Haden: D could play more man-to-man, Davis free safety?

https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.c...an-coverage-the-jaguars-playoff-loss-steelers

I'm not sure moving Davis will help; he just wasn't very good last season and regressed.

I wouldn't mind the D playing more man-to-man. We have some players who could do it.

 

They started out last season playing more man, then injuries hit, and they had to scrap that. Hopefully they will try again.

 

I think the communication statement was telling?

 

Tom Bradley will see to having the fundamentals and principles of the secondary corrected. He is a known stickler and is not opposed to lighting the proverbial "fire" under his defensive backs.



The hiring Tom Bradley for the secondary will likely yield similar success as the hiring of Mike Munchak did since 2014. Considering the secondary does have some talent to work with, there is little to no reason to me to assume why Bradley would not work as he does teach the basics of the position.



One aspect that does strike me intriguied is something many of us have been saying for a while now; Sean Davis being moved to Free Safety would unleash more of his skill set. If that is really the likelihood entering the 2018 season, then a hybrid safety like Justin Reid or Terrell Edmunds would be the most likely choices; Tarvarious Moore being another.



If not? Jessie Bates III is the only other Free Safety I see the Steelers seem to like. I really doubt they needed him to do anything nor state much else after dining with him then watching him at the Wake Forest Pro Day.

 

I am 100% confident in Davis being a very good FS, and could easily lead this team in INT's. That is my early prediction but I was a Davis fan during the draft but even I was surprised we got him in the 2nd. I like the fact that Haden is talking about a lot of the things many here are talking about.

 

This. Personally I didn't feel that Davis was regressing last season. I will agree he hasn't taken that next step yet, but with finally a real coach taking him under his wing I believe he will excel. I'm a lot more comfortable with the safety position now and should not be a high pick priority in the draft.

 

The problem to me is, what if Davis does excel at FS, then we draft another one like Bates high. Who plays and why pay one high pick to sit. Does the other take over SS? Then we have two FA picks sitting. I do see the three safety look being used a lot more. Harrison or Edmund's or Reid make sense. Harrison's speed is the worst of the 3. Flowers is another consideration. Reid is probably the one that can play both spots the best. Picking up another fast cover man corner isn't a bad way to go either.

I just don't like the Evans pick unless it's to replace Vince, but that's not really the spot we need replaced as bad as the move LB. In which case we may be able to replace with a 4 safety look if harrison or Edmund's or white would be one of the picks. We may be able to use this defense and not get caught subbing. It would also make sense in the picking of one of these later LBers that we are looking at like the kid from maryland.

 

Mac your words make me wonder if Troy would have been an even hotter commodity coming out of college with the way DBs and LBs are used in today's NFL? It is interesting to think about.

 

Sean Davis, has the size, speed to excel at free safety, just not sure he has the smarts to play the position. He hasn't shown so far that he has his head in the game. Especially in the communications part. Want to see him first a few games at that position before anointing him. Just got to see it first.

Agree that Tom Bradley should help him. Let's not forget how bad and stupid they all played back there. Missed tackles, communications, dropped interceptions, bad angles, late getting to the spots, etc.

 

You guys remember two years ago when they appropriated (stole) the Patriots mantra of do your job? That was what hurt the defense last season everyone doing everything but their job. Artiest Burns and Mike Mitchell looking into the backfield instead of covering their man.Dline getting suckered up field with visions of tackle for loss or QB sack instead of maintaining gap responsiblity. Davis not knowing who to cover and when. VW shooting up field in the first open gap and letting the rb get to the outside..

I truly believe that you will see less lab work and wrinkles and more traditional 3-4 play this year with a big focus on fundamentals aND doing your job. But then again what do I know.

 

I’ve said it before: I believe they were given license to trust their guts and jump plays as part of a more aggressive defensive philosophy.

When it went wrong, it went very very wrong.

 

I think the press conference says what I've been talking about so much. Sub packages as the new norm. I think safeties of different calibers are going to be on the increase and used more or fast LBers that are safety like. I don't think any position is out of the question at this point.

 

Sorry NY but obviously they aren't nearly as confident as you or else Davis would be getting first crack...he's younger ,faster,more athletic and has been in n the system longer....yet Burnett is getting first crack and Tomlin is paying lip service saying Davis will get a chance too. Burnett is a proven in the box safety with diminished speed to play FS ,to me that tells me they don't have faith in Davis's mental processing....we shall see.....

 

I agree they aren't as confident as I am but I also feel this could be a motivator as well. They did also say Davis would get his chance and then he will shine(I hope) but like you say time will tell. I have my fingers crossed

 

im excited to see a healthy haden