The Play Of Keenan Lewis

I'm not exactly impress. Seems to me that Lewis plays it safe by lining up 10 yards from the receiver, then comes up to try and make a tackle. Looks like the same technique that McFadden used when he was here. This technique results in giving up major yardage. Now on the other side, Ike Taylor lines up either right up on the receiver in a bump and run technique, or about five yards of the receiver. Perhaps these are the techniques that the defense uses? Anyway, the result is that Lewis give up major yardage most of the time because he is lining up to far away from the receiver.

Another thing is that I feel Cortez Allen is a much better D-Back. When you see him he is covering somebody all over the field. On a 3rd and 5, you can't line up 10 yards from the receiver and expect to stop them from getting a first down. They killed Lewis in the first half of the Bills game. Seems like Lewis plays it safe on his side which allows a good QB to take advantage of him. On the other side you have Ike who is playing it tight and getting it right!

So, the question is, why can't Lebeau see it if a person can see it on TV? I guess Ike is the man but I like Cortez Allen as the number 2 CB.

 

As I stated a couple of days ago in a thread. Cortez Allen has beat out Keenan Lewis
for the starting CB position along side mason man.if Dick L. starts Lewis ahead of Allen
this would be a travesty. I certainly hope Dick can figure out how he is going to generate a pass rush,
this season, we need to ATTACK. Let the reins off of Cam/Ziggy and let them play UPFIELD.
And return to BLITZBURG.

 

Wardismvp I agree with you. If the coverage is better then the blitz will work. This is why I like Cortez Allen. If your remember Ike stated that Cortez Allen trained with him in the off-season. He also said that Allen could be better then him. He also stated that he liked the fact that Allen doesn't do much talking, he just goes about his business and gets the job done. IMHO, I think Allen should be the starting CB and Lewis should be the nickle back.

 

finally, we have 3 decent cb's that can get the job done on 3rd down.Now we can generate more pressure because we now have spence.We have someone who is undersized for a true lber but can hit like one.He also has a nose for the ball and speed to go out with the t.e or rb which killed us last season.This leaves troy to be at his best.... roaming.Someone has to generate pressure opposite woodley whether harrison is back or carter or whoever.

 

With so many formations these days with 3 and 4 WR's a 'second string' CB might as well be a starter because he's going to be on the field a lot anyway, especially for the Steelers where teams are looking to spread the defense and nullify the LB's.

 

I have never really been that crazy about Lewis- maybe a little better than Gay- but not that much.....Allen, on the other hand, I really like! I really hope he is the starter for week one!

 

i think alot of the coverage you are talking about Edog is because of help over the top. ike may have help and is on the #1 while lewis has to adjust to what the safety is doing over top. that's some of the disadvantage with troy. if he is doing his thing it may allow lewis to have to play off somewhat to keep the receiver in front of him, because if the receiver gets the jump off the ball troy would be out of position to help out deep and clark is working ike's side deep. with all the blitzes they were sending, i have a feeling thats why lewis was off his man farther. it's a designed thing.

 

Agree 100%. Cortez Allen, along with Jonathan Dwyer, have EARNED the opportunity to start. If neither of them get the start on opening day then Mike Tomlin and Dick LeBeau will have damaged their credibility when it comes to saying things like the man that earns the job will be the man that has the job. I think those two guys more than anybody else in the pre-season have earned the right to be starting for the Pittsburgh Steelers on opening night.

 

You guys ever think maybe thats what he is told to do? give the cushion? since every DB does it...

 

I think the play of both is important. I really have a feeling that Ike Taylor may be a cap casualty after this season. Lewis and Allen could both be starters after this season.

 

In many of the plays being talked about....ike has ryan clark over the top...while lewis has troy up in the box.


Hack

 

I think fans don't consider coverages when they comment. They just think every player is Troy and can do what they want on the field, not considering the player is doing what he is instructed to do. SteelHack and mac daddyo hit it right on the head, Troy roams the field a lot so Lewis has to account for that in his coverage, while Cortez plays closer to the line of scrimmage in the nickel. Also, another thing to point out is that Keenan has not really been tested much in the preseason, while Cortez has been more, which gave him the opportunity to make more plays. The 2 breakups from Allen was thrown by Vince Young who's absolutely dreadful. Those passes were like flying ducks and my grandma could've made those plays. And the interception in the Indy game was luck more than anything. To his credit though, it showed good awareness. To sum it up, I think this battle is tighter than people think. Cortez has played the pass well, and so has Keenan. Keenan has played the run well and so has Cortez. Both in their own right have had great camps and preseasons and while Keenan hasn't been as flashy in limited opportunities, he's still been solid and has to be in the conversation.

 

Lewis only gave up one catch and he made that tackle, how was he getting killed???

 

Please stop being rational. This is not how we do things around here.

 

Yeah most of the time its by design...the whole 10 yards off the ball thing is something we've been complaining about here for years...but its just part of the design/system/etc...its not saying the player can cover/play/etc.

 

Right, because I've seen Lewis have nice coverage and breakups in a few games last season. The ones that stick out is the 4th and 6 breakup against Tennesee that stopped the drive and the downfield breakup against the Texans which gave the offense the ball back with 3 and some minutes left in the game. Lewis was a man/press corner at Oregon St. and was considered one of the best in the Pac 10 if not the country. I think if LeBeau played to his strength, this would be a different conversation.