Post
by Scunge » Sat May 02, 2015 3:14 am
This was from a post I made on March 29th:
I think this year we may finally break with tradition and finally draft CBs that we have been averse to under LeBeau. I don't want bigger CBs that can play the run well and tackle the catch. What I want are CBs that have instincts and are ballhawks, that can make interceptions. We have become so enamored with this one type of CB that checks all of these meaningless boxes but can't play the ball, can't make interceptions, and has no instincts. I believe that you can't coach any of that. You either have those ball hawking instincts or you don't.
My two favorite CBs in this draft are Kevin Johnson and Senquez Golson because they have those instincts to make INTs and break on the ball, and force contested catches as they play the pocket of the WR when he makes a catch.
Some of my favorite Steeler CBs over the years have been Willie Williams, Deshea Townsend and Willie Gay. They were all smaller CBs but had instincts and playmaking ability. They were all drafted in the 4th, 5th and 6th rounds. They all had issues that prevented them from being drafted higher. I have no problem drafting a Johnson or Golson much higher because they have much more speed and athleticism.
Over the years I have watched other teams take CBs high that we just would never consider. Miami had Sam Madison taken in the 2nd round and he was lucky to be 5'10" 185, he played in 4 Pro Bowls. They also spent a 2nd on Patrick Surtain who was 5"11" 190 and played in 3 Pro Bowls. Ray Buchannon was a 3rd rounder for Indy originally and then went on to Atlanta but he was never deemed just a "nickel back", he was a starter at 5'9" 185 and made the Pro Bowl. Minnesota spent a 1st on Antoine Winfield who was 5"9" and 190 and he made 3 Pro Bowls. Oh, how I hate the Titans and over the years they always had these non-Steeler type CBs that would kick our ass. Remember Samari Rolle? He was 2nd rounder and a 6 footer but weighed about 175 lbs but man could he cover like a blanket, he made the Pro Bowl. At that weight he would never had passed the eye test to become a Steeler CB. Cortland Finnegan was 5"9" and made the Pro Bowl for Tennessee.
I just see these teams that routinely find ballhawking, starting CBs in rounds 2 and 3 and manage to do so because they don't care that a player is 5"9 or weighs 185 lbs. The Steelers on the other hand are obsessed with this holy grail of drafting larger CBs that can play the run and tackle the catch and then delude themselves into thinking that they will learn to become ballhawks. How has that been working out for us?
This is why I think Butler and Tomlin are ready to draft different CBs as they get out from under the morass of Dick LeBeau these past three years.
I also had made a post where I thought Golson would be taken in the late 2nd early 3rd round range. This is just some of the first proof, for me, that the defense IS changing. What we knew about LeBeau's defense and what we think we know, what we assume to know about Butler could be drastically different from the reality. Like I have said all offseason, I am anxious to see the season start because I can't wait to see what Butler/Tomlin have in store for the defense. Exciting times ahead.
