Watch my SEC tape: 5-foot-9 Senquez Golson plans to play big for Steelers

[antdrewjosh]

Watch my SEC tape: 5-foot-9 Senquez Golson plans to play big for Steelers
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Jul 19, 2016
Jeremy Fowler
ESPN Staff Writer
The Pittsburgh Steelers' defensive reconstruction has been underway for four years now, with seven of the team's eight top-two-round draft picks since 2013 coming on the defensive side. One of those picks, cornerback Senquez Golson -- a mystery after being drafted in the second round of the 2015 draft -- would assuage a lot of concerns for the secondary if he carves out a versatile role.

At 5-foot-9 with quickness and zone-defense experience, Golson seems a natural fit in the slot. But Golson, who missed all of 2015 with a torn labrum, said the Steelers are working him on the inside and outside.

And Golson loves the outside. He's taking to the inside spot as well, but he thrives off the one-on-one matchups with bigger receivers by the sideline.


Senquez Golson has plenty of experience facing big receivers from his days in the SEC. Charles LeClaire/USA Today Sports
He feels size isn't an issue for him there. Just check his experience at Ole Miss, where he recorded 10 interceptions in his senior season. In his collegiate career, Golson matched up against the likes of Texas A&M's Mike Evans and Mizzou's Dorial Green-Beckham, both high draft picks in the NFL. First-round pick Laquon Treadwell, a former Ole Miss Rebel, was his biggest challenger at practice every day.

"Being 5-9, people think you really can’t play outside," Golson said. "I’ve played outside my whole career. All the guys that went in the first round, top 15-20 picks, wide receivers [from the SEC], I’ve got two, three years of film against them. It doesn’t matter to me. Different league, different stepping stone."

Despite the labrum and a minor injury in the spring, Golson said he'll be "ready to go" for training camp. He plans to bring versatility to the lineup. The Steelers hope he's a catalyst in the defensive backfield alongside rookies Artie Burns and Sean Davis.

"Inside, it's more of knowing where your help is at," Golson said. "Obviously it’s a little different because you have someone on the inside and outside of you. Other than that, it's just more responsible for playing on the outside, which I'm used to. But I love both -- I just love being in there. I'm here to do whatever I've gotta do."

Golson prefers to guard bigger receivers because he can use his physicality.

"Most of the time they aren’t as quick as the quicker guys and it comes down to the jump ball in the end zone," Golson said. "As far as a fade ball down the field, I don’t worry about that. Just the whole 5-9 thing, I’ve got to find a way to get over while in coverage."

 

[slashsteel]

He talks like he is more comfy on the outside, but not sure that is where the Steelers will play him. At least out of the gates..........

 

[bermudasteel]

Can't wait to see him disproved his haters...

 

[Drink IRON City]

I'm all for giving the "new" 2yr guy some playing time. TC will be a strong tell tail of his abilities......... GREAT I'm a hoping



Salute the nation

 

[SteelerFan448]

He talks like he is more comfy on the outside, but not sure that is where the Steelers will play him. At least out of the gates..........

I just want to see him on the field and helping the team out. If he can play the outside, great, because we need impact players everywhere in that defensive backfield.

 

[ianv2012]

He talks like he is more comfy on the outside, but not sure that is where the Steelers will play him. At least out of the gates..........

If we let Antwon Blake play on the outside, I don't see why we wouldn't let Golson who should be more talented than Blake, which isn't saying much.

 

[Coach]

Golson is short ( Under 5'9" tall ) with short arms ( 29.5" arms ). His vertical leap of 33.5" was below average as well. When you're that short, light and can't jump well, you'd better be very fast. The problem is Golson speed in the 40 was average at 4.46 He has had injury issues already and had an arrest in college. I felt this was a bad 2nd round pick. I would have taken Q. Rollins, who has the look of a star player!

I saw Golson's vs. Sammie Coates, and Coates ate him up. It was no-contest. Coates can look really good at times on film.

Golson is too small and not fast enough to play on the outside or press-man. Three of his four TD's given up senior year were vs taller WR's.

He's better off in the zone, where his good instincts and hands come into play. We'll see if he can play the slot.

If he can't start, this was a bad second round pick.

 

[Coach]

If we let Antwon Blake play on the outside, I don't see why we wouldn't let Golson who should be more talented than Blake, which isn't saying much.

That was Tomlin's call and he was wrong. Blake was beaten like a red-headed Cincinnati step child.

Blake was short, light, and could not tackle well. We'll see how Golson tackles in the NFL. I have some doubts. But what can not be questioned is Blake's speed. He's much faster than Golson.

 

[Hines57]

Senquez has a....wait what does Senquez have?

 

[skialta]

Well. We all know that looking at the SEC tape ALWAYS translates into success at this level

 

[bermudasteel]

Golson is short ( Under 5'9" tall ) with short arms ( 29.5" arms ). His vertical leap of 33.5" was below average as well. When you're that short, light and can't jump well, you'd better be very fast. The problem is Golson speed in the 40 was average at 4.46 He has had injury issues already and had an arrest in college. I felt this was a bad 2nd round pick. I would have taken Q. Rollins, who has the look of a star player!

I saw Golson's vs. Sammie Coates, and Coates ate him up. It was no-contest. Coates can look really good at times on film.

Golson is too small and not fast enough to play on the outside or press-man. Three of his four TD's given up senior year were vs taller WR's.

He's better off in the zone, where his good instincts and hands come into play. We'll see if he can play the slot.

If he can't start, this was a bad second round pick.

Suggestion - go look at the Bama vs. Ole Miss game (3 years ago) - Senquez won the game against us that day and made a FANTASTIC jumping catch over a 6'6" TE in the back of the end zone.

My point - he's fast enough and smart enough to play both positions (in or out) - let's get to camp first before the asinine analysis determines the kids future, m'kay???

That was Tomlin's call and he was wrong. Blake was beaten like a red-headed Cincinnati step child.

Blake was short, light, and could not tackle well. We'll see how Golson tackles in the NFL. I have some doubts. But what can not be questioned is Blake's speed. He's much faster than Golson.

Now, while Blake had his bad moments - the kid is and was a serviceable DB. But, that is it - he had some very bad moments, but, he did have multiple interceptions in his 3 seasons with the team. He's gone now so no need to chastise he further...

Well. We all know that looking at the SEC tape ALWAYS translates into success at this level

Quoted for scholarly truth...

























I know it was sarcasm.

 

[Coach]

bermudastee ]Suggestion - go look at the Bama vs. Ole Miss game (3 years ago) - Senquez won the game against us that day and made a FANTASTIC jumping catch over a 6'6" TE in the back of the end zone.

My point - he's fast enough and smart enough to play both positions (in or out) - let's get to camp first before the asinine analysis determines the kids future, m'kay???

A video link would help. As I said Coates badly beat him more than once, and those plays were fluid, not a dead end stop at the back of the end zoze. College is college.

The NFL QB's and WR's are much better and there seem to be certain minimums needed to play cornerback on the outside in terms of height, weight, jumping ability, and speed.

Senquez Golson is borderline in many areas. There is always one exception to the rule. I can't seem to find one NFL starting CB under 5'9" tall as Golson is. In the past they were and the good ones often had world class speed.

I think the coaches will try him out in the slot. To line him up on the outside just scream mismatch. Teams will line up a burner or much taller player on him. He's not equipped to deal with either. Slot Wr's are often shorter.