What to do with Shamarko Thomas?

There was been some discussion about Thomas since the season ended and even more during the season as he drew some negative attention for bonehead plays on the field. Not much discussion going on since they resigned Golden and let Will Allen go. Now one of the things that comes across in my Facebook feed is Steelers.com pimping its articles and several weeks ago one about how Thomas is spending his off season came up. I found it a very interesting read and figured someone else would have read it and started a thread but I don't think I saw anything more on it.

http://www.steelers.com/news/articl...ctations/ad68320f-8c68-4b90-8ffd-27d30912f2d3

Now one of the things heading into the season was that Troy spoke so highly of him and his skill level and that has to say a lot about Thomas. Now I know a lot of people were really high on Thomas and have since backed out of his corner but he was still a very young player and it takes players different amounts of time to really get the pro game especially in a complex position like safety. The article points out something echoed by several Steelers over the last few years who have stepped in after a veteran player is gone and that is they try to be too perfect or try to emulate the play of the guy they replaced. Coach Mitchell said one of Steve McClendon's problems was he was trying to be Casey Hampton and no one can be Big Snack except for Big Snack, Steve need to find his game. In Thomas's case he needed to not be perfect and stop trying to replace Troy Polomalu and just learn the pro game. He has a great attitude, work ethic and by all accounts despite the evidence on the field a very high football IQ so if he lets those things guide him instead of trying to be the "Next One".

This could be the make it or break it year for him where he becomes nothing more than a solid special teams contributor or where everything clicks and he becomes a good safety with room to improve there will be opportunity to compete that is for sure but the window will b narrowing quickly.

 

I don't know why any Steelers DB would feel the need to be perfect - all the fanbase have ever asked for is a CB who can shut down their man for the entire game, and is preferably 8 ft tall.

That said... I do think we need to be aiming higher at safety, though. Thomas may turn a corner, but I don't see a huge ceiling with him or Golden. If we go S in round 1 or 2 of the draft, I'll be happy.

 

I would give him preseason to show us something and then make a decision

 

I don't think we can count on him at this point. To me, he is fighting Ross Ventrone for a spot on the team as a special teams ace.

 

To me Thomas is a lot like Sweed in that I hope he puts it all together because it makes us a better team. If he fails to do so it's just another hole to fill and another missed pick.

 

Especially from that secondary huh?

 

Yeah.....preseason can be his "last call for alcohol" moment.

 

cut him... i just dont believe he has it "above the neck"

 

I can honestly say that I've given up on Thomas altogether. The dude just does not seem to have it above the shoulders. He has had multiple interference calls on Special Teams and it honestly seems to me that it would take a special kind of goofball to accomplish that. Dude is built like a brick outhouse but I just don't think he's gonna get it above the shoulders.

 

I gave up on this him already, he's too dumb he gets the same bonehead penalties on ST.

 

I have too sadly enough... Hasn't panned out the way many of us expected. I don't think he's dumb, dumb reoccurring ST plays aside. I think he's pressing too much and the rest caves in on him. We all knew he wasn't gonna be the next Troy but some of us thought he was gonna service the spot pretty well.

We'll see what happens if just takes a step back and doesn't press and let's the game come to him he might still get there yet.

Would be nice anyways... But either way he's getting some competition this year in camp.

 

Cut your ties and move on. Can't understand what needs to be done.

 

i think with the talent at safety in this draft we should get two and move on from shark. what we do with grant will be interesting to watch and will effect shark and our new safeties. if we can get corner like coverage from grant and more, shark would be expendable. shark was very good at being put on one guy to cover, even in college, but the problem comes when he has to do more than that.

 

I expect this will be Shamarko's last year as a Steeler. He worked his ass off by all accounts so you know effort isn't the issue. It is too bad he isn't starting material because he brings many intangibles.

 

Dont look at his 3 year career stats, or you will wonder why he even gets paid to be on the roster, hes played in 40 games and has a total of 37 tackles and 9 assists, zero picks and pretty much zero everything else, what a waste he has been, if the light hasnt come on in 3 years then it must have been burned out from the start....

 

If we had better CB'S we could use him in some Inverted coverage. Or they could play him at LB like a lot of other Teams are starting to do. It seems like he has skills , but he just can't get the whole game down so by changing his role he could become valuable I have zero faith in him as a traditional Safety..

 

I agree. uh, by the way, who brought this cornball to the team anyway?

 

I am Shamarko's biggest fan but if he looks like doo doo in the preseason. Ship him out

 

Thomas is never going to be a Starter. Back up at best, OK on special teams, and takes a lot of penalties when he is on the ST.
Was a terrible pick to stretch for.
But, we have failed on other picks was worse before.

 

Uh,...well who's making those "other picks" that your refering to?

 

Colbert?