Changes could be coming to Pittsburgh’s secondary
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said changes in the secondary might include more playing time for defensive back Brandon Boykin.
Seattle’s Jimmy Graham makes a catch over Pittsburgh’s Ross Cockrell during Sunday’s game in Seattle.
PITTSBURGH – After his team allowed 345 yards and five touchdown passes – including three in the fourth quarter – last Sunday at Seattle, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is ready for a different kind of competition at the cornerback position.
Tomlin said Tuesday that the team will look at its options at cornerback after Antwon Blake and Ross Cockrell had issues in coverage in the 39-30 loss at Seattle.
It marked the third consecutive game in which the Steelers (6-5) allowed more than 300 yards passing and they have allowed 10 touchdown passes in that span. Pittsburgh hosts Indianapolis (6-5) Sunday.
“Blake had some difficulties in the game from a tackling perspective. I think you could say the same about Ross Cockrell,” Tomlin said. “We’re going to give both guys a chance to rebound, but we’re also going to look at other options this week as well, because that’s the prudent and appropriate thing to do. We have some other guys who are capable.”
Blake starts in the team’s base defense opposite William Gay and has been consistently picked on, especially in recent weeks. Cockrell, meanwhile, enters the game on obvious passing downs, with Gay moving inside to slot.
Tomlin said the changes could involve using Brandon Boykin, who was acquired in a trade in August from Philadelphia, or rookie Doran Grant, a fourth-round draft pick from Ohio State. It could also involve Gay, whom the Steelers believe is one of the best slot corners in the NFL, playing on the outside on a full-time basis.
“We acknowledge (Blake and Cockrell) need to play better,” Tomlin said. “Particularly, they need to tackle better. We also acknowledge those performances merit an opportunity to look at our options in that area, while at the same time giving those guys – particularly the two I mentioned – an opportunity to rebound.
“We’re going to look at Brandon Boykin, maybe, getting an opportunity to work within that mix. We’re going to look at the utilization of moving William Gay maybe to the outside. We’re going to turn over all those stones as we formulate a plan here this week.”
In large part because of the recent struggles, the Steelers have fallen to 30th in the NFL in pass defense, allowing 284 yards per game. They also have given up 22 touchdown passes.
Boykin hasn’t gotten much of a shot to play this season after being acquired from Philadelphia in the preseason for a fifth-round draft pick mostly because while Blake and Cockrell both had moments when they were beaten, they also both provided some timely big plays on either interceptions or fumbles.
That didn’t happen against the Seahawks and the Steelers also struggled to get off the field on third downs, allowing Seattle to convert six plays that were third-and-six or greater. Two of those conversions went for touchdowns, including an 80-yard catch-and-run with 2:01 remaining in the fourth quarter that put the game out of reach.
“We have to limit the explosion plays,” said Tomlin. “I don’t care how you play over the course of the game, you give up an 80-yard play, that’s going to characterize your day from a pass defense standpoint.”
Boykin might help at least from a turnover standpoint. In 2013, he finished second in the NFL with six interceptions playing as the Eagles’ slot cornerback.
“Since we acquired him, he’s done a nice job of learning what to do, but really he’s distinguished himself as an interior cornerback,” Tomlin said of Boykin. “William Gay has played primarily in the interior and has been rock solid for us from start to finish. The performance on the outside, by the guys I mentioned, needs to be better based on the last performance, but it’s not as though it’s been consistently below the line when looking at the larger body of work. It really hadn’t been a big discussion about repping Boykin to this point. I acknowledge it’s going to be a big discussion as we prepare this week.”
Odds and end zones
Tomlin said tight end Heath Miller could be limited early in the week with a rib injury. Miller suffered the injury in the second quarter against Seattle and was replaced by rookie Jesse James, whom Tomlin praised for doing a good job. … Safety Mike Mitchell is experiencing some swelling in his knee and could be limited early in the week. … Linebacker Sean Spence is dealing with a “minor” hamstring injury. … Rookie Bud Dupree made his first career start at outside linebacker opposite Jarvis Jones against the Seahawks and Tomlin said that will continue to be the case moving forward.