Over the history of professional sports, there have been many great players who left the collegiate ranks with all kinds of expectations. Some live up to those while others, for any number of reasons, fail. Three years ago the Pittsburgh Steelers spent a second round draft pick on cornerback Senquez Golson. Word was, that if he had been a few inches taller he would have been a legitimate first round prospect. Nearly three years later, Golson still hasn’t played in a game yet the Steelers remain confident he will contribute and I have to ask “why?”
Sometimes it just doesn’t work out. Every year teams think they’ve nailed a draft pick but because of an injury (or two), the player fades away as if he never existed. Golson is literally one more injury from this fate.
I’m rooting hard for this kid personally. I want to be able to write about his story of perseverance and how he struggled but worked hard and stayed the course. I have no reason to root against him for that would be stupid. His success can help the success of the Steelers and that’s all any of us can ask right?
I learned this week that the Steelers may not choose a cornerback in the upcoming draft. If that’s true it means a couple of things. It means that they are targeting corners in free agency or it means they are happy with what they have. What I really think it means is that they are confident in Senquez Golson and to a further extent, Ross Cockrell who is a restricted free agent.
Since being drafted in 2015, Golson has made it through two full practices of Training Camp and has yet to see action in even a preseason game. You’ll forgive me for being pessimistic but where is the confidence coming from that he’ll be able to play all (or any) of 2017? Haven’t we seen this story before? Guy gets drafted with high expectations… Guy gets injured… Guy gets injured again… Guy is out of football after a few years.
Again, no one will be more excited to see Golson succeed than me but I’m just trying to be realistic. For the Steelers to “supposedly” not be looking to improve the secondary, especially after the AFC Title Game debacle, is flat out crazy isn’t it? I appreciate the confidence in Golson but I also appreciate a realistic approach to the situation as well.
3 comments
While I think the Steelers need to add a CB, it really has nothing to do with Golson being healthy or not healthy. I just think you need probably 4 CBs that you feel good about on your roster… Because 3 are essentially starters and the 4th is your top backup.
I think “Injury Prone” may be one of the most over-used labels by sports fans, just behind the “bust” label.
I don’t doubt that there are guys that really are more prone to injury but I think you need to look at context with guys. Maurkice Pouncey for example. Fans love to rag on Pouncey like he’s made of glass when the guy seemed to get rolled up by one of his own teammates every time he’d go down for an extended period of time. Iron men like Brett Favre or Cal Ripken Jr are going down too if you roll them up from behind like that. PLENTY of guys have had just flat-out bad luck early on their careers to go on and be perfectly fine later on.
I’m encouraged by the fact that Golson suffered 2 completely different injuries too. If he’d had back to back knee problems I may be more worried but year 1 was a shoulder and year 2 was a foot.
To me, there’s no reason to believe that Golson won’t be ready to go this season.
My overall point with Golson is how do they know what they really have? He could end up being ‘just another corner.’ I’m more optimistic than that but the bottom line is that I don’t think they are in any position to NOT draft CB just because they are hopeful for him.
The single most important thing with this team is the cojone to pull the trigger and go full bore. Or is it deja vu all over again. Really is there anything else?? We have great talent but switching from vanilla ice cream to vanilla sherbet Ain’t going to get us through New England. We need to break out the superman brand. Vanilla just won’t get it done and we already know that.