Head-to-head: Steelers CB Bryant McFadden vs. Falcons WR Roddy White

[mesaSteeler]

Head-to-head: Steelers CB Bryant McFadden vs. Falcons WR Roddy White
Sunday, September 12, 2010
By Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10255/1086918-66.stm

Dick LeBeau is not the least bit concerned that cornerback Bryant McFadden, back after a year with the Arizona Cardinals, was repeatedly picked on and beaten for touchdowns in playoff games last year against the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints.

He is more enamored with the way McFadden played for four years with the Steelers -- one of the reasons he was brought back in a draft-day trade with the Cardinals.

"My memory is not that short," said LeBeau, who begins his seventh season as defensive coordinator in his second stint with the Steelers. "I remember the Indy [playoff] game [in 2005] where he picked off the ball in end zone. And before the guy missed the field goal and they threw deep into the end zone, he made a tremendous battling play at the point of reception, the kind of play Indianapolis catches.

"But they didn't catch it against us because our corner, in this case B-Mac, battled all the way to ground. I remember those things."

In McFadden's defense, he played with a bruised sternum and shoulder injury in those playoff games and, by his admission, should not have been playing against the Packers and Saints.

That, though, didn't bother the Steelers. They wanted a proven cornerback opposite Ike Taylor after William Gay, McFadden's replacement, struggled and was eventually benched in his first year as a starter.

And they wanted someone to help a pass defense that uncharacteristically yielded too many big pass plays in 2009 -- a major violation of LeBeau's No. 1 mantra: keep the ball in front of you.

After allowing 23 pass plays of 20 yards or longer and just two longer than 40 yards in 2008, the Steelers allowed twice as many pass plays of 20 yards or longer (46) and nine of 40 yards or longer in 2009. They dropped from No. 1 in the league in pass defense in 2008 to No. 16 in 2009.

Enter McFadden, who will start at right cornerback against the Atlanta Falcons at 1 p.m. today at Heinz Field.

"You always need a player like Bryant," LeBeau said. "He has excellent size, he's a physical corner and he plays equally well against the run and pass. He's got command of our defense and he was brought up in our system. It's all plus-plus-plus with him."

The Falcons have two Pro Bowl receivers for quarterback Matt Ryan -- wideout Roddy White (85 catches, 11 TDs in 2009) and tight end Tony Gonzalez, who needs one more catch for career No. 1,000.

In the past, the Steelers might have assigned Taylor to shadow White, who has 45 catches of 25 yards or longer in five seasons with the Falcons. But, when they have done that in the past, coach Mike Tomlin has acknowledged that the Steelers would rotate one of their safeties toward the receiver Taylor is following -- a tactic they might discard this season.

"With the group of guys around here, no one person matters more than the other," McFadden said. "Everybody works together. This is a team effort and that's what makes our defense so good."

At least, that's what the secondary is hoping.


Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10255...#ixzz0zHx3fnnu

[CLStan7]

i have high hopes for McFadden but i still cant forget about those playoff games last year. he looked terrible against green bay offense but like b-mac said, he was injured and wasn't suppose to play so imma go with that and give him the benefit of the doubt

[MikeHaullace]

How can you not like the return of B-Mac?

There was a more-than-noticeable drop-off from him to Gay.

So what if he had some bad games with Arizona? Hurt or not.

What matters most is how he played when he was here... In the 'Burgh.

I'm pretty sure that level of play was MUCH better than that of Gay.

So, yeah.

Welcome back, B-Mac. I believe, nyucka.

[steeltheone]

Originally Posted by MikeHaullace

How can you not like the return of B-Mac?

There was a more-than-noticeable drop-off from him to Gay.

So what if he had some bad games with Arizona? Hurt or not.

What matters most is how he played when he was here... In the 'Burgh.

I'm pretty sure that level of play was MUCH better than that of Gay.

So, yeah.

Welcome back, B-Mac. I believe, nyucka.

Gay is not that bad....Our whole Defense had issues last year...

[BKAnthem]

I sincerely hope that was an aberration last year....it had to be

[Downbylaw]

Personally, I would rather see Lewis in there. Bmac is too short and too slow. He was getting ate up in SB43 as well.

[Ruffneck525]

please I much prefer Bmac cover skills over Ike " I can't cover anybody" taylor.

As much as IKE get's burned on the field and plays soft coverage but BMAC get's flammed for a few plays.

BMAC is our most consistent corner by far... Ike will look ok one play and then the next two plays look lost and 10 yards away from the reciever then throw a punch because he can't cover.

[Downbylaw]

Originally Posted by Ruffneck525

please I much prefer Bmac cover skills over Ike " I can't cover anybody" taylor.

As much as IKE get's burned on the field and plays soft coverage but BMAC get's flammed for a few plays.

BMAC is our most consistent corner by far... Ike will look ok one play and then the next two plays look lost and 10 yards away from the reciever then throw a punch because he can't cover.

I strongly disagree. Ike is our best corner by far and EVERY exec and coach in the league will agree.

[Downbylaw]

Originally Posted by Downbylaw

Personally, I would rather see Lewis in there. Bmac is too short and too slow. He was getting ate up in SB43 as well.

After today performance, I take this statement back.

[tony hipchest]

nfl.com statsline show b-mac leading the team in tackles with 12 and 2 assists.

timmons was next closest with 9.

hell of a job bryant. welcome back and keep keepin that ball in front of you!

After today performance, I take this statement back.

you cant. its already there. own it.