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William Gay. Did you know this?

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Gay is so underrated. We didn't see #22 giving up many big plays. In fact, he's the only starting CB not to give up a touchdown!

Yes, he's very good. Perhaps the most underrated player on the team.

Some might say, yeah, but he's got Blake on the other side and teams know where to target. Yes, but he's also a good pick six corner, and very assignment sound. And he's durable.

Without Gay, I think our secondary goes from bad to very bad. A must re-sign in free agency..
 
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Yes he's been more than solid. Hope he stays for a couple more years, he also looks like a good influence to the young guys
 
Why throw at him when Blake is opposite him, I think I heard Blake gave up more yards than any CB in history
 
oneforthebus said:
Unfortunately he is 31. We had better start seriously rebuilding this secondary.
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Gay's game though is not based on blazing speed or towering height. He's a technician type. Very smart and aware, and he's got good hands / is durable.
 
Was it history, or just this season?
 
Gay has been good but its skewed cause no one ever throws his way. As someone else said.. why would you?
 
It's still impressive although he probably would have allowed a couple if someone more competent than Blake was on the other side. I can't see him signing elsewhere in free agency --- he went that route once (signing with Arizona) and was back after one season. Lebeau won't be in Tennessee so that's out...
 
I remember when Gay was our whipping boy - the guy everyone said other QBs picked on. Give him credit for really sticking with it, working hard, and improving his game. Maybe the Steelers are hoping the same thing will happen with Blake, but I just don't see it.
 
Gay might be 31, but I think that gives him about 2-4 more good years since, as someone else mentioned, his game isn't built on speed or freakish athleticism. He's a technician.

We REALLY need Senquez Golson, and to a lesser extent, Doran Grant to work out.

Here's my dream scenario.
-I definitely think a new FS is priority #1 - a good cover guy with speed who can hold down FS while Mitchell brings the lumber from SS. I'm perfectly okay with this person being a FA, although unfortunately I don't know who will be available.
-We keep Boykin to be our long-term slot corner
-Keep Gay for at least next year or maybe more to hold down one of the outside spots
-Draft a bigger corner to play outside in the first (or maybe second) rounds, with the idea they can compete right away for the starting position.
-Let Golson fight with the draft pick for the other outside spot. Given his size, I would think the team envisions him inside more, but one of his strengths in college was playing bigger than he is. I'd like to see it considered. He can also provide quality depth for Boykin since has has position versatility
-I'm okay with letting Cockrell go as long as we draft a bigger CB early. He's been better than Blake, but still not what I would consider "good"
-Grant provides depth*

*I would also be okay with drafting two corners and letting Grant and the other draftee win that job and the other be PS'd

Thoughts?
 
Cockrell will definitely be back in Latrobe next year. He can't go anywhere else and will be cheap. If he's not good enough then he gets cut.
 
thumbring said:
I remember when Gay was our whipping boy - the guy everyone said other QBs picked on. Give him credit for really sticking with it, working hard, and improving his game. Maybe the Steelers are hoping the same thing will happen with Blake, but I just don't see it.
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Don't see it with Blake. His ceiling is a #4 CB and core special teams player. The thing with Gay is that he was a good nickel CB from the start. His struggles began when he was "promoted" to outside CB. He reminds me a lot of Deshea Townsend who is (IMO) one of the most under-rated Steelers in recent history.
 
AggieSteel said:
Gay might be 31, but I think that gives him about 2-4 more good years since, as someone else mentioned, his game isn't built on speed or freakish athleticism. He's a technician.

We REALLY need Senquez Golson, and to a lesser extent, Doran Grant to work out.

Here's my dream scenario.
-I definitely think a new FS is priority #1 - a good cover guy with speed who can hold down FS while Mitchell brings the lumber from SS. I'm perfectly okay with this person being a FA, although unfortunately I don't know who will be available.
-We keep Boykin to be our long-term slot corner
-Keep Gay for at least next year or maybe more to hold down one of the outside spots
-Draft a bigger corner to play outside in the first (or maybe second) rounds, with the idea they can compete right away for the starting position.
-Let Golson fight with the draft pick for the other outside spot. Given his size, I would think the team envisions him inside more, but one of his strengths in college was playing bigger than he is. I'd like to see it considered. He can also provide quality depth for Boykin since has has position versatility
-I'm okay with letting Cockrell go as long as we draft a bigger CB early. He's been better than Blake, but still not what I would consider "good"
-Grant provides depth*

*I would also be okay with drafting two corners and letting Grant and the other draftee win that job and the other be PS'd

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

My thoughts...

Agreed - FS/S is the number one priority. My question - why did we let Gerod Holliman go? Can you get him back? He's a true ball hawk and I know, I know, his tackling skills are poor but, if the pressure is great up front - he won't have to worry about anything, right???

Boykin is quickly becoming, IMO, the second best DB on the team. Definitely a keeper.

I think Willie Gay is the best DB on the field - but, like it's been said, why throw to his side when you can get freebies against Blake all day??? Hopefully, Golson/Grant work out and our problems aren't so glaring...

I like Cockrell - he's not Ike Taylor, yet, but, I see a lot of Ike in his game play---PLUS, he can catch...

Cut Cortez Allen as soon as the season is over. Period. Find another option in the draft.

So, my first choice would be to bring back Holliman and then move Mitchell to SS - cut both Allen's and find their replacements via the draft.
 
Holliman sucked so hard that he barely got any playing time in the preseason. One of the worst tacklers ever to be allowed on a football field. He signed onto the Bucs practice squad a couple weeks ago after being unemployed for almost the entire season.
 
I remember us trashing a young William Gay just as hard as Blake. Not defending Blake just keep in mind people can and sometimes do turn a corner.
 
Damn I forgot Cortez Allen was even on the roster. Yep, he's done, cut 'em
 
Cortez is most likely done as a Steeler, they will make him a POST June 1st cut and save 4.3m each of the next three seasons and only have $1.3m in dead money each season. There was definitely something other than an injury going on with him tho, I remember the interview where they were asking him why he wasn't playing if he was practicing, he answered everything with "ask coach" or "I feel fine".
 
I still think he sucks.
 
SteelerInLebanon said:
I remember us trashing a young William Gay just as hard as Blake. Not defending Blake just keep in mind people can and sometimes do turn a corner.
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I've always said that Gay was much better after he came back from AZ.
 
Ron Burgundy said:
I've always said that Gay was much better after he came back from AZ.
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Agreed, if memory serves me he had serious "Blake like" coverage problems before that and got toasted on double moves consistently when he played outside. His slot coverage was OK but every now and then he spazed out and just looked lost. When he came back ( after AZ cut him after one year of his two year contract, by the way ), he seemed to settle down and use his experience and instincts more.

Then again, how good do you really have to be to look good in this secondary ?
 
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