Is Gay contradicting Tomlin?

It sure sounds like it to me. Tomlin continues to emphasize the fact that Boykin is a slot corner and not an outside corner. Gay, someone who's played in the league for a long time and knows the position probably much better than Tomlin doesn't seem to think there's an appreciable difference:

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2015/12/04/On-the-Steelers-8/stories/201512040168

Gay insists there’s really no difference between playing outside or in the slot for a cornerback, which would come as a surprise to most football people, including his head coach and defensive coordinator.

“Who does the labeling? The media, right?” Gay said. “Mike T doesn’t label guys.”

Except that he did on Tuesday at his news conference and Butler did again Thursday when talking about Boykin.

“I think he’s better at slot, he’s better at playing in the nickel,” Butler said, then added pretty much that Boykin would not be considered a starter because “we’re not going to put him in there when we think they’re running.”


It sure doesn't sound like any changes are forthcoming in the secondary to me!

 

“we’re not going to put him in there when we think they’re running.”

Well that could be an issue!

However, stopping the run hasn't really been that big of an issue with this defense and I'm sure if Boykin ever was in position to stop a RB he could at least get in the way long enough for a "real" football player to come and make the tackle. I think the assumed upgrade to our pass defense would be worth any perceived dropoff in run defense by playing BB.

Again, I'll hold judgment until Sunday night as I still think we see more Boykin and less Blake, even if practice is telling us otherwise.

 

cockrell said nothing had changed as of practice wed..

 

I'm sick of hearing "well our corners have to be able to provide run support". NO, our corners need to be able to cover the freaking receiver and make a play on the freaking football!!! I'm sure every corner on the team, including Boykin, realizes that you've got to tackle the guy who has the football. We've heard that line about our corners providing run support for way too long and it's resulted in the WORST SECONDARY IN FOOTBALL!

 

Jack, it all goes back to tomlin's canned answers
The media likes them. We know they are nothing but total Bull****

 

Another thing. If I am Big Dan. I got Tomlin standing in front of me explaining why I am paying Boykin to get splinters in his BUTT

 

Not only that but I'd also ask why in the heck did we give up a valuable draft pick for this guy again???!

 

You are spot on ....The Team depends way to much on finding and getting DB'S who can help stop the run we have no one to help stop the pass ....As you stated the #1 job of a CB is to be able to guard his man ... The only WR'S our guys can guard are the ones in the slot...The reason for that is they are the 3rd. or 4th. best WR on their Teams...We have no answer for true #1,#2, or #3 WR'S .....

Just Imagine if this Defense had to play our Offense for real....It would look something like this.....
AB 14 catches for 220 yards. Bryant 8 catches for 180 yards. Wheaton 7 catches for 140 yards...Miller 5 catches for 110 yards...DHB 3 catches for 60 yards...Williams 5 catches for 50 yards...

I bet our offense goes at half speed against them all the time in practice ...I can see Coach T in the huddle now saying... 'It's not what you can do it's what your willing to do '. And right now I need you guys to be willing to put on the kid gloves....This is probably how every practice starts...

 

We've invested a lot into our front 7 so that they should be able to stop the run. Maybe even the safeties to a degree. But our CB's should be able to stop the pass above all else especially considering how the season is playing out (heck, the past 3-4 years).

 

That's true but stopping the run means having that front 7 in the right spots. Some of the aggressive blitz packages leave gaps or unbalanced lines that require bringing that safter in close in case of a cut back run.

 

I agree with you both, and that's where having at least decent coverage CB's comes in. You often hear about how a good pass rush can make up for a poor secondary, but the opposite can happen as well; i.e., a really poor seondary can take away from a good pass rush. We've spent 5 R1 and 2 R2 picks on the front seven dating back to 2009.. that's a lot of talent. But the secondary still sits 30th in the league.

 

Tomlin's been full of it on this topic since day 1.

It may be true that Gay and Boykin are both better in the slot than they are on the outside, but they're also both better on the outside than anyone else on the roster, even if that isn't their best position. Put Boykin inside and bounce Gay outside, just put Boykin in on the outside. Either's better than Blake, and even if you don't think so, it's definitely worth a try now, and has been for half the season. Tomlin is driving me nuts.

 

Boykin said this week he sorta expects to get to play a little more this week. We will see. Blake has earned Boykin a shot though. That's for sure. Well to everybody but Tomlin of course.

 

Haha yep. Steelers need running backs who block and corners who can stop the run... except wait... why is Blake playing then?

 

OUCH

 

You have to be able to tackle to play CB in the NFL.
And especially for the PGH Steelers. You will see in the offseason
a purge in this secondary, we have to get better players.