TGIF Steelers’ Fans!
With all due to respect to those fine 1980’s singers “Men Without Hats,” I’m using the line “safety dance” to describe what could be going on in the Steelers’ secondary in 2018. I don’t care what anyone tells you, there isn’t a “true” free safety on the current roster. Because the Steelers don’t use one in the traditional sense, this may not be that big of an issue. But… you have Morgan Burnett who signed in free agency to be a starter. He’s got the smarts and experience but is best suited as a strong safety who can play LB in dime packages. Rookies Marcus Allen and Terrell Edmunds are pretty different players and Allen doesn’t appear to be anything other than a box safety in the NFL. Edmunds is a wild card in that his athleticism is terrific but he seems a better fit at SS. That leaves Sean Davis who has experience in college playing free safety despite almost exclusively playing strong safety in Pittsburgh his first two years.
There will certainly be packages where three safeties are deployed but the question of who those first two guys are remains a mystery for now. Injuries, not picking up the defense mentally, etc will create separation but as of right now, there’s a big dance going on and we aren’t sure who is leading.
We recorded Episode 75 of the Steel City Blitz Podcast presented by 26shirts.com/Pittsburgh last night. Our major discussion was the current state of the Steelers. Are they better today than they were in January? Worse? Listen in.
Tweet of the Day… JuJu loves himself some video games.
The #BlackOps4 reveal event was lit!! ??? Huge thanks to @CallofDuty for inviting me to host and help with the fan experience. This game is crazy! #CallofDutyPartner pic.twitter.com/grDBuqTBJI
— JuJu Smith-Schuster (@TeamJuJu) May 17, 2018
What’s happening with Reuben Foster out in San Francisco is a cautionary tale if I’ve ever heard one. If you haven’t seen the latest, his ex-girlfriend has backtracked on all of her previous allegations against Foster for assaulting her. She now admits he never laid a hand on her and was physically scarred from a fight with a woman the night before. Like many of you I always dreamed of being a professional athlete but I’m not sure I’d want that anymore. Foster was pretty much guilty in the court of public opinion (otherwise known as social media) but thankfully this woman came forward and did the right thing. Pro athletes have to be incredibly careful who they surround themselves with in this day and age and this another example.
Of all of the undrafted free agents the Steelers brought in Matthew Thomas is easily the most intriguing. The former Florida State product has had off-field issues and his commitment to football has been questioned. What isn’t to be questioned is that this kid is very talented. With the lack of depth at inside linebacker, don’t be surprised if he makes a push to be on the roster during camp.
Full-Team OTAs return next week.
Have a great week Steeler Nation!
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