Minkah Fitzpatrick

Heaven forbid we expect the guy to make plays.

 

I would really like to hear from someone who is capable of, and has access to, breaking down film to get some facts that tend to get lost by the camera angles we see during the game.

We see guys getting beat, we see guys out of position, we see what looks like slow reaction. I don't know enough to analyze that stuff but I do know that a scheme can force guys to play for a specific result and it can sometimes look (to the layman) like missed plays when in fact it was nothing but scheme.

Anybody volunteer?

 

Who would have thought Edmunds would be our best DB at 4-0? And the offense is actually scoring TDs in the red zone.

 

I am one who dosen't buy they are not throwing to him, he is playing free safety and should be in position to cover from both sides of the field and also deep passes, and what I see he is usually nowhere to be found, and when he is closer to the line and tries to tackle he is just horrible at it. Something is wrong this year with him and not just scheme.

I'm not an Edmunds fan but he is outplaying him.

 

Last year he made plays on a lot of tipped balls. Our DBs aren't tipping many this year. I think that's a factor.

 

That's for guys who watch the All-22 film

 

Except his best play came against the Colts, he made a great read for a 96 yard pick six.

 

Well, I can look for you but I will need some time. Right now I am at work. I will have your answer later today. See what I can find.

 

I don't think it's the only thing going on but I do think it is playing a role. Hard for him to snag a tipped ball when the DBs don't actually tip any.

 

I think Optimus Prime saw your rookie stat line predictions and said, "Excuse me, sir. You might have underestimated me."

 

Based on what?

 

That was nice, but Minkah was playing centerfield on that. I think he had better reads than that last year, and I think he'll do the same this year. I'm not sure what the problem is.

 

I would need to see the All 22 film to judge Minkah thru first 4 games tbh. Plays haven't been made on him and he's not making plays. Either that's by design and good or bad. All I really remember is one guy bouncing off him on one tackle. I'm not going to trash him because of one play.

 

Thanks!

I guess I am wondering about things like the last play of the game where Haden allowed a big completion but because he kept the receiver in bounds, the game was over. If you just look at the play, it looks like Haden blew it but I think he made a very smart play?

 

Based on NOT getting burnt as much as Haden, Fitzpatrick and Nelson.

 

Oh.

 

Back!!



Just got finished wrapping up some of the All 22. The schematics are not the issue though sadly. If anything in case of the Eagles game, Keith Butler is actually calling plays to place his Defensive Backs into winnable situations. The issues stem from two aspects;



1.) Poor Discipline


&


2.) Miscommunication




Of the two, 2 is more easy to correct than one in terms of the current situation. How so?! Some of the verbiage can be simplified. That said, there is only so much simplicity that one can go on.



One is a bit harder to fix. Due to the lack of practice time thanks to COVID 19, even the simple aspects of not "opening the gates" when in press coverage are being ignored. Go look at the touchdown and pass interference call (the actual one) against Joe Haden. Poor discipline.



Steven Nelson seems to have finally dialed up his situational awareness. From weeks one to three, he really was not disciplined at all and played with some poor technique. This week he was much better. Again though, here is the main reason; no preseason.



No preseason means no reps. No reps means lack of discipline. Lack of discipline equates to big problems. All this said though, Terrell Edmunds still remains the oddball here. Never mind his athletic gifts, he is actually displaying better technique and focus than even Joe Haden through the first quarter of the season!





In short?! Mental errors and lack of discipline are the issue. That said, plenty of time to clean it all up.

 

Did you watch film from all 4 games?

 

This could also explain the league wide downfall of defense.

 

Yep. All four; hence the Steven Nelson reference. I mainly observed the big plays being given up. Poor discipline were the main culprits of both the Houston and Philly Games while New York and Denver had communication issues abound. Definitley had a bit of both in all four but one of the two primal problems reared their ugly head.



All in all, mental lapses are the issue. The lack of discipline does not help either.

 

Sure does.


Not just the Steelers. Every team is having this issue. However, given Pittsburgh's talent in the back end, why is it happening even more than others is a fair question.

 

yeah, and remember he had that blatant horse collar the other week, I excused that blatant horse collar as him trying to save a TD, but to me playing cheap is playing lazy, I'll be watching next week against the browns

 

I didn't see it as definitive as you, and comparing the assignments and responsibilities of the cornerbacks to those of Edmunds really isn't fair. He is playing a little better than he did for the last 2 seasons, which is slightly encouraging.

 

It isn't but it is in a sense. Yes, both are tasked with different coverage responsibilities. However, when one of those players messes up, the entire secondary goes capsized.


Overall, the principles and fundamentals remain the same for any Defensive Back. How often those fundamentals are used is a major factor in the difference of how safeties and corners cover.