Seems like they’ll just know.
Something will go off --- perhaps that proverbial light bulb over Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin’s head. But, yeah, he’ll just know when rookie cornerback Joey Porter Jr., picked with the first selection in the second round in the most recent draft, is ready for prime time.
So, what are the yardsticks and targets Porter would need to hit for this staff to be comfortable throwing him out on that island?
I mean, it must be a scary proposition for any player to be thrust into a plug-and-play proposal, but especially a guy who makes a mistake and --- BAM --- someone is running behind him for a 70-yard touchdown.
“Having had to play a young corner before, you look for the competitiveness, you look that he’s out there and he’s playing with confidence,” Austin said. “But I look for what’s his understanding of his role. Does he understand why we’re putting him in this particular role right now?
“If he understands that, you move toward how’s he actually playing it. Is he doing it well?”
And if that happens, then some of the science goes out the window. You can break down all the film you want, you can talk about the nuances and intricacies and details. But with a young cornerback, as Austin relayed, there might just be a damn epiphany. One that screams, ‘he has it.’
“Then there’s usually a moment where you just go, ‘OK, I think this guy is ready,’” Austin said. “You’re ready to throw him in and understand you may take some lumps with him at some point but that he will grow through those lumps.”
As mandatory minicamp progresses, then training camp and then the preseason, Porter will mostly likely be locked in a battle with both Patrick Peterson and Levi Wallace.
The proposition is simple: Three dogs, two bones.
That’s the way it will work. Three players fighting for two starting spots.
Are members of the staff ready and willing to propel Porter to a starter from Day 1, even as they know a rookie could have growing pains?
“I don’t think it is just Joey,” secondary coach Grady Brown said. “Minkah made mistakes last year. Levi made mistakes last year. And I know Joey is the new guy, but I don’t really look at it any different. There are some things where I say ‘OK, I might need to teach them some different rules … but it is just more so adjustments. Not so much struggles as much as it is adjustments.”
Then there’s the part where paralysis by analysis can set in. Sure, this isn’t Ohio State or Michigan or Purdue anymore --- these are the Bengals and Browns and Ravens. But sometimes players, especially young ones, need to be reminded something elementary … just go out there and play. Don’t let your brain work overtime; trust your body and instincts.
“I believe, just from a society standpoint, we are overthinkers and over-questioners,” Brown said. “That does seep its way into football. You do have to remind guys not to overthink. Not to over-question.”
No question these Steelers have lofty hopes for Porter, Jr. or they wouldn’t have drafted him where they did. It will be intriguing to see just how fast of a track he’s on.