Pittsburgh Steelers’ Defensive Back Cam Sutton has been suspended eight games by the National Football League for domestic abuse. While the official charge is a misdemeanor, the NFL has clearly been aggressive when addressing these types of incidents. The ‘on-field’ part of this is where I’m heading however.
When allegations against Sutton were levied, the Detroit Lions released him immediately. Sutton had signed with the Lions prior to the 2023 season and was thought to be their primary cornerback of the season. Unfortunately his play did not live up to those expectations. Detroit drafted two corners this Spring after seeing how poorly their secondary performed in the postseason.
Where Sutton was to fit in those plans is uncertain but when he was released, speculation was immediately growing around a possible return to the Steelers. There’s no question Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin knew that Sutton would likely miss time due to suspension but I’m not sure they expected half the season (Sutton is not appealing by the way).
Their plan for Sutton would be to put him in the slot and use him on the boundary only in emergency situations. Personally I don’t have a ton of confidence in Sutton in the slot but it’s way higher than if he were to be on the boundary. He’s a smart player who knows what he’s doing and often knows what everyone else is doing too on any given play. He’s at his best when he can keep guys in front of him and at his worst when he has to turn and run in man coverage.
I like Sutton’s ability to make plays in the backfield against the run and while he isn’t Mike Hilton as a pass rusher, his smarts could allow him to be solid. With him gone for the first half of the season, that means someone else needs to step up. The guy I’m looking most at is rookie Beanie Bishop, Jr out of West Virginia.
He played six seasons of college ball at three schools (Western Kentucky, Minnesota and WVU). It was his 2023 season that really drew attention to him. Despite being undersized and lacking in top speed, his aggression and feisty play saw him break up 24 passes and collect four picks. Despite the production, he was not highly sought by teams in the NFL.
That’s the bad news. The good news is that he appears to be a perfect fit to play the nickel. Playing there should allow him to keep his face forward. Not having to turn and run often will be a benefit. His willingness to tackle and take on blockers will also endear him to his teammates.
While all of this sounds great on paper, it’s up to Bishop to make it work. If he catches on quickly and can handle the physical and mental aspects then the need for Cam Sutton is no longer there. If he can’t, then the Steelers find themselves in another pickle at the nickel.
