So what's The word so far on Artie Burns?

I live in NY so i'm Limited in my views of the Steelers, But he's looked ok to me in games i've seen, and doesn't he lead the Team in Picks and Passes Defensed?

Here is what PFF said about him a month ago when they ranked the performance of all the 31 first round picks.

25. Artie Burns, CB, Steelers (University of Miami)

Snaps: 239

Overall grade: 50.1

Much of the downgrades Burns has received have been in the run game, and his six missed tackles lead all rookie cornerbacks, but his coverage has been less than stellar, too. He has allowed 70.8 percent of the passes thrown his way to be caught, and is giving up a passer rating of 108.0 when targeted.
https://www.profootballfocus.com/pro-how-all-31-first-round-picks-have-played-this-season/

He doesn't have great technique and his 2 INT's were underthrows, but I am pleasantly surprised with his progress. I hope he continues to progress and work hard to improve, because I really thought he looked raw coming out of college.

Lets hope he continues to get better for the next couple seasons and not plateau at the end of this season.

El-Gonzo Jackson wrote:

Here is what PFF said about him a month ago when they ranked the performance of all the 31 first round picks.

25. Artie Burns, CB, Steelers (University of Miami)

Snaps: 239

Overall grade: 50.1

Much of the downgrades Burns has received have been in the run game, and his six missed tackles lead all rookie cornerbacks, but his coverage has been less than stellar, too. He has allowed 70.8 percent of the passes thrown his way to be caught, and is giving up a passer rating of 108.0 when targeted.
https://www.profootballfocus.com/pro-how-all-31-first-round-picks-have-played-this-season/

He doesn't have great technique and his 2 INT's were underthrows, but I am pleasantly surprised with his progress.  I hope he continues to progress and work hard to improve, because I really thought he looked raw coming out of college.

Lets hope he continues to get better for the next couple seasons and not plateau at the end of this season.  

pretty accurate

schillah wrote:

El-Gonzo Jackson wrote:

Here is what PFF said about him a month ago when they ranked the performance of all the 31 first round picks.

25. Artie Burns, CB, Steelers (University of Miami)

Snaps: 239

Overall grade: 50.1

Much of the downgrades Burns has received have been in the run game, and his six missed tackles lead all rookie cornerbacks, but his coverage has been less than stellar, too. He has allowed 70.8 percent of the passes thrown his way to be caught, and is giving up a passer rating of 108.0 when targeted.
https://www.profootballfocus.com/pro-how-all-31-first-round-picks-have-played-this-season/

He doesn't have great technique and his 2 INT's were underthrows, but I am pleasantly surprised with his progress.  I hope he continues to progress and work hard to improve, because I really thought he looked raw coming out of college.

Lets hope he continues to get better for the next couple seasons and not plateau at the end of this season.  

pretty accurate

yes, but that article was written after week 7 or 8 I think. In the past month Burns still shows some of the same lapses and weak technique, but I think his tackling is getting better and he seems more confident in coverage. I don't know how they give their grades, but if they gave him a 50.1 at that point, I would say his game is rising up to a 65 if you factor in the last month.

He's a rookie and he is getting better game to game. Same can be said about Davis and Hargrave as well. They are getting better game to game. The last two teams have been prettty pathetic but it's still the NFL.

He is a rookie. He makes some nice plays, but makes some rookie mistakes.

He seems to be getting better each week though.

I think the more experience he gets, hes going to be one hell of a corner

TollingtheBell26 wrote:

I think the more experience he gets, hes going to be one hell of a corner

I hope so...I want to see a 2017 secondary of

LCB- Gilbert

RCB- Burns

SS- Mitchell

FS- Davis

SCB-Cockrell

The arrow is definitely pointing up. Physical tools are there; hope he learns the game well enough to be a top flight CB.

He looks like he can develop into a top CB. Kudos to Colbert & Tomlin. (even more so with the 2nd round pick in Davis)

Cockrell continues to get better and better week in and week out Burns and Davis are improving weekly, we still even have Gilbert waiting in the wings the secondary could be a beast if injuries are avoided and they continue to gel.

SteelerFreak58 wrote:

Cockrell continues to get better and better week in and week out Burns and Davis are improving weekly, we still even have Gilbert waiting in the wings the secondary could be a beast if injuries are avoided and they continue to gel.

I'm not sold on Cockrell yet.   In his defense, we do ask a lot from him...covering WR #1's most of the time.

Burns must be getting better; some of my friends (not Steelers fans) are noticing him in games...they've asked me about him after seeing him play on TV.

Davis looks promising and hopefully Gilbert gets the chance to show what he can add to the secondary.

FrancoLambert wrote:

SteelerFreak58 wrote:

Cockrell continues to get better and better week in and week out Burns and Davis are improving weekly, we still even have Gilbert waiting in the wings the secondary could be a beast if injuries are avoided and they continue to gel.

I'm not sold on Cockrell yet.   In his defense, we do ask a lot from him...covering WR #1's most of the time.

Burns must be getting better; some of my friends (not Steelers fans) are noticing him in games...they've asked me about him after seeing him play on TV.

Davis looks promising and hopefully Gilbert gets the chance to show what he can add to the secondary.

Cockrell is playing well and I expect them to try and get him a longer term deal in the offseason. He is a guy that is always around the football and challenging the reception. I will give you that he sometimes has some lapses, but consider these stats so far this season.

Xavier Rhodes...33 Tackles, 9 Passes Defended, 4 INT
Josh Norman.....48 Tackles, 12 Passes Defended, 1 INT
Ross Cockrell....44 Tackles, 11 Passes Defended, 0 INT

That being said, Cockrell is a guy that is a 2nd tier CB, but getting the job done well. Much better than #41 from last season IMO.

El-Gonzo Jackson wrote:

FrancoLambert wrote:

SteelerFreak58 wrote:

Cockrell continues to get better and better week in and week out Burns and Davis are improving weekly, we still even have Gilbert waiting in the wings the secondary could be a beast if injuries are avoided and they continue to gel.

I'm not sold on Cockrell yet.   In his defense, we do ask a lot from him...covering WR #1's most of the time.

Burns must be getting better; some of my friends (not Steelers fans) are noticing him in games...they've asked me about him after seeing him play on TV.

Davis looks promising and hopefully Gilbert gets the chance to show what he can add to the secondary.

Cockrell is playing well and I expect them to try and get him a longer term deal in the offseason.  He is a guy that is always around the football and challenging the reception.  I will give you that he sometimes has some lapses, but consider these stats so far this season.

Xavier Rhodes...33 Tackles, 9 Passes Defended, 4 INT
Josh Norman.....48 Tackles, 12 Passes Defended, 1 INT
Ross Cockrell....44 Tackles, 11 Passes Defended, 0 INT

That being said, Cockrell is a guy that is a 2nd tier CB, but getting the job done well.  Much better than #41 from last season IMO.

Totally agree. IMHO, the greatest part of Cockrell is the future. He's got 4 more games to tighten up his play, then we will see what he's made of if the Steelers make the playoffs. In fact, playoff experience will be huge for the young secondary players. The Browns and Colts were horrible teams and the only good thing we learned from those wins is that the Steelers can, in fact, win against basement dwellers. But beating the Giants they way they did shows me this team is playing better and the secondary specifically is much improved.

I agree that Cockrell is a candidate to get a long term contract.

He and Burns are the future outside corners for this team.

Only can hope Golson can somehow stay healthy and become the slot CB. Gay won't play forever.

BlackAndGold wrote:

I agree that Cockrell is a candidate to get a long term contract.

He and Burns are the future outside corners for this team.

Only can hope Golson can somehow stay healthy and become the slot CB. Gay won't play forever.

I think Golson is going to be fine and that solid slot corner that will surprise fans. Justin Gilbert is also in the mix and if he works hard, can push to be the #3 if Golson or Cockrell falter. Gilbert is still a big unknown.

El-Gonzo Jackson wrote:

BlackAndGold wrote:

I agree that Cockrell is a candidate to get a long term contract.

He and Burns are the future outside corners for this team.

Only can hope Golson can somehow stay healthy and become the slot CB. Gay won't play forever.

I think Golson is going to be fine and that solid slot corner that will surprise fans.  Justin Gilbert is also in the mix and if he works hard, can push to be the #3 if Golson or Cockrell falter.  Gilbert is still a big unknown.

I won't hold my breath, the kid hasn't even played 1 preseason game yet. I'll be surprised if he's even on the roster in 2 years

LOOKS like the 2017 Steelers defense will have the best Nickel and Dime defensive back field in the league all DBs starting material not a weak link.

This is what I really wanted in this new Steelers defense rebuild don't get me wrong I like the old smash mouth blitzing run stopping defense but they had a some trouble when offenses spread them out.

It would be great if a couple of quick and fast DEs and a pass coverage LB fell into the Steelers lap in the 2017 draft.

Don't care if its a 3-4 or a 4-3 a hybred defensive front just want the defense simple as possible so everybody plays fast and able to get young talent on the field faster.

when every one is fast any one can blitz, run blitz pass blitz.

Fire Arians wrote:

El-Gonzo Jackson wrote:

BlackAndGold wrote:

I agree that Cockrell is a candidate to get a long term contract.

He and Burns are the future outside corners for this team.

Only can hope Golson can somehow stay healthy and become the slot CB. Gay won't play forever.

I think Golson is going to be fine and that solid slot corner that will surprise fans.  Justin Gilbert is also in the mix and if he works hard, can push to be the #3 if Golson or Cockrell falter.  Gilbert is still a big unknown.

I won't hold my breath, the kid hasn't even played 1 preseason game yet. I'll be surprised if he's even on the roster in 2 years

Golson was a better college CB than Sean Spence was a college LB. I'm not going to write him off yet, although some wrote him off on draft day because he is 5'9".

El-Gonzo Jackson wrote:

Fire Arians wrote:

El-Gonzo Jackson wrote:

BlackAndGold wrote:

I agree that Cockrell is a candidate to get a long term contract.

He and Burns are the future outside corners for this team.

Only can hope Golson can somehow stay healthy and become the slot CB. Gay won't play forever.

I think Golson is going to be fine and that solid slot corner that will surprise fans.  Justin Gilbert is also in the mix and if he works hard, can push to be the #3 if Golson or Cockrell falter.  Gilbert is still a big unknown.

I won't hold my breath, the kid hasn't even played 1 preseason game yet. I'll be surprised if he's even on the roster in 2 years

Golson was a better college CB than Sean Spence was a college LB.  I'm not going to write him off yet, although some wrote him off on draft day because he is 5'9".

At 5'9" with good hands playing in a zone defense think he could grab a couple of INTs in a dime defense.

effyou515 wrote:

El-Gonzo Jackson wrote:

Fire Arians wrote:

El-Gonzo Jackson wrote:

BlackAndGold wrote:

I agree that Cockrell is a candidate to get a long term contract.

He and Burns are the future outside corners for this team.

Only can hope Golson can somehow stay healthy and become the slot CB. Gay won't play forever.

I think Golson is going to be fine and that solid slot corner that will surprise fans.  Justin Gilbert is also in the mix and if he works hard, can push to be the #3 if Golson or Cockrell falter.  Gilbert is still a big unknown.

I won't hold my breath, the kid hasn't even played 1 preseason game yet. I'll be surprised if he's even on the roster in 2 years

Golson was a better college CB than Sean Spence was a college LB.  I'm not going to write him off yet, although some wrote him off on draft day because he is 5'9".

At 5'9" with good hands playing in a zone defense think he could grab a couple of INTs in a dime defense.

IF, he comes back healthy he becomes the nickel CB and replaces Gay next season. Golson has ball skills, passion for the game and is a solid athlete.



According to a 2015 study from the U of Penn....93% of NFL players who suffer a midfoot injury return to play in 15 month or less with no significant decrease in performance. http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/news/News_Releases/2015/03/lisfranc/

I didn't think Golson's injury was deemed to be that severe, so I would again plan for him to be good to go next summer in training camp.