Denzel Ward

[Triplethreat]

Deserves a bump. We paid this dude how much?

He got the bag and decided he just doesn’t give a shit. He’s been nothing short of a liability so far this season.

 

[SanduskyCav]

Really seemed like we were playing soft coverage all night and trying to prevent getting burnt deep all around.

 

[Bkerr02]

Johnson is a tough match up for ward. It seems like those small shifty receivers gives ward issues where he excels against the bigger type receivers. I would have liked to see newsome cover those type of guys instead of ward

 

[CosmoKramer]

Ward has been uncharacteristically sloppy this year. Doesn't seem as sticky in coverage anymore, and he's completely blowing assignments.

Last night wasn't as bad as the Jets game, but I can't remember the last time a corner got multiple offsides penalties in a single game like he did.

 

[Ohio]

Really seemed like we were playing soft coverage all night and trying to prevent getting burnt deep all around.

I agree, the strategy was pretty clearly to eliminate big plays at all costs and force the Steelers to have to put long drives together.

In that sense, it worked. But still, Denzel is way better than what he showed last night and has showed through the first 3 weeks. Even if some of it was more or less "by design" - he gave up too much last night.

 

[CBBI]

I agree, the strategy was pretty clearly to eliminate big plays at all costs and force the Steelers to have to put long drives together.

Theoretically this is the overarching defensive strategy in every game.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

I agree, the strategy was pretty clearly to eliminate big plays at all costs and force the Steelers to have to put long drives together.

In that sense, it worked. But still, Denzel is way better than what he showed last night and has showed through the first 3 weeks. Even if some of it was more or less "by design" - he gave up too much last night.

Did it work?

Diontae beat Denzel straight up, had the ball placed on target--and he just let it slip through his hands.

I count that as an absolute failure.

I'm not saying abandon ship--I've said repeatedly on here over the years how high I think of Denzel Ward.

 

[Ohio]

Did it work?

Diontae beat Denzel straight up, had the ball placed on target--and he just let it slip through his hands.

I count that as an absolute failure.

I'm not saying abandon ship--I've said repeatedly on here over the years how high I think of Denzel Ward.

If I'm thinking of the same play you're talking about, Denzel had pretty damn good coverage, it was just a perfect throw. That said, Denzel definitely could have done a better job playing the ball on that particular play (and so could have Diontae obviously; I wonder if they were both surprised to see the ball dropped in there as perfectly as it was, lol). But the coverage itself was fantastic, he couldn't have possibly been in a better position.

 

[Randolphkeys]

I'm sorry but "lose track of your guy because you are staring at the QB, let him get an easy first down" isn't a thing coaches say.

We did win, not that mad about it...I think the constant soft tissue injuries are a problem.

 

[Randolphkeys]

 

[bronko]

But it's not his fault.

 

[Mr. Orange]

There used to be a real halo effect with this guy (he even made Peppers look passable for half a season, btw Peppers is almost out of the league, nailed that one, some here thought he could be a perennial All Pro), but Ward needs to get right. I think scheme has been more of a problem, but Ward simply has to be better. And he will.

 

[Ohio]

Bump for the best man corner in the league!



(Surely PFF gave him a grade of 50 for this elite performance).

 

[Lee]

Bump for the best man corner in the league!



(Surely PFF gave him a grade of 50 for this elite performance).

He was only in on 5 plays, how can they grade him?

 

[MGMT]

Bump for the best man corner in the league!



(Surely PFF gave him a grade of 50 for this elite performance).

If he looks like he was beat on a route across the field but Purdy didn’t look his way you still need to drop his grade a minimum of 30 points.

I don’t know I struggle because I get excited when players grade well but then I make fun of PFF when I can’t make sense of it. Maybe I should just stop offering it attention if I know I can’t have it both ways.