There is zero question that the Pittsburgh Steelers had a tremendous draft this past weekend. Their first two selections are plug-and-play starters and their next three picks could see playing time, some more than others. The most significant area that wasn’t addressed however was the nickel corner spot and to say it needs addressing is a massive understatement.
Not since Mike Hilton have the Steelers had a guy there that completely fits the bill. Arthur Maulet was serviceable and could make an occasional splash play but he was pretty mediocre overall. Chandon Sullivan, like Patrick Peterson, came over from a Minnesota team that was near the bottom of the NFL in most pass defense categories. While Peterson showed some flashes of his all-pro talents, Sullivan was largely ‘just a guy.’ He didn’t rush the passer and he didn’t cover as well as those who had come before him and it was noticeable.
The position itself has become one of necessity and is no longer one that is an ‘add-on’ or after thought the way it once was. With three-wide receiver sets becoming the norm, having a guy with cover skills AND tackling skills at the point of attack has become an absolute ‘must have’ in today’s NFL.
Solutions
Don’t be a bit surprised if Peterson returns to the Steelers at some point this summer. While his overall skills have diminished, his leadership, smarts and knowledge would be welcome. We saw him play some there last season and normally with better than average results. The problem with Peterson is that you are only going to get so much out of him at the position. It demands a player that can blitz and create havoc for the quarterback. It also requires strong tackling skills especially on running backs who will typically outweigh the defensive back. They must also be able to get off blocks and of course, cover! So yes, Peterson is an option but he shouldn’t be the Steelers’ best option.
Just prior to the Draft starting Thursday night, a report surfaced that Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan had met with former Steelers’ CB Cam Sutton. You’ll recall that Sutton chose to leave the Steelers last offseason and instead he signed a free agent deal with the Detroit Lions. While his season started well, he became a liability in coverage and was exposed more and more as the season and postseason wore on for Detroit.
In making matters worse, he was sought by police for domestic violence. He eventually turned himself in on Easter. In recent days, Sutton has entered a Domestic Violence Diversion program which could help lower his potential penalties. There is still much to learn about the case overall but it doesn’t sound as though Sutton will face much in the way of jail time, if any. I would like to tell you that Tomlin and Khan were visiting Sutton simply out of concern for their former player, but the NFL is a business.
They were there to see exactly what Sutton’s potential is for a return to Pittsburgh as the Lions released him as soon as the warrant was issued for him. What may sound like a great story doesn’t have me ‘in my feels’ simply because I don’t think Sutton is a much better option at the slot corner spot. Should his legal issues work out positively, don’t be surprised if he’s a Training Camp in Latrobe.
Getting Lucky
At this point, the Steelers will need to hope a bit of good fortune comes their way. It’s possible that they could trade for a guy that fits the role perfectly but I’m guessing Khan and Tomlin would prefer not to go that route. Instead, don’t be surprised if they bring in guys in August as teams start making moves in order to be salary cap compliant.
No team is just going to give away a starting level nickel corner but while some teams have too many guys at one position, others can be overloaded at another. This may be the hope of the Steelers. Hope however, is not a strategy and I found it a bit disappointing that they didn’t do more to address their need here.
I will say this though… Omar Khan has appeared to have an answer at almost every turn so far in his tenure as the team’s General Manager and I’m not going to doubt him on this. That said, I am concerned.
