Shamarko Thomas

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Polamalu is probably not going to play this week. So with that comes my main question... Does Shamarko finally get his first start? Injuries aside, with all the issues surrounding the defensive secondary and the spotty play of both Poly and Mitchell, one has to wonder why they haven't given snaps to Shamarko Thomas.

This season he has been dogged by injuries that have kept him from logging meaningful snaps on the defense when Polamalu has been injured. But he’s been healthy the last couple games when both Polamalu & Mitchell got injured, and he still hasn’t played a snap?? Not exactly cause for thinking that he is Polamalu's heir apparent. I would love to see Shamarko on the field more, but the coaches seem intent on playing the veterans. To me it could mean 1 or 2 things:

1) Shamarko is not up to par with Lebeau’s system.
or
2) His injuries are still bothering him. Which in turn slows his progress.

How are we ever going to know if he is Polamalu’s heir if he only ever sees the field on special teams? Yea he's a beast on ST... And judging from the preseason he looked sharp in run coverage, but didn’t see a lot of pass coverage from him. But that’s the preseason… I want to see him thrust into an important matchup like this weekend and see how he responds. It's a sure-fire way to find out what he’s made of!

Whatever the reason, it’s very debatable that putting Shamarko in would improve the covering ability of the secondary since we haven’t seen him play yet (other than preseason). Answers haven’t been provided, but one thing is for sure… Polamalu is at the end of his career. Shamarko should be thrust into the spotlight this offseason.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

I think you know my feelings here...I would love to see this squad win the next two and go on a roll in Jan, but the reality is this team still has holes...and S play has not been stellar this season.

Troy...he's has played about the same as LY, maybe a tad off the mark even...he's not the same player, the end is this year imo...youth is the future of the team.

Granted Shark as been injured a lot this yr. But it concerns me to see Will Allen getting the nod over a healthy Shark whenever Troy has missed time this year. I don't get that...it's not as if Shark didn't play at all LY.

If Shark is not next man up AFTER Troy...he can't be his replacement.

 

[Adanac]

if Archer is a waste of a pick, then so is Thomas....


patience.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

I think you know my feelings here...I would love to see this squad win the next two and go on a roll in Jan, but the reality is this team still has holes...and S play has not been stellar this season.

Troy...he's has played about the same as LY, maybe a tad off the mark even...he's not the same player, the end is this year imo...youth is the future of the team.

Granted Shark as been injured a lot this yr. But it concerns me to see Will Allen getting the nod over a healthy Shark whenever Troy has missed time this year. I don't get that...it's not as if Shark didn't play at all LY.

If Shark is not next man up AFTER Troy...he can't be his replacement.

This is what concerns me the most. He played a lot more last season than he has this year. Just doesn't make much sense. It's like the coaches only see ST value in him and nothing else.

The coaches definitely know better than anyone else, so maybe he's just not the player we thought he was going to be? I think the media hyped him up more than they should have. All I heard all offseason was about Poly taking Shamarko under his wing, and from there the media went crazy with it. But one thing is for sure... If he turns out to be the player we DID think he was/is, then we will always look back on this season and wonder WTF the coaches were doing keeping him sidelined...

 

[ATL96Steeler]

This is what concerns me the most. He played a lot more last season than he has this year. Just doesn't make much sense. It's like the coaches only see ST value in him and nothing else.

The coaches definitely know better than anyone else, so maybe he's just not the player we thought he was going to be? I think the media hyped him up more than they should have. All I heard all offseason was about Poly taking Shamarko under his wing, and from there the media went crazy with it. But one thing is for sure... If he turns out to be the player we DID think he was/is, then we will always look back on this season and wonder WTF the coaches were doing keeping him sidelined...

It's baffling (lack of time on DEF) after last season...Coaches...I've always been somewhat leery of Shark because of his stature, but he showed me enough to know that he belongs on an NFL field...the draft will tell us a lot about how the staff really feels about Shark.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Well...I don't recall seeing Shark out there on DEF and when I looked up the snap counts per player...it was confirmed...Mitchell and Allen got 100% of the DEF snaps.

I really don't know what that means other than Lebeau prefers guys that have been in the trenches for him or just vets in general...#50 had to really show something to start at the beginning of the year.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

I didn't see him out there either, just on ST. Will Allen played a great game. And sorry, but not sorry to say that the secondary is a lot better with Polamalu & Taylor not playing. But that has something to do with the way the front 7 played yesterday. But they should can still take their time with their injuries

I think Mitchell looked a lot more impressive since Troy wasn't out there gambling and leaving him exposed. Just my 2 cents!

 

[ATL96Steeler]

I didn't see him out there either, just on ST. Will Allen played a great game. And sorry, but not sorry to say that the secondary is a lot better with Polamalu & Taylor not playing. But that has something to do with the way the front 7 played yesterday. But they should can still take their time with their injuries

I think Mitchell looked a lot more impressive since Troy wasn't out there gambling and leaving him exposed. Just my 2 cents!

Amen brother!

CIN like everyone else will go after Blake, but I'd rather that than Ike and Troy (of old) is just a memory for the most part.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Shamarko Thomas, Steelers man of mystery - Behind the Steel Curtain

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Workin hard!

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

The time is now for Steelers safety Shamarko Thomas - Behind the Steel Curtain

Captain obvious in the building

 

[Psych-Ward]

The time is now for Steelers safety Shamarko Thomas - Behind the Steel Curtain

Captain obvious in the building

Where???? What's he wearing???

 

[shabazz916]

ppl expect him to fill troys shoes.. he is in for a long season

 

[ATL96Steeler]

ppl expect him to fill troys shoes.. he is in for a long season

He's 5'9" in cleats...big hitter, but I worry about his size in coverage vs TEs that are 6'4" 250 on average...Gronk ate his lunch, and still torched him for about 150...to his credit, he was a rookie then.

I'm in wait and see mode here.

 

[shabazz916]

He's 5'9" in cleats...big hitter, but I worry about his size in coverage vs TEs that are 6'4" 250 on average...Gronk ate his lunch, and still torched him for about 150...to his credit, he was a rookie then.

I'm in wait and see mode here.

any good TE with a great qb are going to torch safties since you can't touch ppl over the middle

 

[Psych-Ward]

With Troy gone, it's Thomas' turn

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Pittsburgh Steelers reported waiver claim for D.J. Swearinger speaks volumes about safety position - Behind the Steel Curtain

Wow... Surprised to hear this. This does not bode well for Thomas. They clearly have zero confidence in him. Not sure exactly why because the kid hasn't been given the chance to prove himself on the field.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Pittsburgh Steelers reported waiver claim for D.J. Swearinger speaks volumes about safety position - Behind the Steel Curtain

Wow... Surprised to hear this. This does not bode well for Thomas. They clearly have zero confidence in him. Not sure exactly why because the kid hasn't been given the chance to prove himself on the field.

I think what it means is the reality of what we've been saying since Will Allen got the call over Shark LY...something is up...I would not have been shocked if PIT went S @ 22 and I'm a little surprised that they waiting until the 7th to take a S and I also will not be surprised to see Grant shifted to S.

It's wide open competition, but Shark will get a chance.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

I think what it means is the reality of what we've been saying since Will Allen got the call over Shark LY...something is up...I would not have been shocked if PIT went S @ 22 and I'm a little surprised that they waiting until the 7th to take a S and I also will not be surprised to see Grant shifted to S.

It's wide open competition, but Shark will get a chance.

The only thing that makes me think they aren't considering Grant at Safety is the shear volume they already have in-house of true safeties... Mitchell, Thomas, W. Allen, R. Golden, Holliman, Ventrone, Dangerfield, and Lewis. But in reality, 4 of those guys are probably only STers.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

The only thing that makes me think they aren't considering Grant at Safety is the shear volume they already have in-house of true safeties... Mitchell, Thomas, W. Allen, R. Golden, Holliman, Ventrone, Dangerfield, and Lewis. But in reality, 4 of those guys are probably only STers.

They might not.

But...your last sentence speaks the loudest...how many have legit starter skills? Mitchell is the only lock to be on the field in Sept. Idt they would've said anything publicly about moving Mitchell to SS or Grant playing S if they thought they were set.