The "Lake" Is Drying Up? I Do Not Think So.

Quite often it is within a sports fanbases initial reaction to single out one person, be it coach or player, or the collective group when their team loses. Throughout the years, every fanbase has their own "whipping boy" to discharge their feelings towards.


For the Steelers fanbase.. it seems as if their public enemy no. 1 has been Carnell Lake.


Ever since taking over for the secondary coaching duties on March 7, 2011, Lake has been met with some serious criticism, ranging from poor ineptitude to get players ready to his inability to maximize his players talents. For me, however... there in lies a different issue.



Carne Lake.. for all intensive purposes.. has done far better than his critics are giving him credit for. Year after year, draft after draft sans 2016, Lake is given a toddlers water gun to match up against the NFL's artillery cannons. Here is what he has been given since 2011 as draft picks..


2011 (Lake's first year):


Curtis Brown


Cortez Allen


2012:


Terrence Federick


2013:



Shamarko Thomas



Terry Hawthorne



2014:



Shaquille Richardson



2015:


*Senquez Golson


Gerold Holloman


2016:


*Artie Burns


*Sean Davis




Now.. look through this list and tell me... are any of these guys high pedigree sans the asterisk players? Yes, Cortez Allen has had his moments early but fell off a cliff just after two years of his rookie season. The other cornerbacks either not containing an asterisk nor are Cortez Allen flat out sucked. To say Carnell has done terrible due to his inability to coach is the equivalent of stating Tomlin is a terrible coach due to his ability to fall victim to the trap game (5-11 is his record as of now), both of which are false.



If anything, I would say that, outside of Mike Munchak, John Mitchell and Richard Mann, Lake is the third or fourth best position coach on the team. Now.. this is nothing to take away from others like Bobby Fitcher.. but Lake has found ways to turn rotten lemons into decent lemonade.



Yes, Pittsburgh is currently ranked 30th in passing yards but ranked in the top 10 at 10th in yards per attempt according to teamrankings ; a paradox given amount of yards. In addition, according to sporting charts, Pittsburgh ranks 8th in the number of big plays given up through the air.


Coincidence? I think not.


Due to the play of players like Mike Mitchell, Robert Golden, and Jordan Dangerfield, Lake has showcased that he is worthy of his coaching mantle. Even though players like Artie Burns have not come along as quick as we all have hoped.. he is still learning. Ross Cockrell has been easily their best corner given his level of play.



In the end though.. to say that Carnell Lake is responsible for the passing defense woes is not just unfair but is false and easily is over the edge of illogical. Lake is a good position coach whether we like it or not and should get better when other areas of the defense, such as an anemic pass rush, start to get better.




In short, he is not a miracle worker if he is not being assisted by others; any other position coach in the NFL the same.

 

Even though it's not totally Lake's fault with what the cards he has been dealt, but he's still not even getting these guys you listed to be your 4th corner on the team. Some of these guys are not even getting out of training camp without being cut.
Munchak, Mitchell and Mann are "old school" coaches that been around the league for long time. I think this "retired player then coach" mentality needs to stop. I would also look at Joey Porter as another candidate to follow Lake out the door. Look at the below list. Either the scouting department or Lake needs to go.

2004: 2(38) Ricardo Colclough
2005: 2(62) Bryant McFadden
2006: 3(83) Anthony Smith
2007: 5(170) William Gay
2008: 6(194) Ryan Mundy
2009: 3(96) Keenan Lewis
2009: 5(168) Joe Burnett
2010: 5(164) Crezdon Butler
2011: 3(95) Curtis Brown
2011: 4(128) Cortez Allen
2012: 7(246) Terrence Frederick
2013: 4(111) Shamarko Thomas
2013: 5(150) Terry Hawthorne
2014: 5(157) Shaquille Richardson
2015: 2(56) Senquez Golson
2015: 4(121) Doran Grant
2015: 7(239) Gerod Holliman

 

Given the high amount of misses of this list it has to be the scouting department for sure. I understand that the NFL Draft is the ultimate crapshoot.. but finding quality depth should not be that difficult.



As for Porter, he has been a position coach for only one year (defensive assistant does not count). I am not going to critique him unless this becomes a theme next year after Pittsburgh nabs their EDGE rusher and this is still an issue.

 

The biggest issue I can see is every one of our DB's plays 10 yards off the line of scrimmage, that is why they are one of the worst at giving up yards in a game while keeping the yards per attempt down. Effectively it allows teams to run drags and other short routes that turn into 6, 7 ,8, yards a play.

 

Lake is that you?

 

I think he has more concerns to worry about as opposed to blog on a Steelers fan based forum.

 

That is where i disagree