Steelers Secondary Must Gel Quickly

The Steelers secondary has undergone a lot of change in the off season. Even though it was necessary, those players do not have the luxury of a slow start.

I have to say up front that I hate to see players I like have to move on. I am a fan of Ryan Clark, Troy Polamalu, and Ike Taylor and more, but this is a punishing game and I also don’t want to see them struggle on the field.

There is a lot of focus in the media on the linebackers because of the Steelers drafting Dupree number 1, but I have also noticed that Mike Mitchell is getting some attention.

In the Steelers Wrap Up from the second week of OTAs, Mitchell had this to say:

"My dad always says there is a reason for failure, but never an excuse. I am not looking to make any excuses. I am not looking for a way out. I am just focusing on getting better and being as healthy as I can for this year’s campaign.”"

That is what any fan would want to hear. However, come regular season, it will be about results.

At the Corner Back position the Steelers have a mix of experience: Veteran William Gay remains, Antwon Blake and Cortez Allen have a few years under their belt, and the Steelers picked up a couple of rookies in Senquez Golson and Doran Grant. B.D. Webb is still with the team as well.

The Safety position has a lot more moving pieces. Currently on the Steelers roster there are 10, yes 10, safeties. I guess it is “safe” to say that the Steelers are looking around.

The veteran safety talent is Will Allen, Robert Golden, and Mike Mitchell. Shamarko Thomas and Ross Ventrone are on the roster as 3-yr veterans, but Ventrone has bounced around, on and off active rosters for the last couple of years. The Steelers also have the rookie, Gerod Holliman.

However, there are 4 “1-year” players on the roster to fight for a spot. Here’s a look:

Jordan Dangerfield was signed by the Buffalo Bills in 2013 as a UFDA, but released. The Steelers picked him up on a Futures contract in 2013.
Alden Darby was signed by the San Diego Chargers in 2014 as a UFDA but released. The Steelers picked him up on a Futures contract.
Isaiah Lewis is on the roster, but there is little data on the site. He was at the Bengals training camp in 2014 but didn’t make the team or get picked up by anyone else.
Ian Wild: Recently signed to a futures contract with the Steelers. Wild, a Pittsburgh native, played in the CFL last year with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

I think there is more rebuilding going on here than in the front line, but they don’t have a lot of time to gel.

Could we please have a season where we don’t hold our breath so much when an opposing wide receiver makes a catch? Can we not cringe and wonder if they are going to get a long gain running up the field?

The 2015 regular season is not that far away anymore. Time to giddy-up!

Next: Steelers Dupree, Prove It Jones, Staying Neutral

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