Will the Steelers have their CBs play closer to the line of scrimmage?

www.steelersdepot.com/2016/07/ross-cockrell-expects-cbs-line-scrimmage-season/
Ross Cockrell seems to think so, I think they have been practicing that this offseason.

 

I think we definitely will. I seen a tweet from Butler the other day that said we should all expect them to be 17yds off the line now. I was super pumped!

 

I think it will be still a mix of zone and man. They can't play to close in more of a press/man look without opening up the middle of the field because the safeties would have to play deeper in case the wr's get past their man, which means more pressure on Shazier and Timmons for coverage and run support which leads to fewer available to pressure the QB. I think if they do get closer to the LOS it shows the coaching staffs confidence in the talent they have assembled.

 

Improvements are improvements lol

 

Is 17 yards off the line considered playing closer?

 

I think the Steelers have upgraded the talent in the secondary enough to play more man to man.

Football is really not a complicated game. Can you beat the man across from you?

 

The nickel defense is the new norm, and the big nickel is becoming the standard and when we drafted Burns and Davis they fit that role to a Tee......

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/heres-why-the-nickel-defense-is-the-new-base-defense-in-the-nfl/

 

Only on 3rd & 4.

 

After Superbowl 9, Fran Tarkenton commented he was in the huddle calling a play and looked up and the Steelers defense was already lined up waiting. He said it was like "this is what we are going to do, what are you going to do about it?" They had the talent to beat the man across from them.

 

Yes they did, and did it for years. LOL greatest team EVER ASSEMBLED.

 

Lol!!!! Good one Lambert!

 

It will all depend on our Safety play . I am not sure the position is fast enough either , but if the Safeties don't know how to read and react and take proper angles we won't be closer for long...

I always get clowned for suggesting switching a speedy guy to Safety , but speed is exactly what is needed at that position to play tighter coverage ....The Teams who play great pass D always have a smart rangy Safety ..The question is who is that guy for the Steelers ?

 

I'm not sure he is on the roster.

 

Considering that the direction of the defense is being changed due to the selection of Artie Burns, the rise of Ross Cockrell and a hopeful breakout for Senquez Golson, a hybrid cover scheme of both man and zone will be utilized.


The only reason Butler had the defensive backs play back so much was due to the lack of talent. Now that there is talent on the roster, this scheme can be applied. All that remains is how soon will this secondary gel?

 

I'm think right at the time of the first home playoff game.

 

but how will we make the playoffs if we go 6-10? lol

 

i think it depends on the LB'er and d-line and how they play. if well the db's can backoff and do their thing. with the speed at lb we should not have to worry about the coverage of TE's and rb's out of the backfield by our DB's.

 

I wouldn't say it was the only reason. There are a number of factors. Playing with a cushion is not automatically a sign of weak defense or lack of talent - it can work to confuse the QB and/or WR, can allow for switches in coverage, all sorts of things when done well. And sometimes it's simply the DC being too cautious, or the DB being too far back.

Either way, I don't expect to see the DBs up at the line on every play. And I'd be disappointed if they were.

I agree absolutely. Think about how different our record might have been last year if the communication issues in the backfield had been cleared up earlier in the year. I'm wondering how the new S fits in... training camp will be interesting.

This too.

 

I always thought that each NFL stadium ground crew use Steeler CB alignment to figure out how far 10 yards is while painting the field lines.

 

Honestly, I think we see more press coverage this year than either last year or under DL. DL would let Ike go Man cause he could do it, very few of the other guys could. That being said, I expect to see some hybrid looks depending on personnel. In other words, I expect we could play Dime, with Burns in press and everyone else in Zone. It allows them to give a man look everywhere and really play zone everywhere else. It will complicate the looks and make the QB/WR have to read on the fly as they won't now which zone we are playing until the play is actually run.

To me Golson and Burns will be great in press, but Gay and Cockrell are more naturally zone guys. Truly, I expect the snaps to be all over the place this year. I don't think we throw 2 CBs out there and just run them the whole game. Gay will get the most, but I expect his snap count to include sliding to the slot a lot more.

On another note, I do not think that Golson is a slot guy like everyone else does. I think he will be better on the outside where he has the sideline as help, but that may just be what I think of his skill set.

 

That's what he means by "the standard is the standard"??? Who knew.

 

Sean Davis has 4.4 speed

 

mitchell is a 4.45 guy. shamarko is a 4.37 guy. golden is a 4.5 guy. grant if he plays there is a 4.37 guy. plenty of speed at safety.