Previous to padded practices, one Pittsburgh Steeler has impressed somewhat persistently – CB Asante Samuel Jr. His 2024/2025 seasons have been lower brief by damage, which clearly took time to get better from. Up to now in camp, Samuel is making performs on the soccer each day. This bought me curious: what did his final wholesome season (in 2023) seem like by way of go breakups?
Here’s a record of 2023 cornerbacks that had double-digit go breakups:
Right here we see that solely 11 corners had double-digit go breakups, together with Samuel. His 11 go breakups tied for fifth finest in 2023, fairly a formidable feat certainly. The numbers give extra particular context to Samuel’s fame as a ball hawk, which the Steelers have been definitely hoping he’d return to as soon as wholesome.
That matches the id of Pittsburgh’s protection completely, one which strongly emphasizes creating turnovers. This will likely have the Steelers rethinking defensive plans in a great way, contemplating Joey Porter Jr. and Jamel Dean are the probably starters on the surface barring damage. Samuel has primarily been an outdoor nook too, and is making noise to see the sector in additional than backup obligation as well.
It’s early, with padded practices simply beginning this week and many extra practices left. If Samuel is ready to hold making performs on the soccer commonly, it will likely be an excellent “problem” to have with strong CB depth and starter-worthy gamers. The 2023 information means that when totally wholesome, it’s a good transfer to have Samuel on the sector contemplating his knack for making extra performs on the soccer than the vast majority of his friends.
Porter can be sturdy on this space, considered one of 11 corners to match the identical feat in 2025 with 11 go breakups. The one season that Dean had ten go breakups was manner again in 2019, his rookie season. This isn’t meant to discredit him, with many unaware of how good Dean was in protection final season. However commonly lacking cut-off dates his potential to make an inventory just like the chart for this text.
Barring a sudden damage, Samuel will see the sector in 2026. How usually is the query. His play to this point in camp is making noise, little question, and can hopefully proceed for the Black and Gold. In that case, it may very well be fairly the cornerback trio that DC Patrick Graham could be clever to get artistic with and get their deserving play onto the sector.
