Interesting little blurb on Boykin and

his lack of playing time.

From Jim Wexell

CB Brandon Boykin -- His inability to grasp the defense is the reason, according to coaches, that he didn't play much until midseason. His mental error on third-and-12 against Denver won't help that perception either. While the Steelers aren't about to peg last year's second-round pick, Senquez Golson, as a slot-only corner without giving him a legitimate chance outside upon his return from a year-long stint on IR, coaches realize that the slot is a place where smart, instinctive and small corners usually end up. That will most likely keep their interest in Boykin below the rest of the league's, and Boykin will no doubt chase the better offer instead of fighting for scraps of playing time here again.

 

So it wasn't some other mysterious made up nonsense?
Just when I was starting to buy into the notion that the fans know more than the coaches.
Boykin would have made a great episode of Myth Busters!

 

I read an article where he is open to coming back. I will look for it

 

I saw it over on Steelers Depot. He's a free agent. He's open to going to whomever pays him the most money.

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/pittsburgh-...o-steelers-return-despite-playing-time-issues

 

Sounds like a bunch of hogwash to me since Blake couldn't grasp it at all throughout the entire season yet he started nearly every week.

 

Blake knew what to do. He's just a horrendous player who shouldn't be anywhere near the NFL.

 

As soon as I read the part about Boykin making an error, I knew this thread just had to be a wind up.

 

Look, I believe what I see with my own eyes on the field during the game. And,what I saw was ...with cockrell,boykins,and gay in the lineup.. the cb's played so much better.
If it came down to grasping the defense...then everyone in the world,including Stevie Wonder,could see that Blake wasn't grasping the defense

 

It didn't seem like Blake grasp the defense either and they kept him.

 

Non starter. You can single out several "mistakes" by Gay and Mitchell too and they stayed on the field.

 

Blake set a record for corners this year and that's an indisputable fact.

 

No argument from me there. I was firmly in the camp of "Screw it! Even if he doesn't have the defense nailed down, he's got to be better than Blake!"

 

yea, when the first game of the season against the pats, we left their best TE uncovered, there is more than one backup making mistakes.

i like keith butler but he has in the past not put players on the field because they didn't do things perfect and that may be ok with a veteran defense we had since he arrived here as a lb coach but with new additions and a young defense sometimes you just have to let guys play to see they're true talent come out.

i have also read about blakes footwork troubles. i also remember him training hard to fix those troubles before last season. they evidently still are a problem. that falls on the position coach to fix those types of things. that comes down to technique. maybe we should be drafting a smarter player that can comprehend what is being taught. shamarko also comes to mind.

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2016/02/2015-player-exit-meetings-cb-antwon-blake/


anyway, i don't think boykin will be back. things also may not improve with the DB's as much as we all hope either. new guys always equal a learning curve. we would probably be smart in bringing back a guy like boykin that has a year in the system over a new FA or draft pick. i know i'm for guys that have been here even if only on the PS over a newbie if we want to take advantage sooner rather than later. they just have more info already stored about how the defense works. this will get interesting that's for sure.

 

I firmly believe that the TE not being covered for that TD was directly attributed to the headset problems. It was right at the time that the Steelers were complaining about it. The Steelers should have called a timeout but didn't.
I'd like to see Boykin come back but I don't think he will. He seemed to be in Tomlins dog house most of the season for some reason or another.

 

The article highlighted why Boykin wasn't playing.

 

That couldn't possibly be right. It's far more likely that Tomlin was just holding a grudge.

 

I still say it's hogwash.

I'd like to see an article highlighting exactly why Blake WAS playing.

 

How hard is it to grasp "don't let the other guy catch the ball"?

 

Why am I not surprised that Strummer is the OP and that Glenn is in agreement?

Boykin screwed up on one 3 and 12? That's why he sat?! Nobody saw Blake screw up horribly five times a game?!

There is no doubt that players learn and excel in a defense over time. But Blake has been in that defense for 3 years and according to PFF gave up the most yards in a season (1075) and missed the most tackles ever (28). 28 missed tackles!

Boykin was twice the player on day 1 that Blake will ever be. Not to mention Boykin is 2" taller for those claiming it has anything to do with height.

Boykin playing limited snaps dropped the conditional draft pick the Steelers sent to the Eagles by a round. That had nothing to do with it?

For Strummer to casually say "Boykin's gone" kills me. Hey Strummer, what games were you watching?!

Boykin played UNREAL for his first year in a complicated defense. The only DB who played better was Gay. (The only other starter worth keeping is Mitchell).

Boykin>>>>>>>>Cockrell

Cockrell was also in his first year. As of the Seattle game (9 games) Cockrell had allowed 71% completion rate, 484 yards and 4 TDs. So... he must not have gotten the defense?

No starting QB in the NFL completed 70% of passes yet Cockrell, Blake and Allen all gave up higher completion percentages.

Steelers should be keeping Mitchell, Gay, Boykin as starters and Golden and Golson as backups/potential starters. The rest of the secondary needs a major overhaul. Period.

Wow. Just wow.

On a sidenote I'm tired of the PR campaign from the Steelers coaching staff. I don't need to hear "leaks" as to why Tomlin's asinine personnel decisions are valid.

Boykin "didn't get the defense" like Bruce Arians "retired."

 

In that Seattle game it was Blake who blew the coverage that gave up the big td at the end that was the game sealer for Seattle. Blake let his man run free across the middle and played an outside technique when he was supposed to play inside. That's one clear example of Blake clearly screwing up. At this point though it's all just water under the bridge because the games are over and there's nothing we can do to change them. I'm definitely NOT a Blake fan though and honestly I would pretty much rejoice if he wasn't here next year. He's WAY more of a liability than an asset in my opinion.

 

Honestly the Steelers handled the Boykin amazingly well if he returns. If he doesn't then they screwed up.

Boykin would have needed time to grasp the defense and he was hurt in September with a groin injury. I understand why he wasn't playing in the first half of the season.

In the second half of the season when the Steelers had already played Boykin so little they would give the later round conditional pick to the Eagles Boykin should have been playing and Blake should have been on a bus out of town.

It would be pretty easy for Tomlin or Lake to pull Boykin aside and say "I know you didn't get the playing time you deserved this year but that is how the Steelers do things. Polamalu didn't play in his rookie year. Ike didn't start until his 3rd year. It wasn't personal. We want you to compete to start outside next year." I hope Boykin could be back.

The cap is really really strapped though.

 

That does make sense...therefore I don't believe it