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Plan for Doran Grant

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jra166

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With the talk of switching Grant to Safety, and Golden and rookie Davis pushing him, where will Grant's role, or time spent be?

Gay and Cockrell will most likely penciled in to start. I expect Burns to push Cockrell and possibly take over at some point.

Senquez will cover slot recievers... Does Grant backup Gay and get groomed to replace Gay? Or does he make the move to Safety as discussed at the end of the year?
 
I don't get why people insist that Senquez is relegated to the slot.

Dude may not be super tall, but he can flat out play and has sticky hands. With him playing off on one side and Burns pressing on the other side, you've got a pretty dynamic duo.
 
I don't disagree, but slot is where he will get most of his reps his "rookie" year. Any thoughts on Grant?
 
Steel Vanguard said:
I don't get why people insist that Senquez is relegated to the slot.

Dude may not be super tall, but he can flat out play and has sticky hands. With him playing off on one side and Burns pressing on the other side, you've got a pretty dynamic duo.
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I agree with this... small doesn't instantly throw you to the slot these days. Remember when Townsend moved from slot to outside and people lamented how he was too small... he wasnt... and back then the small speedy wrs were far fewer than now
 
Typically that is exactly the move like Townsend. start and prove yourself in the slot and then maybe end up on the outside. I agree that Senquez has this potential.
 
can grant start right away at FS or will he be inserted at at SS if they plan on davis as a CB I see davis day 1 SS, I think Grant is back up plan.
 
refresh my memory...what was it someone asked Lake if Grant was S capable and every since then it must be the plan for him to switch?

I think grant makes it as a CB

or doesn't make it
 
CBs: Gay, Cockrell, Golson, Burns .... Grant
Safeties: Mitchell, Davis ... Grant/Golden

I think Grant better prove that he can be really good on STs and very versatile in the defensive backfield.
 
Grant is a S in the NFL. He was a corner in college. He's smart, a good athlete, and strong for his size (top performer on the bench with 21 reps).

If you pair him with Davis, that's a LOT of speed and athleticism at safety. Being the smaller, coverage oriented former corner, I put Grant at FS. Davis is a hammer, so let him chase nails.

The secondary has 4 pretty talented guys if we can get Senquez and Artie on the field. Not a world beating defensive backfield, but not the sieve we had the last 2 seasons.

I think we are a pass rusher away from being really young, fast and dynamic on that side of the ball.
 
Grant is the 5th CB and will also fight to be the 4th Safety, that last spot will be fought with shamarko but both could make it if we go with 9 DBs, which in today's nfl makes total sense
 
Steel Vanguard said:
Grant is a S in the NFL. He was a corner in college. He's smart, a good athlete, and strong for his size (top performer on the bench with 21 reps).

If you pair him with Davis, that's a LOT of speed and athleticism at safety. Being the smaller, coverage oriented former corner, I put Grant at FS. Davis is a hammer, so let him chase nails.

The secondary has 4 pretty talented guys if we can get Senquez and Artie on the field. Not a world beating defensive backfield, but not the sieve we had the last 2 seasons.

I think we are a pass rusher away from being really young, fast and dynamic on that side of the ball.
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then tell the Steelers they play him at corner


per the official site

24 Grant, Doran CB 5-10 200 23 2 Ohio State
 
I still think we may pursue one more free agent DB before camp who we actually expect to play.. And if that happens, whether he's a CB or a S will tell us where the staff envisions Grant
 
AggieSteel said:
I still think we may pursue one more free agent DB before camp who we actually expect to play.. And if that happens, whether he's a CB or a S will tell us where the staff envisions Grant
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I can see a CB before a S as we have two experienced corners when they play three
 
I thought the big poo-poo on Grant was that he couldn't tackle running backs. Doesn't sound like he would be a very good safety.
 
slashsteel said:
then tell the Steelers they play him at corner


per the official site

24 Grant, Doran CB 5-10 200 23 2 Ohio State
Click to expand...


You are absolutely correct, I was giving my analysis of his proper position, not the Steelers. Should have clarified that.

He's got talent. But with our secondary a mess last year he never got a look. That tells me he's out of position. No one with his ability should be sitting behind Blake.

The Steelers have botched the DB situation pretty badly of late. And they clearly know that. My hope is that they work out the best slots for these guys so they can gel into a solid unit by mid-season. Perhaps that is overly optimistic.
 
Seems like there's a big cloud over Doran Grant and what his skills are, what his ideal position is.

Time to go back to the tape, so to speak.

He's 5-10, 200 pounds, ran a 4.44 40. Vertical jump: 35 inch, broad jump: 10 feet, 5 inches, three-cone drill: 4.18 seconds, 20-yard short shuttle: 7.04 seconds. Plenty athletic enough to play corner.

2014: First-team All-Big Ten. Started all 15 games (at cornerback). 2013: Started all 14 games (at cornerback).

NFL.com pre-draft analysis
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/doran-grant?id=2552440

Boundary corner with press responsibilities in college but might lack the necessary size to play outside and athleticism to star in a primarily man-based scheme in the pros. Grant plays the ball well and is smart, with a willingness to tackle. Could be headed to the slot with a more zone-based defense.
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Doran Grant - CBSsports.com
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1871314/doran-grant

He is patient and trusts what he sees with ball-skills for the position, but scouts want to see improved discipline and sustained confidence from play to play. Although he gets physical in press and can lock down targets when he keeps them in front of him, Grant might lack the speed and fluidity to hold up on the outside, projecting him as a No. 3 or 4 cornerback at the next level.

Grant improved his production even more as a senior in 2014, leading the National Championship Buckeyes in passes defended (14), adding 63 tackles and five interceptions to receive First Team All-Big Ten honors.
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The biggest knock on Grant, from what I can tell, are his short arms (30 inches) and small hands (9 inches).

At this stage, it's safe to say we overdrafted - gasp - reached for Grant when we picked him. The fact the Steelers cut him, then he made it through waivers - with 31 other teams completely disinterested - should tell you everything you need to know.

The speculation - hope - that the Steelers may move him to safety sounds like planning to buy your ugly girlfriend a new pair of glasses to make her attractive.

At the end of the day, with all the troubles we've had in the secondary, the fact this kid was point blank cut from the team should speak volumes. I think Grant is at best another undersized slot corner, with possibilities to play back-up to the back-up safety. He seems to have enough speed, ie his 4.4 40, but something seems to be a bit out of wack.

Hence all the more reason to applaud our first and second round picks this year. It was high time we brought onboard some legitimate talent to add to the secondary.

I hope I'm wrong on Grant, and that he shows significant improvement, but at this stage, he's in Shamarko Thomas-type purgatory for me.
 
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There is a difference between being cut and clearing waivers with the intent to place on the practice squad.
 
Tibs said:
I hope I'm wrong on Grant, and that he shows significant improvement, but at this stage, he's in Shamarko Thomas-type purgatory for me.
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Usually Tibs, at least recently, I've been in agreement with you. I cannot agree with this, because Grant has only been on the team for one season. There is no way to know just yet what kind of player he could be after his rookie season only, and shouldn't yet find his lot with Shamarko just yet as Shark has had a few years to prove his abilities and hasn't.
 
Let's not forget that initially he was on the final 53 last year. Yes, only for a day, until they signed Cockrell. But he did make that final 53. Also, the Steelers thought enough of him that when other teams came sniffing to sign him off the practice squad, they brought him up to the active roster.

Grant, like all of our young DBs is at a "we'll see" level with me.
 
Cope said:
There is a difference between being cut and clearing waivers with the intent to place on the practice squad.
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ianv2012 said:
Usually Tibs, at least recently, I've been in agreement with you. I cannot agree with this, because Grant has only been on the team for one season. There is no way to know just yet what kind of player he could be after his rookie season only, and shouldn't yet find his lot with Shamarko just yet as Shark has had a few years to prove his abilities and hasn't.
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I purposefully came down hard on Grant, just to prove to myself I can do it, after spending the past four days being - probably unrealistically - optimistic about our new draftees. ;)

Believe me, I want Grant to break through and show what he can do. And I agree, he - like Golson - is basically a rookie heading into his first full season.

It just really bothers me, in my gut, that they put him on the practice squad after drafting him in the fourth round, knowing full well they could lose him. With as many holes & warts as we had in the secondary.

That hit a chord with me, that's all. I would be estatic if he turns out to be a keeper and makes a mark these next few months. I'll be rooting for him, you can sure of that.
 
I hear you there Tibs. I put that exact same scenario in perspective in an earlier thread about Grant:

No team is looking to pilfer cut DB talent from our bottom 5 pass defense squad. We're the team that stocks our backfield with third tier FAs every year. Trust me, if Jacksonville and the Texans cut a CB, and he gets quality playing time on our team, or secondary is not talented. So when McCain and Blake can't make NFL teams, but get a lot of quality play here, we need more talent. Teams are not looking at anyone we cut from this talent free position. Grant was a ZERO risk of getting picked up by anyone.
 
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