The grass isn’t always greener, and the Pittsburgh Steelers have learned this the hard way with veteran slot corner Cameron Sutton starting over rookie Beanie Bishop Jr.
Despite strong performances from Bishop, Sutton took over the starting slot CB role after returning from his eight-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
Sutton has remained strong against the run but has struggled significantly against opposing passing attacks—an area of major concern for the Steelers defense over the past few weeks.
Injuries have forced Sutton into an expanded role for the Steelers, as his versatility allows him to play outside in addition to his natural position in the slot. However, these opportunities have only emphasized the need to bench Sutton.
CBs Cory Trice Jr. and James Pierre fit the Steelers’ needs better as outside man-coverage corners, and Bishop has already proven he can create splash plays from the slot.
With that in mind, the first step to addressing the Steelers’ defensive struggles seems simple: bench Sutton and let Trice, Pierre, and Bishop take over the secondary until CBs Joey Porter Jr. and Donte Jackson are fully healthy.
