Steelers Will Be OK Without McFadden

After a week of hoping that Bryant McFadden would decide to stay in Pittsburgh, the Steelers lost him to the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, as Ryan Wilson reported.

It's a disappointment for the Steelers, but one they can easily survive. When McFadden was hurt last year, the Steelers secondary didn't miss a beat. William Gay, the starter when McFadden was hurt, will replace McFadden as a starter, Deshea Townsend will be the nickel back and the Steelers will likely draft a cornerback to eventually replace Townsend and give Gay competition.

According to the Football Outsiders' game charters, Gay was the best cornerback in the league last year in yards allowed per attempt thrown his way, so he's not likely to be in over his head.

But more importantly, Dick LeBeau's zone blitz defense has never been predicated on Pro Bowl cornerbacks (although it gets even better when he has some Pro Bowlers to play with). The Steelers went 15-1 in 2004 with Townsend and a very old Willie Williams starting at cornerback, and they went to the Super Bowl in 1995 with safety Carnell Lake filling in at corner.

The bad news for the Steelers is that losing McFadden means Pittsburgh will need to draft a corner in a corner poor draft, which gives the Steelers less flexibility come draft time, but they won't miss McFadden too much.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

3-08-2009 @ 10:55PM

atgryta said...

Is Carnell Lake a typo?

We went to the Super Bowl in 2005 because a rookie cornerback knocked down a Peyton Manning pass to Reggie Wayne.

I think Big Play Billy Gay can step it up, but I think having a lot of quality cornerbacks is what wins you Super Bowls. But I also think Tomlin can develop cornerbacks.

3-09-2009 @ 12:52AM

iceicedave said...

We will be alright. We need to focus on the offensive line and Defensive line in the draft. We will also need to grab another receiver in the later rounds. Pittsburgh has always been good at addressing needs through the draft.

3-09-2009 @ 11:32AM

marc said...

corner poor draft? colbert has been commenting on CB being one of the deepest positions in the draft this year.

unfortunately, drafting a CB will eat into an OL or DL pick that they sorely need. they will also need to grab a WR somewhere in there (later most likely).

b-mac leaving is something we can handle on the field, but it presents more problems in dealing with our OL and DL for the next few years.

3-09-2009 @ 4:04PM

AOLBROADBANDSUCK said...

STEELERS SUCK, CARDS REALLY WON THE SUPER BOWL...
Point of information:
Kurts arm WAS GOING FORWARD.
USING THE BALL AS A PROP is a 15 yard penalty at kickoff...
Kurt would have hit FITZ for a TD..
STEELERS ARE STEALERS AND CHEATERS.
THEY OWNED THE REFS. Obviously.
1st QUARTER LAST SECOND TD Should have been called back for holding.
SO YOU GUYS GO TAKE A FLYING LEAP..
Pittsburgh YUCK..worst city in the world.

3-18-2009 @ 8:40AM

Kay Industries said...

crybaby

3-09-2009 @ 5:01PM

A. J. said...

So, AOL, your basically still pretty upset the Cardinals lost. That's too bad. GO STEELERS!

3-13-2009 @ 10:50AM

hey AOL,

cost of:
1. a super bowl champion terrible towel...$7
2. a super bowl champion t-shirt...$20
3. a super bowl champion leather jacket...$150

4. a cardinals fan who is still pissed off...

PRICELESS!!

3-09-2009 @ 5:45PM

dave said...

aolbroadbandsucks, you are so jealouse of the steelers success that every nite when your holding your boyfriend , you cry in his arms .Holding on the 100 yd return, you gots be kiddin, wat a loser

3-09-2009 @ 7:24PM

graphicsports said...

I liked McFadden as a player, and was hoping the Steelers would get the chance to bring them back. I read they asked for the opportunity to match any offer McFadden received. Does anyone know whether McFadden give them that opportunity?

3-09-2009 @ 8:15PM

rurdy4dwolf said...

I would just like to say that you all bash the Steelers for being given the pass through the ref's. Just rememeber you all mighty grocery bagger Kurt that took off his helment, and was not subject to a penalty, but Santonio Holmes whom was fined 10,000 for an act that was not noticed till after the fact. I truly wish that Kurt would of gotten the chance to try and throw again, just to prooove that the defense would of made it very simple. They did it in the first half and would of done it in the remainder of the few secounds remaining. Let us not forget whom led the Cardinal's to the Super Bowl. Ken and Russ came from a very good organization if I must say.