Carnell Lake comments

TarheelFlyer · Jul 11, 2013

Anyone able to summarize his steelcityinsider.com comments?

shaner82 · Jul 11, 2013

Why don't you post his comments here? That site doesn't work for me.

TerribleTowelFlying · Jul 11, 2013

TarheelFlyer said: ↑

Anyone able to summarize his steelcityinsider.com comments?
Click to expand...

Since it is an interview from mini-camp, one that was given to many reporters and already published (at least in part) on other news outlets, I'll go ahead and c/p it.

Q: What did your guys accomplish to this point this off-season?
A: A lot of the things we’re working on are really trying to get some of the older guys to hone their skills, technique-wise, concept-wise. Fortunately for me I’ve got a great group of veterans who are already experienced. But more importantly this off-season I’m trying to get the young guys caught up to speed on the playbook, how we like to handle our technique here, what we’re looking for at their various positions, and I think they’re coming along well. It’s a process. We know it’s a process. But I feel like we’ve come a lot further along this year than say we have the last two years.

Q: Do you put Cortez Allen in the young-guy category or the veteran category?
A: Cortez Allen is in that in-between category right now. The thing I like about Cortez is I can count on him. He’s a seasoned guy. He’s been in a lot of games already. He’s started games at corner. He’s started games inside at the nickel position. And he knows what he’s doing. He’s in self-correct mode, as I call it, where we look at it and he says ‘Yeah, I know coach. I know I need to be here; I need to be there.’ And that’s a good place to be.

Q: So is it an easy transition for him right into the starting lineup?
A: I think so. He’ll take his lumps because he hasn’t started at corner for 16 games, and he still has a lot of learning to do, but at this stage in the game, his third year in, I’m really excited about where he is.

Q: That flurry of turnovers at the end of last year, do you think that was a flurry or is he that kind of player?
A: I think he’s capable obviously of making good plays, making big plays. The fact the two games he started he had good games, that means a lot. It shows he knows what he’s doing, one, and he has the talent and ability to do it.

Q: What do you expect from Shamarko Thomas this camp?
A: Shamarko’s coming along. Right now we’re just trying to get him comfortable with the playbook so he can utilize the talents we saw on film when he was at Syracuse. Right now I’d say that Shamarko is at the point where he’s not thinking as much as he did when he first got here. Hopefully by the first preseason game I think you’ll see some flashes of his skill-sets.

Q: How good can your secondary be with three 10-year-plus guys? Ike Taylor said this could be the best he’s ever been with.
A: Yeah, I like the fact Ike sees it that way. I’m excited about where we are. I think with Cortez and Curtis (Brown) coming along, with Will Gay coming back, I can plug in just about anywhere back there with three very seasoned, good football players in Ryan (Clark), Ike and Troy Polamalu. If we can stay healthy, that’s the key. Last year we were able to play at a high level even though we had to bring in a lot of guys, even some guys off the street. I think that’s where we’ll be this year. If we can keep some of our veteran guys healthy, along with the more experienced guys right behind them, I think we’ll be great.

Q: What do you like about Cortez inside?
A: Cortez, for a tall defensive back, does a very good job in man-to-man, especially in bump-and-run. He’s got quick enough feet to handle the slot receivers. Some of the times we’re getting two tight end sets, where they’re using one of the more athletic tight ends as a receiver-type in the slot, and Cortez’s size matches up well with that. So he’s got a lot of versatility, a lot of range. He can play both outside, inside, press man, off-coverage, and he’s smart enough to handle them all, and that’s why I like him.

Q: What kept Cortez from starting last year?
A: I think the big thing, really, I thought he could’ve started. I thought that Ike and Keenan (Lewis) were playing very well. That’s really what kept him from starting.

Q: Was Mike Tomlin waiting for Keenan to sit with that camp injury to start Cortez? Was that how it went?
A: (Chuckles) I’m not going to comment on that. He’s the man. Coach Mike T can do whatever he wants.

Q: Does depth at safety concern you?
A: Well I felt definitely a lot more comfortable last year because I knew the guys knew what they were doing. It’s just a matter of me getting these younger guys caught up. That’ll be the excitement for me, kind of keeping me on my toes at training camp, but also seeing who’s going to come out of this young group of safeties to shine going into the season.

Q: Will Gay help you out at safety if you need him?
A: I think so. I think William’s done it before. He’s played safety a little bit; he’s played nickel; he’s played dime; he’s played corner. So, in a pinch, if all else fails, I can rely on him.
Click to expand...

Source: http://pit.scout.com/2/1306320.html

TarheelFlyer · Jul 11, 2013

Well, that isn't the way they "sold" it on the twitter feed.

HugeSnack · Jul 11, 2013

Lot of good stuff about Cortez. I like that he mentioned Brown when he didn't have to:

"I’m excited about where we are. I think with Cortez and Curtis (Brown) coming along, with Will Gay coming back..."

We need that guy to come along already. Hope this is the year, like Lewis' third year.

Lizard72 · Jul 11, 2013

Lake tells some pretty good things in there, by how he says it. He's not concerned and he thinks the turn-overs will be there this year. "Self-correct mode, refining techniques even with the older guys" I really liked what he did with Gay the year he had him and think he'll enable them to try some different looks this year.

Bleedsteel · Jul 11, 2013

Lake seems to be one of those rare former players, who really does become a good coach after their playing career is over.
Very glad we have him.
And thanks for the re-cap, Towel.
Good read!
And I`m glad that he feels "comfortable" with who we have...
I don`t think he`d say it, if he didn`t feel it...
He would find another way to "coach-speak" his way outta some of those questions.
He sounds genuinely confident, overall, but, understandably, leery of annointing Shemarko, as the next Troy...
Sounds like about as honest an appraisal as you will get from any coach in the league. Assistant, or otherwise...

Here we go STEELERS... Here we go!

JackAttack 5958 · Jul 12, 2013

I'm really excited to see what Cortez can do this year. I think he created more turnovers in his two starts than the rest of the DBs did all season. It's good to have a defensive back besides Troy that knows that when the ball is in the air he has as much of a right to it as the receiver. Oh, and that can actually CATCH THE FOOTBALL!

I'm loving Carnell more and more. I hust hope Aaron Smith and Chris Hoke can have the same kind of impact on the young and underperforming defensive line (looking at you Ziggy and Cam ) that Carnell has had on the defensive backs!

Bleedsteel · Jul 15, 2013

JackAttack 5958 said: ↑

I'm really excited to see what Cortez can do this year. I think he created more turnovers in his two starts than the rest of the DBs did all season. It's good to have a defensive back besides Troy that knows that when the ball is in the air he has as much of a right to it as the receiver. Oh, and that can actually CATCH THE FOOTBALL!

I'm loving Carnell more and more. I hust hope Aaron Smith and Chris Hoke can have the same kind of impact on the young and underperforming defensive line (looking at you Ziggy and Cam ) that Carnell has had on the defensive backs!
Click to expand...

You`re asking for a lot there...
But if anyone can do it, they can...
And it`s not exactly like they are working with garbage, to start with...
I have been amazed at what Carnell did with our D-backs, and it only stands to reason, that two of our best D-linemen in recent history,(o.k., I might be exaggerating a bit, on Hoke, but, I still think he was more than just a serviceable backup...)can bring out the best in our newest D-linemen.
Assuming, they listen to the vets... and by all accounts, they sound like they should..
This should be a VERY good thing for our Defensive front...
Time will tell, but this sure sounds like a good thing from my P.O.V....
Keep the tradition going strong, and let these kids learn from some of the best we have had!!
GO STEELERS!!!

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Carnell Lake comments

TarheelFlyer Well-Known Member

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