The information to begin examining training camp battles is here now that the rosters are set. We will look through the Pittsburgh Steelers roster and predict who will make the team. Also, we will see where the team stands in terms of playing time for the 2016 season and beyond. Reasons to hold on to these lower-end players vary. Some may be able to make a future impact as players come and go via free agency. This edition will look at biggest question on the team, cornerback.
Pittsburgh Steelers Cornerback Depth Chart Projections
1.William Gay: William Gay is not the problem with the Steelers cornerbacks. What is the problem, however, is that he is hands down the best corner on the roster. Gay is a solid corner, and when he gets his hands on a ball, it is going to the house, as five of his last six interceptions have.
Still, he would be better off in the slot due to his size and speed limitations. Either way, he is a well-coached corner, he sticks to his assignments, and he signed an extremely team friendly deal in the off-season. There is little to complain about with Gay.
2.Ross Cockrell: Cockrell is a former fourth round pick of the Buffalo Bills. He was a special teamer in Buffalo, but found a way onto the field in Pittsburgh due to injuries. It was rough at times, but in others flashes a productive cornerback were present.
He enters training camp knowing he needs to earn his spot. The Steelers drafted a cornerback in the first two rounds in each of the last two drafts. Still, both have questions heading into training camp as to whether or not they can start. Cockrell now has the experience on the field and off that neither do and should have the slight edge heading into camp.
3. Senquez Golson: The 2015 second round pick missed his entire rookie season with a shoulder injury. Now he comes into 2016 with the expectation to make up for lost time. The biggest knock on Golson coming out of college was his size. Many thought he would be limited to the slot. The Steelers came out and said they anticipate him to eventually play on bigger outside receivers. Still, for a guy technically in his rookie season, to hope for him to pan into a nice option in the slot would be enough to ask for.
4. Artie Burns: When the Steelers drafted Burns in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, it sent some shock waves around the draft community. Many pegged him as a second or third round player. The Steelers have recently come out and said that William Jackson III was their pick until he was taken one slot before. Was it a reach for Burns? Possibly. But, the Steelers still got the next player on their board, so they had to have a good grade on him.
Burns has all of the potential of a first rounder. He has size, arm length, speed, and strength. As far as the intangibles go, he is still raw. Tackling, ball skills, and play recognition are what pushed him down on draft boards. With that said, even with first round status the Steelers cannot plan to start him right now. He will have to prove himself in a major way in training camp. Spelling for Cockrell at times and learning the game with a young core is not a bad start for Burns and should be the expectation this year.
5. Doran Grant: Grant makes it three corners drafted in the last two years on the roster. Of the three, Grant has the most active games with three. However, the three combined for zero career defensive snaps. Grant is a fourth round pick from Ohio State. He spent most of the season on the practice squad last year. He was called up late into the season due to injury, and spent the end of his year on the inactive list. Still, to bring him up instead of signing a depth veteran late last year shows they have some faith in the kid. With the plethora of questions at this position, the Steelers should be looking to carry at least five cornerbacks in 2016. Grant has the inside track and may see some defensive snaps later into the year.
Missed the Cut
Al-Hajj Shabazz will compete in Latrobe, and has a shot to make the team if the Steelers need to carry six cornerbacks, or someone gets injured. Shabazz is a local product from West Chester, PA. He was an undrafted free agent in 2015 and spent the last season on the Colts and Bucs practice squads.
Montrell Garner was an undrafted free agent from Southern Alabama in 2015. He was cut by the Rams, and spent last season in the Arena League. The Steelers continued their search outside of the NFL for training camp bodies and found Donald Washington out of the Canadian Football League. Washington is 30 and had a brief NFL stint from 2009-11. His chances would seem unlikely with the younger talent around him. Shabazz and Garner may find their way to the practice squad, but both would be long shots to making the 53-man, even considering the questionable depth of this unit.
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