CB Cockrell also wants crack at stopping Brown
Coaches have Burns covering All-Pro WR every day in camp
All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown has worked exclusively against second-year cornerback Artie Burns during the first week of training camp. It’s a directive from head coach Mike Tomlin, who wants to see how his young corner reacts to guarding one of the best receivers in the NFL.
Ross Cockrell wants a piece of Antonio Brown, too, and he’s not being quiet about it.
“I want to go against Antonio Brown just as badly as Artie Burns does,” Cockrell said. “Coach has made a decision, so I’m working on Coach to try and change that decision.”
Cockrell has started 23 games for the Steelers since being picked up off the waiver wire before the 2015 season. That’s 15 more than Burns, who started eight times as a rookie last season.
The Steelers are grooming Burns to be their No. 1 corner. That shouldn’t come as a surprise. He was their first-round pick last year, and first-round picks are destined for such roles if they perform well.
Cockrell, meanwhile, has a bit of a chip on his shoulder. The Steelers tendered him the lowest possible offer in restricted free agency, and he is playing the season for $1.79 million. He will become an unrestricted free agent after the season.
Cockrell can make himself some nice dough if he plays well this season, and he selfishly wants to take on the responsibility of guarding Brown for the same reason Burns does. He thinks it will make him better.
“He’s one of the best in the league, and when you have a guy like that who works hard, is strong, quick, runs precise routes, it just takes your game to another level so you can cover anybody,” he said.
Cockrell and Burns are working on many of the same things in training camp this summer. Defensive backs coach Carnell Lake wants his defensive backs to bring more physicality to the position.
So Cockrell is playing closer to receivers, jamming them at the line of scrimmage and trying to add that element to his game.
For the most part, Cockrell has been honing his craft against receiver Justin Hunter, the free agent who has been getting first-team reps because of injuries to Sammie Coates and JuJu Smith-Schuster and the delay in Martavis Bryant being reinstated.
Bryant, when available, has been as dangerous as almost any receiver in the NFL. Cockrell undoubtedly will have his hands full when Bryant returns. But that won’t satisfy him.
Cockrell will be persistent for his shot at Brown.
“Martavis is a very talented receiver,” Cockrell said. “I don’t see any reason why I can’t guard Martavis and Antonio Brown. I want to get work, too. Whether it’s Martavis or Antonio, Artie and I share the same goal. We both want to be No. 1 corners. I think that’s good for the team.”