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Did you realize our starting D backfield...

Discussion in 'Steelers Talk' started by Watt Wack, May 30, 2018.

  1. Watt Wack

    Watt Wack Well-Known Member

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    ...consists of three first round draft picks (Haden, Burns, Edmunds) and one second round pick? (Davis)

    Come on, that unit should be lights out. (Unfortunately, Davis, Burns and Edmunds may all have been reaches though.) If you stack a unit with 3 first rounders and a second rounder, it better be top shelf, or you're probably in trouble. You HAVE to cash in on picks that high, or you become the Browns.

    This is the year that our backfield goes from a liability to a strength, and, if not, heads need to roll.
     
  2. MeanJoeBlue

    MeanJoeBlue Well-Known Member

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    Any unit on the team (or any team) usually needs time together, in order to perform well.
    (Part of the strength of the Steelers OL is the stability of the years working as a unit.)
    If the backfield remains intact come next year, I think they will be even better than this year.

    Will agree that the team will need them to not be a liability this year, despite all the new players.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  3. Roonatic

    Roonatic Well-Known Member

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    The secondary has a lot of new parts this year, hopefully they will jell quickly & become a strength.
    Stopping the run is still our biggest challenge.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  4. thorn058

    thorn058 Well-Known Member

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    The starting line up hasn't been determined yet but your guess at the starters is a bit off base. In their base 3-4 alignment the most likely starters barring injury at this point are Haden and Burns at CB, Burnett and Davis at safety. In nickel situations I think you will see Hilton in at slot corner and blitzing off the edge. In the talked about dime coverage you will see Edmunds or Allen as a third safety in the box replacing an ILB and covering the short to intermediate zone with Davis and Burnett providing over the top coverage or deep middle.
     
  5. jeh1856

    jeh1856 Beer is good

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    Is this maybe why Carnell Lake “retired”? Can Bradley take us to the next step? Or were they reaches? It’s going to be interesting, hopefully fun, to watch it unfold. I’m just hopeing the growing pains at the beginning of the season don’t cause us to miss the post season.
     
  6. Watt Wack

    Watt Wack Well-Known Member

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    If your first round pick isn't playing as a starter (other than QB sometimes) you FAILED at drafting. If TE is worthy of a 1st round pick, he should be superior to anyone else at his position, these days. 20 years ago (or 40) maybe not, but in this day and age, your 1st round pick better be playing or he was a poor pick. So yes, the starting backfield should be Burns, Haden, TE and Davis - it doesn't matter who plays in the nickel or dime.
     
    • Disagree Disagree x 1
  7. MeanJoeBlue

    MeanJoeBlue Well-Known Member

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    So you are saying that Heyward is a failure? He didn't start until his 3rd year.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  8. mac daddyo

    mac daddyo Well-Known Member

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    Or timmons, or Troy, or Ben, or burns. :cool:
     
  9. Watt Wack

    Watt Wack Well-Known Member

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    If I recall correctly, all four ended up starting as rookies - not week one, but DID end up starting year 1.

    Also, even only going back as far as Timmons and Troy, the league was different then; now teams feel like they need production out of rookies, look at the Saints last year: a lot of rookies contributed. It's a different game than it used to be.
     
    • Hilarious Hilarious x 1
  10. Watt Wack

    Watt Wack Well-Known Member

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    You're right, and, yes, if drafted today in the 1st round, he would be expected to start sometime in is rookie season. Look around. Teams usually bank on their 1st rounders starting in year one (except some QBs, but even they are starting in their 1st year these days).
     
  11. Blast Furnace

    Blast Furnace Staff Member Mod Team

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    I posted a while ago that I think the secondary will be a strength this season.

    I think the defense overall will be better than people think.

    IF... they eliminate the big plays. I think no Mitchel and moving Davis over plus the addition of Burnett and Edmunds will go a long way to cleaning that up.
     
  12. AskQuestionsLater

    AskQuestionsLater Writing Team

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    ........



    [​IMG]



    So Troy Polamalu now constitutes as a failure? Fascinating I had no idea he did fail.



    Care to explain where this First Ballot Hall of Famer went wrong in his career?
     
  13. AskQuestionsLater

    AskQuestionsLater Writing Team

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    The big plays is the key. Much of this will have to do with Bradley.


    Is he capable of simplifying communication to a point in which the secondary can easily call out specific tendencies and offer counter-measures towards those issues?


    We shall soon see.
     
  14. Watt Wack

    Watt Wack Well-Known Member

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    You don't realize 2003 was a lot different than 2018? Seriously? And 2003 was still Dick LeBeau era - where no rookies played for the most part, although TP did get playing time as a rookie.
     
  15. AskQuestionsLater

    AskQuestionsLater Writing Team

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    Oh I realize these aspects perfectly.



    What I don't realize is how one excoriates a first round pick in spite and despite the fact that there are a multi arrary of circumstances? Dick LeBeau or otherwise, as you stated, a first round pick that does not start is a "failure".



    If we are applying that term to all first round picks drafted by Colbert then we need to apply them to every player; circumstances being irrelevant.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  16. steelersrule6

    steelersrule6 Well-Known Member

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    I read something on Steelers Depot that Bradley has simplified things for the secondary, hopefully we won't see those breakdowns like last season.
     
  17. HeinzMustard

    HeinzMustard Well-Known Member

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    FYI: Tim Lewis was D coordinator in '03. LeBeau didn't return until '04 season.
     
  18. Disco1981

    Disco1981 Well-Known Member

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    No way Burnett DOESN'T start..Very good player, and our key free agent signing...We signed him for a reason
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  19. Formerscribe

    Formerscribe Well-Known Member

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    Exactly. I don't see Edmunds starting unless there are injuries.

    Also, I don't think Davis was a reach, though lack of progress last season was disappointing.
     
  20. SteelerJJ

    SteelerJJ Well-Known Member

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    Generate a good pass rush and that unit will become much better in a hurry.
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
  21. mac daddyo

    mac daddyo Well-Known Member

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    I agree he may not officially start but we play that sub package defense so much now that he will consistently be on the field. :cool:
     
  22. Wardismvp

    Wardismvp Well-Known Member

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    Like the poster above said, Burnett will be playing. That is the Steelers prize FA until they sign Hendricks LOL.
     
  23. jeh1856

    jeh1856 Beer is good

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    PWP will argue then he is the “starting” nickle back.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Hilarious Hilarious x 1
  24. Fe3CCity

    Fe3CCity Well-Known Member

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    Wasn't this the same point about the o line a few years back?
     
  25. bigbenhotness

    bigbenhotness Well-Known Member

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    All I know is if our defense sucks with this many 1-2 rounders then butler has to go.....



    Review more tape because Rooney won’t fire him lol
     

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