has it Troy is starting this week and I'm pissed. Who knows maybe he is rested and can morph into something close to what he used to be for 4 games but I don't see it.

 

Oh he'll have tackles at the LOS or get credit for flying over or under the guy.

 

Duce

 

Maybe Troy could be a blocking back for Ben, haha!

 

Is shamarko hurt?

 

No, he's flying around on special teams. I'm totally perplexed (and frustrated) by his lack of playing time on defense!

 

Maybe he is a slow learner.

 

Mostly what I got out of this is that Mitchell does not get his brain fully engaged before he speaks.

 

Jack..come on.
He doesn't say that Troy shouldn't play.. he says that Allen is a square box player who sticks to his route. He knows where Allen is because Allen doesn't read the play ahead of time. Allen is a reactive player vs Troy being a proactive player.

Saturday night will be a proving moment. Either your right or I am..
and I did get a chuckle out of this.

and either way, it's been nice seeing a different view. much respect.

 

Likewise, brother.

I know Mitchell didn't explicitly say that Troy shouldn't play, but I think he made the case for Allen with the last comment that he made. I just don't think Troy can do the matrix-esque things he did before and, unfortunately that showed earlier in the season. I think we're better served right now with the smart and disciplined Will Allen as the starter and I think the results since Troy has been out indicate that.

 

Allen should start Troy should sit.

 

So what I gathered from Mitchell's words were this. He's condescending to certain fans and he basically and inadvertently just threw Will Allen under the bus as well. Am I missing something? LOL.