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Tomlin to start Blake over Boykin against Ravens

Cope said:
#2 Lake has to be a factor here. It's his job to get the secondary ready. He played both S and CB in his career, so why is he failing so poorly at getting his players ready?
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Mike Mitchell is the only member of the secondary selected in the top three rounds. Keith Butler had three first-round picks and an overall underachieving group of linebackers and he got promoted to defensive coordinator. Would like to see what Lake could do with some better talent. It's not like these guys were a Munchak, who has done a great job with the top picks and undrafted guys.
 
mdk2 said:
I know everyone wants to hear Tomlin say Boykin is going to be starting/playing over Blake.. he's never going to say that.
But you watch and see who gets more snaps, my guess is Boykin does and that's all I care about.
That being said.. if Boykin hardly sees the field then I'll be questioning what the heck Tomlin is thinking but judging from the past 2 games, I say he sticks with Boykin the majority of snaps.
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I don't give a **** what he says. Why would Blake see the field at all. He got 3-5 snaps in the second half when the coverage was markedly better. He was at the heart of at least 3-4 obvious mistakes in the first half. You can give him a helmet but why would he play at all.
 
SteelerFan448 said:
The issue is Blake shouldn't be on the field with the defense at all.
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It all boils down to a lack of talent at the position at this point in the season they're not going to promote Grant and take that risk.

Tomlin can say all he likes about Blake starting but I think at this point in time he is essentially our 4th CB. We'll see come Sunday hopefully.

Ironically I remember a time when the most ridiculed player in the Steelers secondary was William Gay and everyone wanted him thrown out of town. Hopefully Blake can turn things around and contribute in the future too.
 
Yeah, it's great Boykin is getting more snaps than Blake, but that's not the point. Let's say Blake is in for 30 snaps, and gives up 5 HUGE plays in those snaps (which is not out of the question for him). That could EASILY lose the game. Let's think of it this way, those saying it's fine because Boykin has more snaps than Blake: Would it be okay if Scobee kicked 2 field goals, as long as Boswell kicks the other 3? Because honestly, that's just as stupid as saying it's okay Blake is playing, because Boykin's getting more snaps. And yes, Blake is hurting the team just as bad, if not more, than Scobee did.
 
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bmoritz said:
Yeah, it's great Boykin is getting more snaps than Blake, but that's not the point. Let's say Blake is in for 30 snaps, and gives up 5 HUGE plays in those snaps (which is not out of the question for him). That could EASILY lose the game. Let's think of it this way, those saying it's fine because Boykin has more snaps than Blake: Would it be okay if Scobee kicked 2 field goals, as long as Boswell kicks the other 3? Because honestly, that's just as stupid as saying it's okay Blake is playing, because Boykin's getting more snaps. And yes, Blake is hurting the team just as bad, if not more, than Scobee did.
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Well what would you rather have? Boykin named stater over Blake and playing less or the other way around?

People need to realize that in this point in the season Blake is going to be on the field because we don't have the personal to cover for it. I

I don't want the guy on the field either but lets at least be realistic about the situation.
 
If Tomlin has to use Blake at all I came up with a formula.

Do not use him once the opponent crosses their 40.

I would be ok as long as he is off the field past that.
 
Don't have the personnel? What are you talking about? As I said, barring injury, there is NO reason Blake should be on the field. Why do you have to take Boykin off if we need 3 CBs at all? It is extremely realistic - Gay and Cockrell outside, Boykin in the slot. Unless one of them gets injured, there is absolutely no reason to mess with that, even for a single play.
 
nooneuno said:
It all boils down to a lack of talent at the position at this point in the season they're not going to promote Grant and take that risk.

Tomlin can say all he likes about Blake starting but I think at this point in time he is essentially our 4th CB. We'll see come Sunday hopefully.

Ironically I remember a time when the most ridiculed player in the Steelers secondary was William Gay and everyone wanted him thrown out of town. Hopefully Blake can turn things around and contribute in the future too.
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No one said anything about Grant playing. We are talking about the eliminating the rotation and putting your best three cornerbacks on the field from the start. I also don't get the comparisons with Gay as I don't believe he was the starter when they were matching him up with Gronk. I think Blake is fine as a depth player, but he should have been in the Boykin role this year, not in the lineup as a starter.
 
thumbring said:
The problem is Blake starts and the gets burned and the team gives up points or gets in a hole because of it.
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It puts the opposition in a quandary. Do you throw the ball at Blake 10 straight times to start the game? Sure, you'll complete all 10 and get some points but then we take Blake off the field and it becomes much harder to pass against us. So is it better to only attack Blake a little bit to make sure you don't force him to the bench too early?

I don't know why you all can't see Tomlin is playing a masterful Jedi mind trick on opposing teams that would make Belicheat proud...
 
Tomlin will continue to trot Blake out there game after game after game. To think he would do anything different would be sane.

The whole Boykin thing is bazaar. He plays well in his limited game snaps, but doesn't get the nod. He must practice like ****. I had high hopes when we signed Boykin. Given his playing time, and his being a free agent, he is definitely gone - why would he stay here for another year?

I hope Senquez Golson has been in his playbook, watching & learning, ALOT this season because we NEED him AND a new CB or 2 in the draft next year.

That being said, hopefully Blake turns it up a notch for the remainder of the year.
 
bmoritz said:
Don't have the personnel? What are you talking about? As I said, barring injury, there is NO reason Blake should be on the field. Why do you have to take Boykin off if we need 3 CBs at all? It is extremely realistic - Gay and Cockrell outside, Boykin in the slot. Unless one of them gets injured, there is absolutely no reason to mess with that, even for a single play.
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What if one of the said players need a blow????? there is a rotation. as slight as it may be, to give a player a break. I hear what you are saying, but sooner or later one must rotate out.



Salute the nation
 
SteelerAl said:
It puts the opposition in a quandary. Do you throw the ball at Blake 10 straight times to start the game? Sure, you'll complete all 10 and get some points but then we take Blake off the field and it becomes much harder to pass against us. So is it better to only attack Blake a little bit to make sure you don't force him to the bench too early?

I don't know why you all can't see Tomlin is playing a masterful Jedi mind trick on opposing teams that would make Belicheat proud...
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Only problem is, young padawon, tomlin doesn't appear to be doing any cheating. So in order to get bilicheat full approval, cheat must occur.......




Salute the nation
 
Drink IRON City said:
What if one of the said players need a blow????? there is a rotation. as slight as it may be, to give a player a break. I hear what you are saying, but sooner or later one must rotate out.



Salute the nation
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I could be okay with that, if he's spelling for3-5 plays a game. But to play the majority of the first half doesn't make sense to me. I understand they may need a breather here and there, but that's a handful of plays. And obviously, if there's an injury, he gets substantial time. There's no way around that.
 
At this point in the season, I'm ok with the move, let Tomlin coach the team and select who he feels give us the best chance of winning......Go Steelers!!!!
 
Tomlin on Blake

We feel very good about 41, and have felt good to this juncture in our quest to build a World Championship team. It's not about one player, and we accept responsibility collectively as 53 men on 16 Sundays per year with what we do and how we perform in NFL stadiums from a product standpoint. I'm not looking for comfort with 41. His body of work is on tape, and we like where he is from a physical and mental standpoint and things of that magnitude. Much of the elevator music and comparisons to Einstein's definition is borne out of the well of people's frustrations and common sense outside this complex. We don't get into conjecture nor live in our fears. I don't apologize for it." - Mike Tomlin
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Okay, now we know why Blake is starting
 
I find it funny that Tomlin uses a number rather than a name. By the way, the
it's not about one player, and we accept responsibility collectively as 53 men on 16 Sundays per year
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is slightly misleading. On Sunday, only 46 men can dress.
 
Loosely translated: "I don't know what the FAK to do with this kid:!
 
I told you... its all about his hitting... yes his hitting and mitchells are going to cause some short arms, but is that worth guys cleanly running away from him on missed tackles, blown coverages, and when he is in position but just fails to make a play? Id rather have the better positional player in place. If he lays out a PAts WR with a big hit, all its going to get us is a 15 yard penalty every time, legal or not... and Brady will absolutely pick on him all day long
 
Well if you can read that ball of **** and believe this guy knows what he is talking about, hats off to you.
Watched almost every down of football this year. From a tackle technique and assignment completion standpoint Blake has been terrible. If you want to stand up and say we are in practice we know the players better than the fans fine. But to say he has played well. C'mon I might not be an NFL coach. But I have eyes.
 
I'm not a Tomlin hater - just don't think he is that good of a coach or teacher, last game being the exception rather than the rule. If Blake costs us a playoff berth or a game, are any of you Tomlin lovers willing to place the blame on Tomlin and not Blake for poor play? If a player stinks and the coach still plays him, it's on the coach, not the player.
 
SteelerSask said:
Well if you can read that ball of **** and believe this guy knows what he is talking about, hats off to you.
Watched almost every down of football this year. From a tackle technique and assignment completion standpoint Blake has been terrible. If you want to stand up and say we are in practice we know the players better than the fans fine. But to say he has played well. C'mon I might not be an NFL coach. But I have eyes.
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and if the Steelers head coach came out and said in a press conference "from a tackle technique and assignment completion standpoint, Blake has been terrible", that would be one of the shittiest things a COACH could ever do.
 
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