Steelers minicamp: Wait’s over for Shamarko
FEATURED
Posted by Dejan Kovacevic
BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC
“You know the one guy nobody’s talking about?” Vince Williams was asking Tuesday as the Steelers were about to take to the South Side fields for the opening of minicamp. “And I mean nobody. Not in here. Not anywhere.”
He silently motioned toward Shamarko Thomas.
“That guy, if you think about it, is taking the place of a living legend, he’s about to step right in, and you don’t read or hear a thing about it.”
Williams meant that in a good way.
“Oh, yeah, absolutely. It tells you the trust people have in him.”
You know, I hadn’t quite thought of it like that, but then, that’s why I go to one of the team’s broader thinkers for material sometimes. And Williams came through in the clutch.
It genuinely doesn’t feel like there is worry that Thomas suddenly will start alongside Mike Mitchell at safety, even though he’s only 24 at a position where the smarts of a 34-year-old can come in handy, even though he’s made only two starts in as many NFL seasons, even though his next career interception will be his first and, yeah, as Williams suggested, he’ll be asked in some ways to make folks forget Troy Polamalu.
Not that I’m taking issue with the sentiment. If anything, I’ve found the Steelers’ reluctance to use Thomas, injuries aside, to be perplexing. There have been times where it’s sounded like the only member of the coaching staff who believes in him is Carnell Lake.
So sure, he deserves the chance. The secondary has everything to gain from his young legs, his football instinct and, maybe above all, the added physical element he and Antwon Blake can bring.
But really, we aren’t worried.....
full story at www.dkonpittsburghsports.com
FEATURED
Posted by Dejan Kovacevic
BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC
“You know the one guy nobody’s talking about?” Vince Williams was asking Tuesday as the Steelers were about to take to the South Side fields for the opening of minicamp. “And I mean nobody. Not in here. Not anywhere.”
He silently motioned toward Shamarko Thomas.
“That guy, if you think about it, is taking the place of a living legend, he’s about to step right in, and you don’t read or hear a thing about it.”
Williams meant that in a good way.
“Oh, yeah, absolutely. It tells you the trust people have in him.”
You know, I hadn’t quite thought of it like that, but then, that’s why I go to one of the team’s broader thinkers for material sometimes. And Williams came through in the clutch.
It genuinely doesn’t feel like there is worry that Thomas suddenly will start alongside Mike Mitchell at safety, even though he’s only 24 at a position where the smarts of a 34-year-old can come in handy, even though he’s made only two starts in as many NFL seasons, even though his next career interception will be his first and, yeah, as Williams suggested, he’ll be asked in some ways to make folks forget Troy Polamalu.
Not that I’m taking issue with the sentiment. If anything, I’ve found the Steelers’ reluctance to use Thomas, injuries aside, to be perplexing. There have been times where it’s sounded like the only member of the coaching staff who believes in him is Carnell Lake.
So sure, he deserves the chance. The secondary has everything to gain from his young legs, his football instinct and, maybe above all, the added physical element he and Antwon Blake can bring.
But really, we aren’t worried.....
full story at www.dkonpittsburghsports.com
