Richard Sherman is the Reason

Richard Sherman is the Reason…
Is that broad and ambiguous enough for all of you?
Richard Sherman is the reason the Steelers need to act now to address their terrible pass coverage. Richard Sherman won that game in the end for the Seahawks. Consider that, by my count, he was thrown at exactly two times: 1) the bull**** holding call that would not have been called earlier in the Denver/Patriots game and shouldn't have been called in that game and 2) the interception. Here are his career stats, stats that are ridiculous in their own right and not close to being matched by others: interceptions (1st), passes defensed (1st), and opponent QB rating (1st) with a ridiculous 39.4. He's big (6'3"), he's fast, he's physical, he's smart both on and off the field, and he's athletic. His 20 interceptions in 3 seasons are more than Revis when he was "Revis Island" and had 14 interceptions. His 20 interceptions are more than Ty Law had in any three back-to-back-to-back seasons. His 20 interceptions are double that of Charles Woodson in his first three seasons. More importantly for Steelers fans: his 20 interceptions are more in any three-season span than Rod Woodson ever had and his 20 interceptions are more in 3-seasons than Ike Taylor's whole career.
Richard Sherman is everything that the Steelers desperately needs. Certainly the Steelers need to be better against the run, but the Steelers D no longer can come up with big plays. The Steelers D cannot get off the field. The Steelers D cannot shut down top, let alone elite, wide receivers. If there is one player that could and would completely change the face of the Steelers D and put them on the path of championship play again it is Richard Sherman. Sherman is a player recognized and respected in the community, but who is even more respected and admired within his locker room. All his fellow defensemen, even as brazen and excellent as they all are themselves in Seattle, praise his work as being the backbone of their elite, championship defense. Sherman is a player that a championship D is built around…someone who can shut down the biggest and best wide receivers one-on-one consistently in a pass-heavy Roger Goodell NFL.
Why does it matter? Richard Sherman will never be in a Steelers uniform. Sherman is the cornerstone of Seattle's D and will not be leaving any time soon. So why mention him? Because it is time that the Pittsburgh Steelers get serious about rebuilding their secondary and find their own Richard Sherman. Ike Taylor has never been the corner that the people have made him out to be. He's never been a player who put fear in the hearts of opposing quarterbacks. Ike Taylor, at his best, was a player who could hold his own against top receivers and was a little fortunate not to fare worse given his poor advanced coverage stats. Richard Sherman, on the other hand? Sherman dominates opposing receivers, even the truly elite ones, and he punishes QBs for even trying to throw to his side of the field. Richard Sherman had 8 interceptions this year and set up, via tip, 3 others (including the huge one in the Championship game). Those 11 interceptions are 1 more than the Steelers whole team had…and resulted in 2 defensive TDs. And that it with opposing QBs not wanting to target his side of the field.
In this upcoming draft there are plenty of people projecting different things from the Steelers (and plenty of reasons why): DT, LB, DE and Wide Receiver. There are several reasons why. Some say the Steelers need another WR and another playmaker on offense (that is true)…but not in this years first round. Others say the Steelers need a new NT so they can stop the run (and that is true)…but those who want the Steelers to take Nix from Notre Dame overall to become the next Casey Hampton are gravely mistaken (does anyone remember the Alabama championship game from last season, Nix's only season to make him worthy of anything close to a 1st round grade). Those who see Ziggy Hood and Cameron Heyward as needing replaced at DE are possibly correct…but not in the first round of 2014. There are others who view linebacker (C.J. Mosely) as a definite need for the Steelers, since the Steelers didn't select Hightower when they should have two drafts ago…but Mosely does not change the face of the Steelers D in the current NFL. Others notice the Steelers safety play…Polamalu's decline and Clark's terrible play this year…and note that the Steelers need new blood at S (I agree)…but not in the first round. In the first round of the 2014 draft the Pittsburgh Steelers need to find a way to procure Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State. I have already addressed this in my first mock draft…but Richard Sherman showed us the exact reason why Gilbert should be the Steelers top pick. Gilbert has size, not Sherman size, speed, is physical, and has big play athletic ability. Gilbert, in my estimation, is more like Patrick Peterson than Richard Sherman and that is fine. The Steelers are unlikely to find a Richard Sherman, his coverage skills are extremely rare and elite, but they can find a similar end result: a player who can cover top receivers, strike fear into the hearts of QBs, and get the defense off the field consistently. Justin Gilbert isn't Richard Sherman…but Richard Sherman is the reason the Steelers need to get a player who can provide similar results.
Richard Sherman is the reason…and the Steelers should take notice.