Steelers Training Camp Battles: Robert Golden vs. Sean Davis
**Second article in the series.
This past week, the first featured training camp position battle was Daniel McCullers vs. Javon Hargrave. This week, we take a look at another key position, this time in the secondary: strong safety.
Robert Golden’s performance last season suggested that he could be the starter this year. Golden was thrust into a starting role for three games when Will Allen went down with an injury. In his first start against Arizona, Golden finished with eight tackles and one pass defensed. As the season progressed, he became the top backup to both Allen and free safety, Mike Mitchell, as well as a third down DB. For the season, he logged 40 total tackles, 4 passes defensed, and 1 interception…not bad for a backup.
During Golden’s three starts, the Steelers defense gave up an average of 301 yards passing per game and allowed 17 points. In the remaining games, the secondary, with Will Allen starting, allowed 289 yards per game and 21 points. Granted, this doesn’t necessarily indicate whether the defense is better or worse with Golden starting; however, it would seem to indicate that, at least, the defense held steady with him in the starting lineup.
The coaches saw something in me to keep me around. I just want to go out there and uphold the standard.
Golden enters his fifth season this coming year, and the question is whether he’s more valuable to the team as the top backup and special teams’ captain, or whether he’s ready to take his game to the next level and start on a consistent basis. He appears to have the physical size, being 5’11 and 202 pounds. He’s also only 25 years old and is currently under a newly signed three-year contract.
Another question is whether Golden’s got the pedigree. His scouting report prior to the 2012 NFL draft was that he possessed plenty of athleticism and foot speed, but was too overaggressive and had questionable instincts. He was originally projected as a potential third day pick and wound up as an undrafted free agent.
It’s easy to root for Golden. He’s a solid player, a good teammate, and has put in his time. It would also appear as though he’s looking to make the most of this opportunity to become the starter. In a recent interview with Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, Golden had this to say: “I have been here five years, and my opportunity is finally coming around…The coaches saw something in me to keep me around. I just want to go out there and uphold the standard.
Sean Davis:
Sean Davis is the Steelers second round selection from Maryland and clearly has plenty of confidence, as evidenced by his remarks after signing his 4-year rookie contract: “I can do a lot. I played strong safety, I played cornerback at Maryland. Moving around playing safety is what I do. I am very comfortable back there. Mentally I feel like I am capable of doing a lot. Physically I can do a lot. I am big and strong like a safety and quick like a corner. My mental game, I see it at a different angle that you might not get at safety and vice versa. I feel like I am well prepared.”
Davis also has intelligence. According to his draft profile, he speaks three languages: English, French, and Chinese. One would assume that he should be able to pick up the defense rather quickly.
Lastly, Davis’ athletic skills are scary. He ran a 4.4 40-yard dash at the combine and placed first among corners in the bench press and broad jump.
But this is football, and Davis will have to prove his raw skills can translate to the field on game days. A potential red flag is that he’s got a tendency for taking bad penalties; last season, he was penalized four times for pass interference, once for a late hit, and once for another personal foul. Evidentially, his aggressive nature gets him in to a bit of trouble on the field. It will be up to Carnell Lake to mold Davis and teach him to channel his aggressiveness appropriately.
The Edge Goes To: Golden
This is an incredibly important position, once manned by future hall-of-famer Troy Polamalu. With Sean Davis, the Steelers have the raw athletic ability and probably a future starter, maybe even a star. With Golden, they’ve got the steady veteran they can depend on to help hold the secondary together and not allow the big play.
Next: Is Jordan Berry the guy at punter?
The thought here is that the Steelers will go with the steady veteran, at least, initially. Davis should still see playing time though and, depending on his progress, may slide into the starting role later in the season.
Golden also has the advantage of having played next to Mike Mitchell last season. The two safeties are more familiar with one another and that comfort level and ability to communicate is crucial on the back end.