The Pittsburgh Steelers have not been shy about their desire to address the cornerback position heading into the 2023 regular season. It kicked off with the signing of veteran cornerback, Patrick Peterson at the start of free agency and has now become a heated competition. Rookie, Joey Porter Jr. was drafted with the first pick on Day two of the 2023 NFL Draft, Levi Wallace wants to retain his starting spot from 2022, and until a knee injury ended his 2023 season, rookie, Corey Trice Jr. was looking strong. So, where does that leave fourth-year cornerback, James Pierre?
Steelers Get Unimpressive Showing From Pierre
The Steelers didn't hide their desire to give the most opportunities to the players they wanted to evaluate during their first preseason game of 2023 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Rookie left tackle, Broderick Jones played all but 11 offensive snaps, allowing the coaching staff to see him in an actual game scenario instead of just on the practice field. On the defensive side of the ball, with the cornerback position a bit thin thanks to injuries holding out several players, it was Pierre who got the monster share of chances.
Pierre was on the field for 51 defensive snaps, more than any other defensive player, and he managed to tally 10 tackles to lead the team. Unfortunately, that is where the positives end because while Pierre showed that he was a capable tackler, his coverage left quite a bit to be desired. When he was targeted during the 2023 preseason opener, Pierre offered very little resistance to the passing game. Looking purely at the stat sheet, it would appear as though the Steelers would have gotten the same production without any player in coverage at all.
On six targets to Pierre, the Buccaneers completed all six passes for 92 yards. For a veteran player like Pierre, that is unacceptable in any situation, but even more so when there is competition going on within your position group. Pierre will be given more chances with two preseason games left to go before the 2023 regular season begins, but if the same results keep happening, you can bet those opportunities will dry up quickly.
Steelers' Teryl Austin Gives Honest View On Pierre's Performance
The Steelers coaching staff isn't known for gushing to the media about players with overwhelming compliments or positivity, but that doesn't mean they jump at the chance to slam a player either. When Pittsburgh's Defensive Coordinator, Teryl Austin, was asked about how he thought Pierre did in the 2023 preseason game against the Buccaneers, Austin was pretty candid in what he thought. It was clear that there was no cheerful way of defining the errors made by Pierre, but Austin wasn't going to beat around any bush when it came to his defense.
“He plays hard. But I thought he left some plays out there that he could’ve made."
That is as close as a Steeler coach might come to saying that they expected a great deal more out of a fourth-year player like Pierre. The hope was that Pierre would showcase his experience and add some more fire to the cornerback competition, but instead, he simply elevated every other cornerback around him. What was a back-and-forth battle for cornerback depth with Pierre right in the mix, has become an uphill climb with plenty of work for Pierre to make up for.
As for what role Austin sees Pierre having in 2023 for the Steelers, that also may be in question. Following the first 2023 preseason game against the Buccaneers, Austin continued to speak on Pierre's body of work during the game. There is no way for fans or even Pierre himself to know where the team had him slated prior to the Tampa Bay game, but Austin gave some hints as to where Pierre may find himself during the regular season. If Austin's opinion holds throughout the 2023 preseason, depth may be Pierre's best hope.
"We just have to figure out where he fits. Is he the fourth corner, or is he the fifth corner [or] special-teams guy? We don't know that yet."
A directive was given from the defensive coordinator to a veteran player when Austin spoke after the preseason game. The last thing Pierre wants to think about is being on the bubble when roster cuts come around. The difference between that reality and the 2023 Pierre is aiming for lies in his hands alone. With two preseason games remaining and very few days of training camp, time is running out to prove what he can do. At this point, what he has shown won't be enough.
What spot will James Pierre have on the Steelers in 2023?
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