To the dismay of many, Pittsburgh Steelers’ first-round cornerback Artie Burns has not been largely mentioned during training camp. In his absence, another young cornerback has began to make a name for himself in the secondary.
Doran Grant, the Steelers’ fourth-round pick in 2015, has benefited immensely from Burns’ quadriceps injury. Not only has his position on the training camp depth chart moved, but he seen a respectable amount of snaps against the Lions in last week’s preseason game. He appeared in a total of 45 snaps, which gave him plenty of on-field time to work with.
Grant put the Steelers on the scoreboard first with a 38 yard pick six thrown by Dan Orlovsky. After avoiding a sack, Orlovsky threw a wild pass towards the sidelines, which landed right into Grant’s hands. Taking advantage of the space in front of him, Grant scored the first touchdown of his professional career.
The 45 snaps Grant appeared in last week were a far cry from his playing time in 2015. Cut and stashed on the practice squad for half the season, he was finally called up when other teams became interested in him. While on the 53 man roster, he barely saw time on the field aside from Special Teams duty.
2016 may prove to be different for the young cornerback. With Cortez Allen, Brandon Boykin, and Antwon Blake gone, the Steelers thin cornerback roster became even more sparse. No longer a rookie, Grant will be called upon to play a larger role on defense. If the first week of the preseason is any indication, he is more than up to the task.
Aside from his interception returned for a touchdown, Grant led all defenders with seven total tackles. Making sure to get the most out of his time on the field, Grant displayed excellent instinct and tackling ability. This is something the Steelers have lacked in their secondary in years past.
Grant put his instincts and tackling ability to good use in the late minutes of the first quarter. Mindful that Orlovsky had a running back open, Grant was able to redirect his route, and come back to the ball carrier. With a better angle than linebacker Ryan Shazier, Grant was able to drive the ball carrier out-of-bounds and into the turf.
Indeed, his performance was impressive, but Grant must continue what he started last week. For a long time it was believed that Grant would be moved to safety to bolster depth. After months of speculation, Grant is now lining up at safety in practice. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the position switch will be permanent, but it makes Grant more valuable in the secondary.
When the Steelers match up against the Eagles on Thursday, Grant is expected to see an extended role in the secondary. He may split time at both positions, depending on if the coaching staff deems his ready. Grant’s time may be better served at cornerback to get more reps at his natural position.
Wherever Grant lines up, it will not be against the Eagles first overall pick or their top wide receiver. Carson Wentz and Jordan Matthews will miss their week two matchup against the Steelers due to injury. This will leave Sam Bradford and Chase Daniel as the primary quarterbacks in the contest for Philadelphia.
Grant will most likely line up against newly acquired Dorial Green-Beckham or former first-round pick Nelson Agholor. The Eagles sent an offensive lineman to the Titans in compensation for the receiver, who has struggled with consistency as a pro.
Green-Beckham’s 6’5, 237 lbs frame seems like quite the mismatch for Grant, who is 5’10”, 200 lbs. It would be a true test of physicality if he could hold his own against the behemoth receiver, but Agholor (6′,185 lbs) should be better suited for his size. No matter who he is tasked to defend, Grant must continue his early success in the preseason.
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Doran Grant is in a prime position to be a major contributor in the Steelers’ defense. While Artie Burns continues to miss valuable time, he can assert himself as a playmaker and threat on the defense. Thursday evening will be yet another test to prove that this former practice squad member has what it takes to be a key factor in a secondary that needs hope now more than ever.