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Who should start at Strong Safety?

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Coach

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After seeing Thomas looking like a rookie and making no plays vs the Jaguars 2nd string crew, I am beginning to think Thomas isn't the short or long term answer for the starting strong safety.

Perhaps a more experienced and more reliable veteran in Will Allen should start?

Thoughts?
 
Once Troy's retirement was announced, I pretty much assumed it would be Allen. Nothing has changed that opinion.
 
The issue here is gonna be patience. When was the last year Trot was responsible for 'coverage' in the deep zones...maybe his first few years? Maybe Thomas was kept out of the secondary last year because they already knew we would be changing philosophies once Troy was gone.

Thomas was adequate in coverage when he played in the dime and slot early in his career. He just doesn't know where to be right now. IMO, it's going to come down to who can learn the coverage responsibilities the fastest. Those w experience in the 'Tampa 2' style will show promise early.

This defense is going to go through some painfully bad gaffs before getting better. Typically, we have been good or better at one of the disciplines (run or pass) in the past. With this year's change in philosophy, it's going to be awful with a sprinkle of splash plays until everyone finally gets it. May the best man win.
 
don't forget Golden, he might earn a starting spot during preseason games now that he is back from injury
 
Litos said:
don't forget Golden, he might earn a starting spot during preseason games now that he is back from injury
Click to expand...

Golden made some plays on the ball in past pre-season games.
 
Interesting thought...after this year move Mike Mitchell to SS and if Hollman can blossom, we start Hollman at FS...or even move William Gay to FS.
 
How about we wait a few more games before we jump to any conclusions. Maybe even a real game
 
keslerclan said:
The issue here is gonna be patience. When was the last year Trot was responsible for 'coverage' in the deep zones...maybe his first few years? Maybe Thomas was kept out of the secondary last year because they already knew we would be changing philosophies once Troy was gone.

Thomas was adequate in coverage when he played in the dime and slot early in his career. He just doesn't know where to be right now. IMO, it's going to come down to who can learn the coverage responsibilities the fastest. Those w experience in the 'Tampa 2' style will show promise early.

This defense is going to go through some painfully bad gaffs before getting better. Typically, we have been good or better at one of the disciplines (run or pass) in the past. With this year's change in philosophy, it's going to be awful with a sprinkle of splash plays until everyone finally gets it. May the best man win.
Click to expand...

I hope they aren't this stupid. They knew they were changing so they didn't teach Thomas anything?
 
ZACKB said:
Interesting thought...after this year move Mike Mitchell to SS and if Hollman can blossom, we start Hollman at FS...or even move William Gay to FS.
Click to expand...

Holliman is raw as a fish, it has to be one between Shamarko, Golden, Allen. i doubt they move their best asset and vet leader from CB to FS
 
I'm talking about 2016, not this year. There has actually been talk about moving Gay to FS in the past. I believe Tomlin even mentioned it and Gay actually has practiced there before.

Litos said:
Holliman is raw as a fish, it has to be one between Shamarko, Golden, Allen. i doubt they move their best asset and vet leader from CB to FS
Click to expand...
 
ZACKB said:
I'm talking about 2016, not this year. There has actually been talk about moving Gay to FS in the past. I believe Tomlin even mentioned it and Gay actually has practiced there before.
Click to expand...


Sorry Zackb, but hard to gameplan for 2016, when our future is NOW. We need to cover our basis today. I realize we need to always look to the future, but our imeadiate needs are now. Sharknado will come around, i'm hoping. If not then go to plan B, Zackb starting.



Salute the nation
 
It is natural to hope that a young guy with largely unknown talent will take a job and have a much higher ceiling. The truth is that the veteran with average skills almost always wins out. Knowing where to be and what to do is about 85% of it. The other 15% is what separates the greats.
 
Allen obviously starts if Shamarko can't handle it.
 
Vader said:
I hope they aren't this stupid. They knew they were changing so they didn't teach Thomas anything?
Click to expand...

I'm not going to argue w whether or not I believe they are stupid (generally). What I am stating is that I think it might have been planned to have Thomas NOT perform back-up duties at a SS position which was wholly invented for Troy which would be phased out following his retirement. Makes no sense to have a SS learn how to play in 'the box' with virtually ZERO deep coverage responsibility if you know you are going to a Tampa 2 philosophy the next year where you employ 2 deep safeties responsible for the deep half of the field. It would only confuse him more to learn something they would have to make him forget?
Not saying it is a good plan...just that I would understand if they didn't want to go through a re-educating process w their future SS.
 
keslerclan said:
I'm not going to argue w whether or not I believe they are stupid (generally). What I am stating is that I think it might have been planned to have Thomas NOT perform back-up duties at a SS position which was wholly invented for Troy which would be phased out following his retirement. Makes no sense to have a SS learn how to play in 'the box' with virtually ZERO deep coverage responsibility if you know you are going to a Tampa 2 philosophy the next year where you employ 2 deep safeties responsible for the deep half of the field. It would only confuse him more to learn something they would have to make him forget?
Not saying it is a good plan...just that I would understand if they didn't want to go through a re-educating process w their future SS.
Click to expand...

Troy has been hurt a lot the past few years. They used the replacement different than Troy. It makes no sense not to have Thomas as the backup unless he wasn't good enough. The Tampa 2 isn't some great scheme. It's a zone defense. And the Steelers play zone a lot anyway. It's just a different type of zone. Seriously you and I know the difference and I haven't played football in decades. Most NFL players go through variances of schemes almost every year. New twists to the same concepts.

One other point. They aren't scrapping the 3-4 cover shell for a strict 4-3 Tampa 2. So he is going to play both coverages this year so why not get experience in it before now?
 
I still think they should have moved Shazier to SS. Lake moved from LB to S after college, he could have helped with the transition.
 
MT~Forged said:
I still think they should have moved Shazier to SS. Lake moved from LB to S after college, he could have helped with the transition.
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Shazier is our best cover LB by far. And he has would be our fastest DB. Probably could be a safety is he wanted to, but switching at this point is not an option.
 
Coach said:
Shazier is our best cover LB by far. And he has would be our fastest DB. Probably could be a safety is he wanted to, but switching at this point is not an option.
Click to expand...

And he's been all over the field as a LB in the first two preseason games.
 
Litos said:
Holliman is raw as a fish, it has to be one between Shamarko, Golden, Allen. i doubt they move their best asset and vet leader from CB to FS
Click to expand...

While on the subject of food many of the others are as burnt as toast
 
I've been very disappointed in Thomas.

I thought if he could overcome his height deificiency, he could potentially become a star, but his height has been far from his biggest issue at the NFL level.

He just does not process the pro game quickly enough, which is surprising, given how alert and instinctive he was in college. He also showed a lot of man coverage skills as a rookie.

The idea of Shazier to SS, especially if he could shed 10-15lbs, intrigues me, but there is absolutely no indication they're even considering it.
 
Litos said:
We used to say that about William gay
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Gay was once again burned a lot last season, especially on missed tackles.

The guy makes plays, but he still gives up too many of them.

He's a nice #3 CB, but if he is potentially your best, you're in trouble.
 
MT~Forged said:
I still think they should have moved Shazier to SS. Lake moved from LB to S after college, he could have helped with the transition.
Click to expand...

Lake had also played some hybrid Safety/LB role in college. He was at least familiar with the position in more than a passing way. Shazier has never played DB at any level.

Shazier is showing that he can be an excellent LB. Move him to Safety and he becomes a first round pick "project". We don't need any more of those.
 
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Ben was 0-3 in practice today. Lets all PANIC! Who should be our starting QB? Ben has OBVIOUSLY lost any and all talent he once had . . .
 
To me Shamarko has showed little to nothing.

I would be slightly shocked to see him start over Allen.

To me he is the Steelers weakest link.

and that is including Jarvis............
 
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