Last game as a Steeler

I'd be more ok with that play if they used it as a decoy at times. Fake it with a longer pass downfield on that side or even a back-side TE/RB screen. The problem is they never fake with it so the D is quicker to react.

 

UFA Not Re-Signed
Beachum
Vick
Gradkowski
W.Allen
Boykin
Blake
Nelson
Legursky
C.Thomas
Stingily
W.Johnson
Spence
Geathers

RFA Not Tendered
Todman
Garvin

CUT
Heath Miller
Shaun Suisham

Re-Sign UFA
DHB
Gay
Foster
McClendon
Golden
Warren

Re-Sign RFA
Hubbard

Re-Sign ERFA
Cockrell
Blanchflower
Chickillo
Nix
Palmer
Van Dyk

 

I agree. Blake is an ideal 4th or 5th corner. He was a special teams dynamo before he started getting reps on defense due to injuries last year. He's extremely fast and did a great job as a gunner.

I believe he was more injured than we know almost all this season. They will keep him I think.

 

I think Cockrell is back for sure. Isn't he an exclusive rights free agent? Would really like them to bring Gay back as well.

 

They are NOT going to CUT Heath Miller, you're nuts

 

I hope Blake leaves, once there are injuries at the CB position Blake will find his way into the starting lineup

 

I am not one for cutting guys for the sake of cutting them but some of these guys need to be culled from the herd just so Tomlin isn't tempted to give them starter jobs based on veteran status. Sorry but Will Allen needs to be cut not because he is bad but because he is average and as long as he is on the roster they won't give others a shot. Same with Blake he isn't bad as a fourth CB but as long as he is there Tomlin will be tempted and tempted to let him play out of his funks, meanwhile rookies and new guys won't be allowed the same treatment. Some of these guys are crutches and I am on a tough love kick now

 

not a huge Blake fan but at least he can make an INT - a few years back guys like Taylor and a few others - they blew so many easy picks.

 

The problem with having him as a 3rd is we are one injury away from being a starter. I am a big believer that if you have a guy on the team he needs to be ready to start. If he can't start why be on the team, there are other guys out there you could give a chance to. Also in this day and age of the passing NFL you really need 3 DB's to be ready.

Now if we sign him cheap and gets buried on the depth chart at #4 or 5 I am good with that. He kinda reminds me of Gay in his 1st stint here. Maybe Blake gets bummed down and learns from it and comes back stronger. Either way I don't want him on this team as a #3 next year, jmo.

 

BFT, if we cut him before June 1 he will cost us 4,050,000 and only save us 1.7mil. If we cut him post June 1 he will only cost us 1.350mil mil save us 4.4mil. I do believe the money that he cost us get spread over 2 seasons, so a post June 1 cut could be a very good thing cause that money could go to Gay or Beachum or even be used for the draft class which usually is around 4 mil.

 

All backups aren't going to be starter quality players. Most of these guys are good enough to finish out a game or fill in for a game or two, but that's about it. Sometimes you have a young starter waiting in the wings, but that's not always possible.
Look at some of our back ups and how they preformed in a starting role.
Cody Wallace- he did an ok job, but was a penalty machine and he got run over a lot.
Cam Thomas- enough said
McCullers- he never took that next step this season.
Will Allen- good smart veteran player, good back up, but not someone you want to rely on to be a full time starter.
A. Villenueava- I belieive he can be the future for us at LT, but after starting out well he got his azz handed to him the last month of the season. He'll improve next season.
L. Jones and M. Vick- enough said.
Some bright spots were.
The backups at both ILB and OLB.
The Backups at RB.
The backups at WR.
Jesse James- looks like a guy who may be able to step up.

The CB position suffered this season due to Cortez Allen and Golson going down with injuries. I believe the Steelers felt that those two along with Gay were our top three CB's for the season with Blake and possibly Grant filling in when needed. We went out and got Cockrel and Boykin to pick up the slack. They did ok, but that's about it.

 

Glenn, I agree backups are not starter caliber players however if you have a guy who you know can't get the job done why sign him for depth purpose? Why not sign a young guy with the hope of him developing? What I was saying about your post was I don't want Blake as our #3, meaning he is 1st off the bench or nickle/dime schemes. Yeah next yeah we will have Golson but he is gonna be just like having a rookie since he missed the whole season. I hope he learned some while rehabbing and like you say possibly Grant steps up as well. I agree with a lot of what your saying but I do not agree with bringing Blake back as a #3 guy. jmo

 

Wasn't this the guy who was tweeting after the Steelers loss that "all is right in the world again"? I doubt he would sign here if they made a play for him.

 

I can't see him staying. The man's 37 and wants to spend time with his family. There's something to be said for being around to see your kids grow up instead of working so much. (That probably resonates with lots of peeps here.)

And it's not like he's got anything to prove:

• 2 Super Bowl rings
• NFL Defensive Player of the Year
• 2-time Steelers Team MVP
• 5-time Pro Bowl election
• Longest interception in Super Bowl history

 

One more year he could have 3 rings and be Steelers all time sack leader. Which might put him in the HOF

 

Well, yeah ... But other than that?