With the injury to CB Senquez Golson, us, Steelers Nation will get an early view of the versatility of, 2016 second-round pick, Sean Davis.
Although Sean Davis was drafted as a safety, the Maryland product can also play another position on defense, cornerback, and it looks like we’ll see Davis take some snaps at CB this season. This opportunity came about after second-year CB Senquez Golson, who didn’t play at all his rookie year, sustained a Lisfranc injury, which is an injury to the middle of your foot. Golson could be sidelined for 3-4 months.
With the injury to Golson, this puts Davis at the slot corner position, which is usually occupied by William Gay. There is no one the Steelers trust more at the slot, corner position than Gay. But injuries happen, and you gotta shuffle guys around. Now, obviously, the Steelers aren’t going to put a rookie on the outside. They would have to deal with the likes of A.J. Green, Steve Smith and MAYBE, MAYBE Mike Wallace, but even that’s a stretch. So, my guess is: William Gay and Ross Cockrell on the outside, and Sean Davis in the slot.
In his first two years at Maryland, Davis played safety. He even played safety for awhile during his junior year, but then-head coach Randy Edsall decided to move him to cornerback, playing outside. In his third year at Maryland, Sean Davis played safety and cornerback, both outside and inside. I’d say that’s pretty freakin’ versatile. Now I understand what Colbert and Tomlin see in him.
I’m sure some of you are saying, “What about Artie Burns?” Well, unless someone else gets injured, I don’t see Burns really playing any defensive snaps this season. If the Steelers are in a situation where they have a 30 point lead, and there’s five minutes left in the game, then yes, I could see the Steelers giving Burns some snaps on defense. The change of pace for a CB, going from college to pro, is like playing beginner on Guitar Hero for a few years then jumping straight to expert. The NFL is a totally different world for every rookie, but especially for a CB.
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This is why the pre-season has some level of importance. I mean, yeah, pre-season games have the tendency to be long and drawn out, but the exciting part about it are seeing rookies, like Artie Burns, play A LOT. Be patient during this process, Steelers Nation. I know we all want to see Artie Burns play like a first-round pick right away, but that’s not going to happen. I’m not saying you can’t be critical, just understand the process.
The Steelers regular season is almost here. 36 days, my friends, 36 days.