Home Player Spotlight Steelers’ Refusal to Play Boykin Continues to Baffle

Steelers’ Refusal to Play Boykin Continues to Baffle

by Steeldad

Steelers’ cornerback Brandon Boykin got on the field yesterday in Kansas City to play defense. His final stat line? One play, one tackle.

And here I’ve been led to believe he couldn’t tackle!

Not only did he make the tackle but it was on a third down where the ball was thrown perfectly to the receiver he was covering. Boykin made a solid tackle and didn’t allow the receiver to turn up field for the first down. The Chiefs were forced to punt. Boykin’s presence on defense was made possible because starter Antwon Blake had been sidelined for concussion protocol.

Yup. I’m back beating the ‘Boykin Drum’ again because I feel the Steelers are making a mistake. We were told he wasn’t playing because he didn’t tackle well in the open-field. He seemed to do that fine yesterday. Special Teams’ Coach Danny Smith must think his tackling is OK. He was in for 21 special teams’ plays yesterday. Last week, he made a brilliant play on a punt that almost resulted in a touchdown.

OK so maybe it isn’t the tackling. Steelers’ mouthpiece Gerry Dulac suggested that Boykin often “gets lost” in coverage. If that’s the case then what do we call our secondary letting tight ends run free as if they were by themselves in an open pasture? Again, more PR bull crap.

The biggest comment I get from Steelers’ fans is “Boykin can’t be that good if the Eagles were willing to give him up.” That’s not necessarily the case. Boykin is in the last year of his contract and Eagles’ Head Coach Chip Kelly had made it clear that he wanted to move to more size at the cornerback position.

Boykin didn’t fit that role and then became available around draft time when the Steelers initially wanted to trade for him. In August, when it was clear second round pick Senquez Golson would be out, the Steelers made the trade.

Let’s not make any dramatic pronouncements about Boykin’s skills. He’s not Rod Woodson or Mel Blount in any way, shape or form but he should be on the field. In light of what we’ve seen from Blake and other defensive backs, can Boykin really be that bad?

With William Gay’s status in doubt with a shoulder injury, it will be curious to see what the Steelers do with Boykin. I’m certainly not holding my breath and if I were Boykin I wouldn’t either.

 

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8 comments

Chad Baumes October 26, 2015 - 4:33 pm

He can’t possibly be ANY worse. Deion couldn’t tackle either….

steeldad October 26, 2015 - 4:36 pm

Well said Chad.

60minutemen October 26, 2015 - 6:13 pm

I think (just like most fans) that they’re waiting to put him in till week 8 or 9 to avoid giving up a 4th round as opposed to a 5th..but if that’s true it’s smart but stupid..why take your best or better corner whether he a slot or not and sit him? He made a great play yesterday that was huge in the game.theres no way he’s worse than Blake..Blake is still to raw,I want to see what Boykin brings..and a little off the subject but Cam Thomas shouldn’t be in the NFL they need a feasible back up to Tuitt with him being hurt they had no push up front and was able to double team Haywar,d they need to address this in the draft or free Agency..

steeldad October 26, 2015 - 6:29 pm

Thanks for reading… We are now at a point where Boykin would have to play roughly 70 snaps a game in order to hit the mark needed for the pick to become a fourth-rounder. That’s extremely unlikely so if that was their plan all along then we’d see him more. If Gay is out Sunday, then they may have to go to him period.

Steeler 4life November 7, 2015 - 7:16 pm

Mike Tomlin is a fucking joke why would you draft a player and give up a draft pick to bench him because he checked ur dumb ass about losing to the Patriots. If u would have started boykin u would have had a different outcome. I have never seen Gronc that wide open “ur secondary sucks”. I hope and pray Mr. Roony gives u the boot after we don’t make the playoffs!!!!!!!!!

bob graff October 26, 2015 - 7:15 pm

I don’t think you will see him much. This appears to be something more personal than just getting your best player on the field. [see Marcus Allen] And for all the bad talk about Blount at he had an escape plan.

Tony P October 28, 2015 - 5:33 pm

When I think about the teams we find ways to lose to and then read what you guys are saying, one simple answer comes to mind: Tomlin and his staff are average at best. The sooner we get rid of the man at the top, the sooner we become a better team. Unfortunately, I can see it now, lets hire some more former coaches to help him.

steeldad October 28, 2015 - 5:46 pm

You bring up a very interesting point Tony. Tomlin has had at least one head coach as a coordinator each year he’s been HC. Granted, LeBeau’s stint as a HC wasn’t real good but still… Now he has former HC’s at OC/DC and OL Coach. Is that by his design? By Rooney’s design? Of those three, only Haley made a postseason as HC. Perhaps that explains why they can’t consistently put together successful game plans each week. Technically, Tomlin has more playoff experience then any of them sans DLB.

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