Steelers rookie CB Burns gets trial by fire versus All-Pro Brown in OTAs
Mark Kaboly BY MARK KABOLY
Thursday, June 9, 2016, 6:15 p.m.
Updated 14 hours ago
First-round pick Artie Burns has matched up with All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown for much of organized team activities. “I get frustrated at times, but again, he is the best in the league,” Burns said. “That just pushes me to come back and make the next play against him. Day by day, I am getting better.'
First-round pick Artie Burns has matched up with All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown for much of organized team activities. “I get frustrated at times, but again, he is the best in the league,” Burns said. “That just pushes me to come back and make the next play against him. Day by day, I am getting better.'
PHOTO BY CHAZ PALLA | TRIBUNE-REVIEW
It could have been just a coincidence that Artie Burns was matched up against Antonio Brown on the first play of organized team activities a few weeks ago.
Even the second play could have been by happenstance.
Three weeks later, it still is occurring on a regular basis. There's no denying that it's all by design.
Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler isn't hiding the fact that anytime their All-Pro receiver is on the field, their rookie first-rounder from Miami (Fla.) is lined up across from him.
“I want him to learn as much as he can,” Butler said Thursday as the Steelers wrapped up three weeks of OTAs at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “As much as we can, we have to single up with him. Ross (Cockrell) did that last year and that helped him, I think.”
So whether it is during seven-on-seven or full 11-on-11 team drills over the past three weeks, it has been Brown versus Burns.
Burns was told almost immediately after he was drafted 25th overall in April's draft that he was going to be pitted against Brown as much as possible.
“They told me, and I said I am ready to work,” Burns said.
Burns said around “75-80” percent of the time he has been matched up against Brown during OTAs. He has won some but lost a lot more.
“I get frustrated at times, but again, he is the best in the league,” Burns said. “That just pushes me to come back and make the next play against him. Day by day, I am getting better,” Burns said.
To Butler, getting frustrated is perfect. Butler enjoys seeing Burns fail against Brown and have his confidence waver, just to see how the rookie reacts.
“(Confidence) is going to be shattered in the game, too, so you better have a short memory,” Butler said. “They are going to sometimes get beat. How they come back from that is what matters. If they go into the tank, then they don't belong in the NFL. Guys who can perform under pressure usually can last in this league.”
Putting Burns against Brown is part of a master plan of trying to fast-track the rookie into the lineup.
The Steelers used a first-round pick on a cornerback for the first time in nearly 20 years to help a secondary that has talent but is unproven. Beyond William Gay, the most experienced corner is Cockrell — and he has played just a little more than 700 snaps, of which 90 percent came last year.
The Steelers figure the combination of Gay, Cockrell and 2015 second-round pick Senquez Golson will hold down the position until Burns is ready.
Golson missed all of last year with a shoulder injury, and he has missed the majority of OTAs this year with a lower-body injury that isn't expected to be serious.
Still, the Steelers know that Burns will be called upon to help this season. Whether it's as a Week 1 starter or as a role player is yet to be determined.
“I don't want to make any predictions right now on him,” Butler said. “I like what I have seen so far. He is really battling receivers that we got and is learning a lot. The good thing about him that I do like is his work ethic. He is always wanting to learn, he is always asking questions and he is always in meetings after.”
Brown, who has 375 catches over the past three years, is impressed with what he's seen from Burns.
“Artie has potential to be special,” Brown said. “He is a corner who has a lot of detail. He just needs to work on some little things. I have been in his head as far as what he can do to get better.”