The Steelers run defense has been the topic of discussion after Jay Ajayi shredded the team for 204 yards in week 6. However, another big problem in that game was the play in the secondary. Mike Mitchell missed a small amount of time due to injury and all of the sudden the entire back end was lost.
Pittsburgh Steelers Cornerbacks Will Be Under The Spotlight in Week 7
As the Steelers get set to take on the New England Patriots in week 7 it is clear that they have to be getting strong cornerback play. In the first half of the Patriots week 6 game with the Cincinnati Bengals, Tom Brady took three sacks in the first half. Most of the pressure and the sacks acquired came from lack of separation from his wide receivers. Julian Edelman seems to be dealing with something, and Chris Hogan, Danny Amendola and Malcolm Mitchell cannot always find space, especially against physical play.
Sure, the tight ends and running backs, with Tom Brady can kill you, but in creating the time for your average to below average pass rush you can get this offense to punt the football. The Steelers top four cornerbacks will all have big responsibilities and will all have to step up to this task.
William Gay
For the most part, William Gay is in the slot. That is going to mean guarding Amendola and Edelman while handling drags, picks and sit down routes. Gay has been a player known for the pick six, and these are situations where he can find them. Edelman leads the team in targets, but his 63% catch rate would the lowest of his career since 2011. In his two games with Brady, they have completed only 52% on 17 attempts. Tom Brady may not fall into a pick six trap, but at the very least he will do the smart thing and throw the ball away instead of targeting Gay. The Steelers can find an edge here.
Ross Cockrell
Cockrell has had his ups and down this season. However, for the most part, he has done well in man coverage, and against the pass. Where Cockrell struggles more would be in defending the run and tackling after the catch. Cockrell is likely to see a lot of Chris Hogan in this one, and the Patriots will likely be testing he and Gay on those inside crossers. It will come down to coaching and the communication of the two to either cross or stay on their sides in that situation, but it is a definitely a way the Patriots will want to go. The two have the experience, and after a poor week can bring strong showings against these two receivers.
Artie Burns
Last week showed the real growing pains of Artie Burns. However, if the Steelers were smart they would try their best to stick to these matchups and put Burns on Malcolm Mitchell as much as possible. They also need to make sure that when Burns is lined up across from a smaller receiver that he is pressing at the line of scrimmage at every snap. Burns has proven that he does not have the form tackling to survive having to make plays after the catch. He can, however, fend off the deep half of the field, which keeps the others in the box to take on those quick routes.
Justin Gilbert
Gilbert is likely to have the toughest job of all of the cornerbacks. He is likely to see more playing time this week and will see a lot of Rob Gronkowski or Martellus Bennett. The Steelers will likely rush four on most downs. They’ll have their three primary cornerbacks in man. That leaves inside linebackers, the two safeties, Michael Mitchell, Robert Golden and Gilbert to see most of the time in passing situations. Gilbert put in eight snaps guarding Travis Kelce is week four and may be a better option than Lawrence Timmons or Vince Williams in spread formations .The Steelers will use brackets on both of them, and disguise coverages. Gilbert is such a factor because he has the talent of a shutdown type of cornerback and with this help, if he can stand up to such a challenge it would change the game in many ways.
The Steelers can find an advantage here. The defense was embarrassed last week but has circled this matchup for weeks and has been waiting for this chance to show themselves. All four cornerbacks have had major moments this season and all four can give the Steelers a chance to hang in this game.
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