The problem with investing so many resources on defense is that it only takes a competent opposing quarterback to expose the entire unit. This is what Dak Prescott did to rookie cornerback Beanie Bishop on Sunday Night Football.
Needing a bounce-back win after a letdown performance against the Colts in Week 4, most of the defense showed up to play in Week 5 against the Dallas Cowboys. Despite extensive weather delays, a handful of defenders strung together excellent performances.
T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith got consistent pressure on the QB and became PFF's highest-graded edge rushers in Week 5. Meanwhile, Elandon Roberts had quite the night as a run defender, Joey Porter Jr. had an outstanding performance, and Cam Heyward was his usual self.
All of this became meaningless when Prescott found the man he wanted to target all night.
Among a talented defender, it wasn't surprising to see Dak dissect the biggest weakness on the team. From early in the game, the Cowboys' quarterback exploited the soft coverage of Bishop. This led to a brutal performance from the rookie CB.
Beanie Bishop vs. Cowboys:
— Tommy Jaggi (@TommyJaggi) October 7, 2024
8 targets
6 catches allowed
90 yards allowed
2 penalties
111.5 passer rating allowed.
Dak found the weak spot of the defense and exposed it all night. #Steelers
According to PFF, Bishop was targeted eight times in this contest and allowed six catches for 90 yards. But wait! There's more!
In addition to allowing ten yards shy of the century mark through the air, Bishop chipped in two costly penalties (one that would have held Dallas to 4th and 10 before giving the Cowboys a new set of downs). This brutal day in pass coverage resulted in surrendering a despicable passer rating of 111.5 on the night.
Steelers can't continue with Beanie Bishop at slot cornerback
We knew that Pittsburgh's defense would need to take their lumps when starting a rookie cornerback in the slot from Day 1. But this experiment isn't going well... at all.
While Bishop has made some nice plays in run support it doesn't make up for his gross lack of coverage ability. On the season, the rookie CB has already allowed 16 receptions on 23 targets for 201 yards and two touchdowns. This equates to an incriminating 125.5 passer rating allowed.
His rookie status is only an excuse at this point. Remember, Bishop was handed the job in the first place due to a severe lack of options at the position. Who was he about to compete against? Cam Sutton is suspended, and Pittsburgh didn't have a single respectable slot cornerback during training camp and the preseason.
Could it be that Beanie Bishop went undrafted for a reason?
I'm being sarcastic, of course. The slot CB position has been an issue for several years now, and the Steelers haven't been able to find anyone competant at the position since the departure of Mike Hilton in free agency.
Regardless of the lack of options, the Steelers can't justify moving on with Bishop as a starting cornerback. The results haven't been kind, and they are only getting worse. Pittsburgh needs to start gauging the trade market and scouring the free agent pool for anyone who can be an improvement at this point.