Former Steelers CB Brown Hoping To Make Mark In New York
The Steelers have struggled in the secondary the last few years. Partly because of aging players. Partly because the drafted replacements have underperformed. Since 2010, the Steelers have released four of their six draft selections in the secondary with one more in the hot seat for 2015.
Curtis Brown was drafted in the 3rd round (95th overall) by the Steelers in 2011. Brown’s ceiling at the time was undefined. There was skill and potential there, but he needed to work out issues in coverage – especially when it came to making the turn upfield to stay with a streaking wide out.
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I was excited about his potential and reserved hopes that he would be able to find his stride within a year or two. However, Brown struggled and showed very little improvement in his coverage skills. Where he showed value was in his special teams coverage.
Brown racked up a nice pile of tackles in the 2011-2013 seasons. He was brought in for dime situations only along with special teams, and his season (and subsequently his career as a Steeler) ended after he tore his ACL in November of 2013. The team decided it was best to move on, and he was released in the spring of 2014.
Brown did not play for another team in 2014, but now there is hope for him in 2015.
The New York Jets, a team that is suffering greatly in the secondary, signed Brown to what is probably a futures contract. The team lost two of their corners to injury last season, and it is uncertain to how they will bounce back. The Jets also added CB DaShaun Phillips with a futures contract back in January.
Brown has another chance, perhaps his last, to make a significant enough a mark to land a roster spot on a team in the NFL. The Jets could retain him for his special teams play. Things could also be so bad in Jersey that they keep him anyways as a nickel or #2 corner.
Will he be able to make it in the NFL? Not sure if a season with the Jets will be able to reveal that answer, but here’s to hoping that a good young man can make the most of his chances out there in New York.