Jeremy Maclin vs Artie Burns: The Pittsburgh Steelers corner faces yet another star receiver
If A.J. Green, John Ross, and Mike Wallace weren’t enough to worry about, the Pittsburgh Steelers now have to worry about yet another superstar wide receiver in the AFC North.
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It was a happier time last week. The birds were singing, the sun was shining, and Jeremy Maclin was believed to be heading to the Buffalo Bills.
Today, those birds have stopped, the clouds have appeared, and Maclin is a Baltimore Raven.
Yes, after being fully recruited by the Bills and looking like it was almost certain he was headed to Buffalo, Jeremy Maclin is the newest wide receiver addition to the AFC North. Although it was inevitable that Baltimore would make a move for either Maclin or Decker, the hope was for the 30-year-old Decker, not the speedy, prime of his game, Maclin.
Like always, though, Pittsburgh will adopt. This time, however, it may not be the entire team looking to step up their game. Artie Burns, Pittsburgh’s second-year corner who will lead this cornerback unit in 2017, will add Maclin to his list of AFC North stud receivers he’ll have to stop this season.
Just in case he didn’t have his work cut out for him against A.J Green twice a year, he’ll now have to step up four times a season and shut down two of the top receivers in the AFC let alone the division.
With the progress he made last season, though, Burns could be up for the challenge. Three interceptions in a year isn’t that impressive, but for a rookie, it’s not a bad first-year campaign. Judging off of year one and the upgrade in secondary talent and development this season, Burns could have a breakout year ahead of him in 2017.
As long as he can stay competitive with these two stars, his job is half done. Winning every game is the top priority, but if he can prove he’s able to stay with Green and Maclin, he shows he can compete with almost anyone.
It’s a showdown no one can predict until it happens. Maclin isn’t a Chief anymore, and the AFC North is an entirely different place once you’re inside it. Playing from the outside, it looks tough. Playing from within the conference, it’s one of the meanest, toughest, and grittiest atmospheres in all of sports. How Maclin responds will be a significant indicator as to how well Burns can contain him, but either way, expect this showdown to be a backyard brawl.
Burns will be out to prove something this year. Now, he has two names that everyone will notice if he can shut them down.
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