The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted cornerback Artie Burns from the University of Miami to help the team’s struggling secondary. The 6 foot corner was considered a second round draft pick but ended up being taken at 25 overall by the Steelers.
When Pittsburgh signed Burns it was like the whole world stopped. Comments arose. He’s too small, he’s too weak, he can’t do this, or that… the talk continued and still continues today.
The Steelers have a solid defensive coordinator in Keith Butler, who had some tough shoes to fill after replacing Hall of Fame coach Dick LeBeau in 2015. In an interview over at Steelers.com Butler talked with Teresa Varley about Burns and what he is good at and what he needs to improve.
Artie has what we call good length. Not that he is 6-4, but he is 6-0 tall. He has the wing span of a guy who is 6-3, 6-4. He has long arms and he can intercept the ball. He anticipates the ball well. He does a great job of bump and run. He can play off a little bit. He needs to work on that a little bit. Often time colleges don’t have the time to spend working on technique you are going to need to play football in the National Football League. Those things we are going to have to work on with him.
These were solid comments made by Butler talking about Burns, who has overcame so much adversity in his life and just wants to shut the critics up with his awesome play in 2016.
We will just have to wait and see but mark my words Artie Burns will make his debut sometime in 2016 and will become a force on that defense.
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Bobby
June 5, 2016 at 9:27 pm
We have another AB on the defensive side now to root for. I hope that one of these CBs can step up to be a stable force in the secondary.
Nathaniel Bodnar
June 5, 2016 at 11:20 pm
Didn’t realize until you just said that. Great to know and hope for. AB on offense, AB on defense. Let’s hope Burns is half the athlete Brown is and then Pittsburgh will be glad they selected him in the 1st round.
DaveB.
June 7, 2016 at 7:11 am
Keith Butler did a great job last year considering he had very little to work with in his first season . Now that the team has invested in the defense , Butler should be able to put a decent defense on the field . The biggest question mark the Steelers have on defense is are the outside linebackers , namely , Jarvis Jones and Bud Dupree going to be able to get consistent pressure on the quarterback. If they can , this defense is already better . If they cant , this young secondary will be picked apart like swiss cheese . Only time will tell .
Bobby
June 7, 2016 at 8:29 am
The Steelers have to cut Jarvis Jones to save cap space. They made a big mistake with him and he is not worth the money.