Artie Burns can play

Alex Koroza pointed this out and SteelersDepot forum members let him have it big time for doing so.


People need to remember that Artie is coasting off of his gifts and is still learning some concepts. Once he becomes more proficient with said concepts, giving up touchdowns like he did against Barnidge will become more uncommon; seldom hopefully.

 

He's got to learn that Pro QB's can and will try and make that throw. It's ok to get a look at the scramble, but you have to keep your depth and be ready to make that pass break up or INT. If he's deeper on his man he probably doesn't throw it and eats it on the roll out.

 

Alex noted that the Artie was playing a "robber" zone coverage and should have taken the inside lane from Barnidge. Alex explains it better here;


http://www.steelersdepot.com/2016/11/film-room-artie-burns-growing-pains-continue/


So many people roasted him still after the fact yet ignore that Artie still has fundamental breakdowns. Until these are cleaned up, expect people like Alex and the like to point it out; much less Keith Butler or Mike Tomlin.

 

Artie has a long way to go, as said in earlier threads him and Sean Davis will need coached
up considerably. Watch these 2 closely they got a long way to go.

 

They both Artie and Davis should get better in time with their NFL rediness. But what I like so far is their size and athleticism, something we haven't seen for a while at those positions. At least we got something going here with these two, and wish we could say the same at the OLB position.

 

Harrison owns the outside release. Burns was responsible for the seam/inside. If Harrison plays the inside, Barnidge can cross his face and would be wide open. Harrison played it correctly, the call was a good one, Burns blew it.

 

seems like he has stellar plays and gets burned. no medium lol

 

I like both Burns and Davis, and see them both contributing quite a bit in their Steelers careers. Remember that in the current NFL rookies can look bad in the secondary very easily, and that even Troy had some bad moments as a rookie in 2003.

Meanwhile- William Jackson III- the guy we all wanted instead of Artie- hasn't played a down in the regular season, and won't now that the Bengals have activated someone else from IR.

 

Oh no he wouldn't .. You could walk right up to stone hands and hand it to him and he would drop it

 

They saw this,

Strengths
Big, broad frame with absolutely shredded physique. Showed mental toughness. Bounced back from awful Bowling Green game to make numerous plays against South Florida the next week. Has size to battle against move tight ends. Leaps and challenges aggressively on 50/50 throws. Grabbed three interceptions in 2015. Around the ball and in the mix. Posted 298 tackles over three years as a starter. Comes firing downhill with purpose when it is time to get help against the run. Looks to lay the wood to receivers and make them feel it. Second in the nation with five forced fumbles. Has played safety and cornerback.

 

Hence why he was a "boom or bust" prospect leading up to the draft.

 

Burns to this point reminds me a lot of Phillip Buchanon of the Raiders of yesteryear, lots of natural ability, but what Tim Brown once said of Buchanon 'Phillip giveth and Phillip taketh away' applies to Burns IMO, we'll have to wait and see which direction his career takes over the next 2-3 years.

 

Even with the mistakes. Burns has been better than Gay and Cockrell the last month.

HACK

 

The fact that he has the athletic ability to get by while learning is better than what has come through that door. Game time and film room study is what they need. Looks like the fundamentals are starting to get through on tackling.

 

Still am curious that, should someone like Zach Cunningham or Derek Barnett are off the board, would someone like Sidney Jones ( Washington, 6'0, 195lbs) be in play? Artie and Sidney would be quite dangerous.




Again, assuming those two are off the board. Do not forget Jamal Adams (LSU, 6'0, 211) either.

 

That is thanks in part to Artie's near limitless ceiling and potential. Ross is a boundary corner and Gay is now more so a slot based one.

 

Hack,
What, specifically, makes you say that?

 

eye test

 

even i can see Cockrell strugglin lately

Gay it appears to me and my untrained football eye has loss a step

 

Yep Artie is the best we have , but I still think he is best suited as a #2 CB..Gay is getting older and is not really outside capable, I still don't like Ross I think he is a good role player and shouldn't be a starter ....

 

well befor ei get

so
i suggest
Des Lawrence
in next year draft

 

The thing I like about him is that he wants to try and cover AB in practice. I'd say Vontae Davis, after last night, would just be like "dude that's alllll you". LOL!

 

Our DBs in general need to improve.
In these three pictures, we see the Steelers fail to defend against a simple slant. Gotta get better.

 

From what I can see there, the issue is the ILB blitzing and the safety double covering the deep route. So while the CB loses a step on the WR - unsurprising on a short slant- the issue is the space left in the middle of the field from the blitz call.

That's my view anyways - I'm no expert though.

 

It's a give and take thing. I think it's okay to give the kid some experience. It's not like we have anyone better to play in front of him. Gilbert? Shabazz? Play Gay and throw another rookie (a safety at that) in the slot? He's a rookie (and a raw one at that). It's hard to not expect bad reps. He's making enough plays to make up for it IMO. Same thing with Davis. He's gonna make mistakes, but he's raw and we don't have anyone any better. They aren't finished products yet, but this experience will do a lot for their development long term