Brice McCain to start this week against Houston

Combine report on him..Awareness lacking. Late reacting.Struggles to stick with savy route runners .Uses bad angles .Poor in run defense...

O.K. those are not always spot on ,but that's exactly what I see plus he was a 4.51 CB coming out ,, he is not going to get faster all of a sudden... Highest ceiling possible a good #3 and that's it...

 

Funny, Lewis got 5 years 25 mill and Allen got the same. But Allen had more upside. Oh, but now Allen is benched. BENCHED! Yes Jack, it was a panic move. The front office knew they made a mistake by letting Lewis go.

 

The thing about corners in this scheme is they've always seemed to be like red headed stepkids or something. Things have always been predicated on our front 7 and particularly the LB corp. So I would be really surprised if they took a corner early. I WANT a corner and wanted one this year actually. I just wouldn't be surprised if they don't take one early since we need a replacement for Worilds because I don't think he is the future. I hope we address the d in the draft more so than any other aspect. I just wouldn't be surprised if they wait to take a corner. I also would like to see what kind of linemen we can draft with Munchak on the staff.

 

Finally, a change!! Cortez needs a wake up call and, maybe, this guy wont be any better but at least someone is recognizing we have issues in the secondary.

 

Comfortable and capable of playing press coverage.= Great for a CB. Tough against the run.= Great for a CB ...TY you helped prove my point a physical CB can make up for lack of speed and size ..

A soft CB can't make up for being soft ...WR'S are getting more polished as they come into the NFL each year so I can say with all confidence Cortez will never match up well with a #1 or #2 WR ... Even if he does get better he lacks the bend the hips and the physical nature to be a #1 or #2 CB....

A #1 or #2 CB needs to be physical and be able to play man coverage ,,,you can teach him zone after 15 years of Football ,hard to teach him to play man if not impossible...Send that to Colbert so he will know what to look for if you want to draft a starting CB .......

 

Cortez might not be playing well, but no CB would play well with our sheer lack of pressure on opposing QBs. It ultimately comes down to the ineptitude of our defensive line. There simply should be no reason at all why Keisel is a top 2 lineman for us, yet he is. (obviously not a knock on him, rather a knock on how bad the other linemen are)

 

we are the team that just 2 short seasons ago led the league in pass defense with no pass rush

 

No the pass rush then was much better than what we have today. Sure having a healthy Ike and Lewis helped (and Clark and younger Polamalu), but until we fix the defensive line, we will continue to get gashed no matter if Revis and Sherman are the CBs.

 

I think your right BF.. I always thought that from the beginning. They took Shazier only because they missed out on Fuller.

I am happy we have Shazier but obviously we could use a good corner .

 

I don't see it that way. Cortez is often no where near the ball. I don't think its as much scheme as his inability to read the plays and be where he needs to be. There is no way in heck Kiesel should be chasing down a tight end . OMG

 

No they could use good corners, they need more than one.

 

I think it's somewhat amusing that several people are kind of excited that Brice McCain will be the starting CB for the Steelers on Monday night. A guy that, if I recall correctly, ranked near the bottom of the NFL at the CB position last season in Houston.

And...I feel kind of guilty that I'm one of those "people".

Just shows how pathetic our season is so far.

As for Cortez Allen, he just looks tentative to me, almost like he's afraid to hit somebody. He's never been a big hitter but he needs to be more aggressive. I know Ike couldn't catch worth a hoot, but one thing he wasn't afraid to do was hit!

 

Correct! And the comparison to Sherman's scout profile is interesting, but if Lebeau would ask these guys to jam somebody at the line then maybe Cortez doesn't appear so bad in afterthought? Seriously, common sense either way you cut it suggests that jamming a receiver buys you the extra tick that this teams edge rushers have needed. Try jamming em some and keep Troy back in his zone instead of letting him roam. He isn't scaring anyone anymore and might help in the secondary where he belongs.

 

They'd need to have extra long arms to jam a receiver at the line with those 12 yard cushions our CBs always seem to give, especially on 3rd and 8.

 

I feel the same way. McCain is basically a journeyman CB that is only 5'9 and we are playing against Andre Stinkin' Johnson for crying out loud! This might be the quickest benching after a big deal in NFL history. From what Tunch and Wolf were talking about they were saying that McCain probably prepares better than Allen and Tomlin is setting an example by saying that if you work hard there is a shot for you to move up the depth chart and that no one is a "lock" to start just because they have a big contract or whatever.

 

Insanity!

 

GO GO GADGET!

 

Completely agree. Shazier aside; did anyone else think that Tomlin/Colbert should have done something to move up and secure at least one of the top CBs in a loaded draft? Many identified or predicted the need and some coaches/GMs might have traded numerous mid to late round picks to secure one.

As to the need for a superior Corner; for the longest time the position was defined by the toughness, strength, mental ability, and speed of Steelers 'backs. Anyone remember when Steeler football meant/included the game changing ability of Mel Blount or Rod Woodson? How is it that our DC doesn't - didn't he coach Woodson? Seriously... how does the Dick Lebeau not understand the value of dominant Corners? Wasn't he one of the greats at that position; raising havoc alongside "Night Train" Lane?

Brice McCain? Hope he makes the best of the opportunity but he isn't the future. As far as Cortez... this season being where it is and the team paying him what they are... I say develop and play him every possible down. Force him to either grind the issues out or learn the science of the game. If he succeeds or fails there will no longer be doubt about his ability/place on this team.
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Bet percy harvin thought the same thing haha