Tuesday with Tomlin
Mike Tomlin wasn’t in a very giving mood as his weekly press conference on Tuesday, going a season-record short 16 minutes. But there was one thing he said that turned Steelers Nation on its ear.
The cornerback rotation will remain the same.
“Ughhhh,” said one Twitter commenter.
“Does he like to allow the opponents to build an early lead?” asked another.
Well, let’s take a look at that.
In the past three games, Brandon Boykin has played 129 snaps. Antwon Blake has played 107. So you’re not good with that split?
Ross Cockrell has played 133 snaps during that same span, just edging Boykin.
So, effectively, Blake is now the Steelers’ fourth corner.
Blake hasn’t played a full game since the Steelers allowed 39 points at Seattle. And Blake wasn’t the problem on Sunday against Denver in the first half of that game.
There were some miscommunications on the first two touchdowns and on the fourth – a Brock Osweiler TD run – Blake had good coverage in the end zone. The pass rush allowed Osweiler to escape the pocket and run for a score.
Yes, he was stiff-armed to the ground by Demaryius Thomas at the goal line, but it says here that would likely have happened to Boykin against the 229-pound Thomas just as easily.
That’s why that guy is who he is.
This is not to defend Blake. He’s been exposed in coverage at times this season. But he’s also made some big plays. That’s what’s going to happen playing cornerback in the NFL these days.
You hope the plays you make balance out the ones you give up, but that isn’t always the case.
Did you watch Chris Harris get tortured by Antonio Brown Sunday? Harris is a Pro Bowl cornerback.
The bottom line is that the Steelers don’t feel that Boykin is an every-down player. Neither did the Eagles.
Boykin has made some plays this season, as well. But the current rotation, which has been in place the past three games, is working. And the Steelers aren’t going to make a change.
@ Mike Mitchell aggravated his shoulder injury last week and will be given some time off during the week.
That’s the Steelers’ only injury heading into Sunday’s game.
@ Tomlin praised Martavis Bryant and Markus Wheaton for making catches in traffic against the Broncos.
The Steelers will need even more of that heading into the postseason. Opponents are going to continue to match their best corner on Antonio Brown. Bryant and Wheaton must continue to win their matchups for the Steelers to continue to win.