Shamarko Thomas

[t-man]

I told my daughter, when she said after a punt play "who was that guy". I said, "That's the guy that's going to replace Troy next year". Was I wrong? I seriously think this guy needs to be given time in the off-season and pre-season workouts to take the spot. Who thinks from what I've seen I'm right, and who thinks I'm on crack.

Oh, and why the **** is Ventrone still JUST playing special teams, when he is REGULARLY the guy that shows up, hair flying, to be at on on the ball when someone gets to it. I mean, ****, if a guy is getting near the ball that often on special teams, how much WORSE can he be than the "run back 3 yards and tackle 2 yards past the first down marker" guy can he be?

Joe

 

[SteelerSask2]

I have no problem with Thomas, but he is a an't make the team from the tub guy. That is his issue.

 

[Steelmann]

I just don't get it as well. I know he has all sorts of nagging injuries,but really,it is time. If not given a great chance of starting full time next year it is time to move on. I would love to see what he can do.

 

[stillwright]

I think I read somewhere he is still picking up the defense. Give him one more season guys.

 

[Omar10213245]

He should be good to go by 2020

 

[Super Dave]

Players status on the depth chart is determined by pedigree.......sorry Shamarko, Troy and Mitchell are former 1st rd draft picks, you are merely a 4th, that cost us a 3rd............

 

[awboatguy]

Troy and Mitchell will be gone next year. Shamarko and Ventrone will have their chances.

 

[Punxsutawney]

Shamarko is such an agile, explosive athlete, with such impressive college ball video, that I'm willing to give him another season to make the transition.

Like him, Ike Taylor and Chris Hope were talented mid round picks that did not start in the secondary until their respective third years. Hell, it took Kennan Lewis four years to figure it out.

I just wish they could find a way to make the system easier for the young guys to absorb.

 

[Punxsutawney]

Troy and Mitchell will be gone next year. Shamarko and Ventrone will have their chances.

Mitchell will be here next season. He wasn't good by any stretch, but wasn't quite bad enough to compel them to cut him one year into his contract.

 

[Supersteeler]

He seems to have regressed in year 2, at least in the eyes of the coaches. He may not be here much longer honestly.

 

[STEELERS R GR8]

T-man, you are right but the guy just can't stay healthy and that scares me. But my question is when he was healthy and Troy was our why did they not give him some time to see if he is worth keeping around next year? I am sick of the "he can't pick up the system" crap we hear that with all the rookies and all I have to say is this.....if the guys out there are playing like they "know the system" then we are in real trouble!
How hard is it to play out of position and guess wrong most of the time at safety or how about coming up to make a tackle and whiff??? Hey here is a tough one lets play 15 yards off the receiver and try to make a tackle 30 yards down the field!! Time to give these young guys a chance and see what they have if they can't play get rid of them don't hang onto them as a camp/practice body just because. Let's not forget just cause a guy is on a practice squad don't mean he can't be sign to our roster, they can. Now I am not saying just get rid of a guy just like that but hey if the coaches are scared to give a guy like Shark a chance what is his purpouse on this team? Don't say special teams cause there are a lot of guys out there for just special teams.
There my rant is over sorry if I sound negative but this is my 1st post since the loss and I am still bitter.........

 

[SteelerFan448]

Thomas has the work ethic and all of the physical skills in the world, but he did seem to regress and couldn't even get a defensive snap. He also took one of the most mindless personal foul calls that help set up the Ravens last field goal.

 

[Steeltime]

Well, you can't play Thomas and take away valuable playing time from Mike "Personal Foul" Mitchell.

 

[GMC]

Well, you can't play Thomas and take away valuable playing time from Mike "Personal Foul" Mitchell.

I really wonder if Mitchell's poor play wasn't part of the reason Thomas couldn't get on the field. Couldn't put an inexperienced guy out there with a FS that is lost too?

 

[21STEELERS21]

I think if Thomas wasn't hurt earlier in the year he would have got playing time. When Troy got hurt later in the year, they went with the veteran, which
was understandable. I think Troy is back for one last year, because the cap savings does not exceed the value of having him on the roster, even if
he just mentors Thomas.

 

[Superman]

if Troy is gone, and Mitchell prefers to play so close to the LOS, could we put Shamarko back there?

 

[Spike]

2 more years on the bench and he'll have this defense down, I tell you

 

[Drink IRON City]

I agree on what was said about Troy and one more year. Shamarko needs field time, His injury / learning / is over. Put up or shut up. I think he is up to the task, so lets let it happen.




Salute the nnation

 

[TDX27]

Mitchell will be here next year. If anyone gets cut in the secondary, it should be Cortez Allen. That was the dumbest signing. Uh, duh, we signed him because he was available. OK, but you don't break the bank for a scrub just because he is available. Whoever made that decision should be fired this week.

 

[bermudasteel]

Mitchell will be here next season. He wasn't good by any stretch, but wasn't quite bad enough to compel them to cut him one year into his contract.

Agreed. Let us remember that Mitchell came from a 4-3 defensive scheme w/ a VERY GOOD front 7 that created many "tossed up" balls - meaning he didn't have the same complexity there and he didn't have to cover very long...

 

[slashsteel]

If I was a guessing man I would say his lack of reps at this stage in his career points to a bust............

He should be just a small piece of the equation in the offseason. Similar to the Spence situation.....

 

[oicu8ad]

Troy and Mitchell will be gone next year. Shamarko and Ventrone will have their chances.

Man, I hope you are right.

 

[deljzc]

If Polamalu retires (and I think if we release him for salary cap reasons, he will retire rather than play elsewhere), then I suspect we will go into 2015 with Shamarko Thomas, Will Allen, Mike Mitchell and a draft pick as our four roster safeties. I would not rule out a 5th guy that has bounced on/off the roster as well over the last couple years as a special teams guy and someone who shows some smarts to the coaches.

Expect a draft pick on a safety in the top-3 rounds if Polamalu retires.

 

[SteelerFan448]

If Polamalu retires (and I think if we release him for salary cap reasons, he will retire rather than play elsewhere), then I suspect we will go into 2015 with Shamarko Thomas, Will Allen, Mike Mitchell and a draft pick as our four roster safeties. I would not rule out a 5th guy that has bounced on/off the roster as well over the last couple years as a special teams guy and someone who shows some smarts to the coaches.

Expect a draft pick on a safety in the top-3 rounds if Polamalu retires.

I'm not sure Polamalu retires on his own, but if he doesn't, the Steelers will unfortunately have to give him the Hines Ward treatment. I'll miss watching Troy on the field, but he is no longer an asset.

 

[stuntmanmike]

thomas is kinda how we do things now... they didnt push him to replace the one and only best safthy in steeler history....