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Who should start at cornerback opposite William Gay?

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I've just about had it with Blake. He gives up too many easy completions and sometimes has tackling issues.

Cockrell is playing well. It's mystifying to me what Boykin can't get on the field. And then there is the often injured Cortez Allen.

Which of the four do you think should start?

I go with Cockrell and move Blake or Boykin to the slot.
 
Isn't this like the one millionth time we have seen this exact same thread? Hell. I think you started 999,999 of them. What the Hell. Do another one I guess.
 
Gay has actually been playing in the slot, where he's best suited, while Cockrell and Blake have been playing outside. The term "starting CB" isn't what it was 10 years ago, as terms deploy 3 CBs about 70% of the time now it seems.


Blake has definitely been the weak link of the three.

I tend to think that once Allen is healthy enough to play, they give him one more chance to earn his contract.
 
Punxsutawney said:
Gay has actually been playing in the slot, where he's best suited, while Cockrell and Blake have been playing outside. The term "starting CB" isn't what it was 10 years ago, as terms deploy 3 CBs about 70% of the time now it seems.


Blake has definitely been the weak link of the three.

I tend to think that once Allen is healthy enough to play, they give him one more chance to earn his contract.
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I'd rather give Boykin a try over Cortez Allen.
 
Coach said:
I'd rather give Boykin a try over Cortez Allen.
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I would keep things as they are and give players playing time and let them earn there respective rolls.
 
jeez. i believe this was already discussed.

Gay is starting because he's essentially our best cover guy.
Allen and Cockrell are our bigger CBs.
the Steelers are loyal to their vets, and that is why Blake has gotten the nod over Boykin.
we typically play any combination of Gay - Blake - Allen - Cockrell.

it wont change unless one of those gets injured. Boykin's nice insurance, and right now that's all he is.
 
I believe the Steelers prefer to have at least one of the outside corners being a little taller/lengthier.. So Cockrell and/or Allen will always be outside. Probably should be Cockrell with Allen providing depth.

That leaves the other outside spot and the slot with Gay, Boykin, and Blake to fill them. Gay has been lights out on the outside or the slot so I say stick him outside, although I acknowledge he does well in the slot too. I don't hate Blake but I feel like we just hear his name too often, whether it's giving up a big play or missing a tackle. I don't think it's a major issue or anything but it just really bothers me that I still have no idea why Boykin can't get on the field. He was a good playmaker in the slot in Philly, he had a great pass breakup in the end zone against SF. What gives?

So purely from a fan's perspective, fully acknowledging that I don't have all the information that the coaching staff has, I'd love to see Cockrell and Gay on the outside and Boykin in the slot with Blake and Allen providing the depth. But maybe Boykin isn't playing because he has an awful attitude or makes tons of mental errors in practice or something, who knows..
 
Blake stinks. The guy can tackle well, be he is awful I coverage. No idea what the coaches see in him. If Cortez can get healthy soon I would love to see what he's got. Would like to see boykin too.
 
Blake has made some plays but he seems to be the guy that is getting beat most often. He is out of position or can't adjust properly to the ball when it is in the air. I'd try Boykin or Allen, if Allen is healthy. Not sure if Allen has truly been injured or is just in the dog house.
 
Gay is much better as an inside defender where he can cover short areas and his instincts are amplified. The more field he's asked to cover, the more his physical and athletic limitations are exposed. He's still the same player he's always been in that regard.

Play him on the outside too much, and he's going to get burned pretty frequently.
 
Cortez Allen will eventually return.....
 
Hines57 said:
Cortez Allen will eventually return.....
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And do what, exactly? Cockrell seems to have played his way into that spot, and I doubt we're gonna put two big corners on the field at the same time. I imagine Boykin will get snaps before Cortez
 
Has Tomlin commented on why Boykin isn't on the field? Obviously Tomlin and Colbert saw enough in Boykin to trade a 4th or 5th round pick.
 
He's getting paid too much to sit on the bench. They will give him PT.
 
AggieSteel said:
And do what, exactly? Cockrell seems to have played his way into that spot, and I doubt we're gonna put two big corners on the field at the same time. I imagine Boykin will get snaps before Cortez
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yeap, tomlin likes his smurfs on the field
 
Coach said:
I've just about had it with Blake. He gives up too many easy completions and sometimes has tackling issues.

Cockrell is playing well. It's mystifying to me what Boykin can't get on the field. And then there is the often injured Cortez Allen.

Which of the four do you think should start?

I go with Cockrell and move Blake or Boykin to the slot.
Click to expand...

I go with whoever the real coaches pick.
 
Coach said:
Has Tomlin commented on why Boykin isn't on the field? Obviously Tomlin and Colbert saw enough in Boykin to trade a 4th or 5th round pick.
Click to expand...
I believe this has been explained.
 
Coach said:
Has Tomlin commented on why Boykin isn't on the field? Obviously Tomlin and Colbert saw enough in Boykin to trade a 4th or 5th round pick.
Click to expand...

Yes. He said the guys ahead of Boykin are playing better than him. Boykin is great in the slot but the team likes how Gay is playing there.
 
Blake is still a young guy no? I mean he never will learn how to be tall, but I think they like the attitude he brings.

Which I think is needed too. He does cut chewed up a lot, but that's what normally gets a player experienced.

He doesn't get gun shy or rattled, and compared to Cortez Allen who seems to have mental weakness?

I think his overall attitude & fight is what they see in him. Hopefully he will get better in coverage.

If not they do have options.
 
Someone please revoke this guys thread starting privileges lol
 
Superman said:
jeez. i believe this was already discussed.

Gay is starting because he's essentially our best cover guy.
Allen and Cockrell are our bigger CBs.
the Steelers are loyal to their vets, and that is why Blake has gotten the nod over Boykin.
we typically play any combination of Gay - Blake - Allen - Cockrell.

it wont change unless one of those gets injured. Boykin's nice insurance, and right now that's all he is.
Click to expand...

I have heard all this, too, but I just have trouble accepting that the Steelers will just keep on stubbornly banging their heads into a wall because "they are loyal to their vets". That's just stupid. Blake is not very good and I'd love to see Boykin get a shot, but it appears it's just not to be.
 
Play one that doesn't suck. It would be cool if we could find a shut down guy whose last name is Lorde or Bashe.
 
thumbring said:
I have heard all this, too, but I just have trouble accepting that the Steelers will just keep on stubbornly banging their heads into a wall because "they are loyal to their vets". That's just stupid. Blake is not very good and I'd love to see Boykin get a shot, but it appears it's just not to be.
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Should he not have to earn that shot?
 
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