Cajuns secondary depth chart

Atlanta torched our secondary. The team said Atlanta exposed our lack of communication which the team thought had been fixed. Cockrell has regressed and been smoked a few times and the FO just traded for a CB after waiving then signing another CB.

Clearly they aren't happy, trying to solve the problem and Suttons injury hasn't helped BUT he's supposed to be back practicing. Here's my projected pre-game 3 secondary depth chart designed to solve the problems.

What say you SteelerNation??

LCB- Burns, Sutton
RCB- Coty S., Cockrell
NB-- Sutton, Hilton, Phillips

FS- Mitchell, Dangerfield
SS- Davis, Gay

Unless something happens I just haven't seen Brian Allen do enough to garner a Roster Spot.

Cajun

 

dangerfield and gay should be switched. gay at FS dangerfield SS. i could see this. i do expect an extra somewhere though. making the count 11 db's i believe.

 

I don't see Gay being on this team as a safety.

 

I would like to see Hilton get that start at Nickel. He deserves it until Cam gets back into the routine.

 

Why? He has already dropped back in a safety role this pre-season. He's very smart in this system and his experience in the League is an asset. He's a solid tackler and has good hands.

I think he's a liability as a corner/NB due to his loss of speed/quickness.

Cajun

 

Who would he replace, certainly not Davis and you know Mitchell is Tomlin's BFF. Or are you talking about a rotation?

 

Gay is a backup as is Dangerfield, but Mitchell & Davis are starters and play unless injured

Cajun

 

I'm going out on a limb... Without any stats or anything and say I think Gay has more career tackles than anyone on this defense and it isn't even close. Having said that he knows quite well how to tackle.

I will acknowledge since he's older that a steady diet of TE & Bigger RBs will wear him down quicker. BUT as a backup how much of a steady diet is he really going to get.?

Cajun

 

Yep, just having some fun and maybe out of the box is needed. I don't think it's far fetched though.

If Sensabaugh shows he can press man at all he'll leap frog Cockrell.

Rewatching the games Golden just seems lost in coverage. While decent in run support opposing QB will attack him with vigor when he's in there..

Nickel back / slot corner is now a surplus. Gay, Sutton, Hilton, Coty, Phillips so something must give. Gay & even Hilton can play some safety. Coty and Sutton have been given reps outside. Even though Gay has played there in the past we should agree he only does that in a zone cover 2 and then Only when necessary.

Cajun

 

Well then you are taking all those smarts and experience off the field. A rotation at Nickel still seems like the best bet until someone steps up and gives the team a reason to bench him. Sensabough, Hilton or Sutton being the candidates hopefully, because we all know Gay has lost some physically. If Mitchell/Davis go down long term then yes give the switch to safety some consideration. But I'd keep him at nickel for now imo.

 

That's funny, I actually had them as you suggest at first but changed it. The reason is because Jordan already has a similar reputation as Mitchell for being that hard hitting safety the Steelers like.(Ryan Clark)

Also Gay is used to playing close to the LOS and has experience in coverage and good hands.

I'd like another DB but can't Justify it. Who would be the corresponding roster move?

Cajun

 

the steady diet of big rbs and tes should be handled well before they reach our safeties or other people need replaced.

 

He isn't exactly noted for his open field tackling. He tends to put his head down when going in for the hit. This isn't a quality you want from a free safety.

 

Move them around however you'd like, there simply isn't enough DB talent on this team. For whatever reason, it hasn't been a priority and now we are in panic mode. When they have tried to address it they've had some obvious misses; I was against the Golson pick from the beginning and we've added a bunch of guys who couldn't make other teams, were late rounders, etc. I did/do like Burns and Davis but that's about it. I'm in the minority about Sutton too, but I don't think he's an NFLer either. Praying I'm wrong. Either way, we better generate a ton of pressure up front.

 

Actually he is. He's even led the team in tackles for a season before and if you watch he tends to go lower body and wrap up. Not sure how long you've been watching or focusing in on Gay but I disagree with your accessment plus I have him as a SS.

Cajun

 

This part of the team will cost them greatly, I hope Butler has devised some exotic

defenses for the opposition. he will need it,

 

yea, Sutton has looked real good in the preseason so far...

The absence of Mitchell has exposed communications issues.

No one wants to talk about how terrible Sean Davis is in both communication and coverage decisions.

 

I'll be sure to give you credit if he actually makes the roster as a SS this year... if it doesn't happen you be sure to do the same

 

our depth chart is horrid.we have starters who should be role players and role players as bu's and 3rd. stringers that should be on the practice squad.We are a injury or 2 away from having the middle school guys start on the Varsity level.

I am amazed that we trot out JV talent as starters as Coach T seems to understand the difference.So why do we continue to do it ?

 

True cajun, and if all remember, Many times in the last few years Gay has a late pick sometimes in the end zone when the other team is on a game winning drive

 

Obviously...