It’s not just the int’s Alex. Tackles for loss, sacks, forced fumbles, fumble recoveries. He’s not making any plays. Great players make plays. Ed Reed did it his entire career & TJ gets schemed against every week. Still these guys make plays.
I'm less concerned about that. He's not a box guy this year. He's not being asked to blitz much. So he's not going to get TFL or sacks. He's forced a fumble and FR is a lot of luck, right place/right time stuff.
@@Alex_Kozorahe has been around a few fumbles just didn’t get the ball. I admit though I have wondered where is ball hawk mentality went. He has had opportunities. He isn’t going for them.
He was forced to play in the box last couple of years because we could not stop the run. He is playing free safety and not being a blitzer. Interceptions is where his splash will be now. His area is not being targeted alot they play away from him
Just looked up both players all time stats as of the current year for Minkah in his 7th year and Reed in his 12 year career. Tough to get sacks and Tackles For Loss when you are protecting the deep ball...top priority. He is a free safety for Christ's sake. Reed got 6 sacks in his 12 year career but they used him on blitzes from time to time...when is the last time you saw Minkah on a blitz? That would be the 12th of never. MF has zero sacks in this his 7th year. FF Reed had 11 MF has 5...FR Reed had 13 MF has 5...Interceptions Reed had 64 MF has 19...TFL Reed had 34 MF has 7... Now we get to where Minkah has shined and reflects how the Steelers have used him....Solo tackles Reed 534 MF 383 (in a few years at this rate Minkah will catch him...Combined tackles Reed had 646 Minkah has 573...and this last is an amazing stat and shows how valuable Fitzpatrick has been for the Steelers...without Minkah Fitzpatrick holding the D together, contributing all of those tackles, they would have lost so many more games. How many times did Ed Reed cover tight ends? Steelers use Minkah like a linebacker and a strong safety a lot...which Reed could never do. IMO Fitzpatrick is the finest free safety in the NFL his detractors are blind to his many vital contributions which is why he was offered the lucrative contract.
@@johnnypastrana6727 hi Johnny, thanks for the stats, I think they reveal what I was saying. As for your defense of Minkah, I’m a little confused. You started out saying minkah is a straight free safety, that’s why he won’t have tackles for loss or sacks, yet at the end of your explanation, you said the Steelers use him a lot as a linebacker and strong safety. Which one is it? The reason I bring up those other stats is to somewhat give him a pass on the lack of interceptions, if he was making any other type of splash plays. He’s paid to make plays. As for him trending to have more tackles than ed Reed, Reed played behind a guy name Ray Lewis. Wasn’t many tackles to be had behind him, unless they were pass plays. Teams came in every week saying they were going to stay away from Reed, yet the picks still came. That’s all I’m saying. Film study, anticipation & play diagnosis play a big part.
what is production to you? stats? yes, just about any other safety in the league will get more picks than minkah right now. now, running cover 1 more than anyone else yet still allowing the least amount of MoF production? no. he takes away entire portions of the field, unless of course theres a bad snowstorm
Simply put, no. Just look at the league and check if anywhere else a defense is so reliant and successfully so on one guy playing center field and still not allowing bombs over the top.
When it's someone on our team suddenly the goal post move and making a splash play here and there is suddenly not important. How many teams do we think tried to avoid Troy P and take him out of games? Every single team we played did. Minkah is a freakin FS that doesn't have an INT in 2 years and people endlessly defend him being average. I understand that he's still affecting the game just being out there but he has to start making plays
I've had disagreements before on your analysis, Alex, but not this time. This is spot on. It would be nice to see splash plays from him. But he's there to prevent the big play. That's what the position requires. Not every safety has that Troy type awareness. And as I have seen this year, and that you confirmed, I am happy with what he's doing.
Alex, do you think that the quarterbacks we have faced have played a large role in Minkah not getting INT's? Think about it: Cousins, Herbert. Rogers, Prescott, Daniels, Jackson. Lot of quality QB's who aren't taking risky shots in the deep middle. Minkah has not been dropping any possible interceptions. I think the tape would show that Donte Jackson has had 3 INT thrown right to him. Stats don't tell the whole story!
You're making a broad statement that you have little evidence of. Many players like TJ, Cam, Highsmith etc get paid and get even better but negative fans never notice such things
It may be more scheme. Iv'e noticed he's deep in the backfield a lot of the times. He's saved a few runs from going to the house, but it seems more like teams working around Mink more than playing to his strengths and betting against him.
Great video, thanks. Minkah got beat by Andrews on a long out, Lamar brought a picnic had a sandwich washed his face and hands and then threw a strike. No pressure anywhere near him. On the second one Watt could have disrupted Andrews' route. In Cleveland he just flat out blew it.
He's definitely regressed. He's consistent a step behind to make game changing plays. Hes still very good and does his job well since deep passes against us are almost non existent but he just can't make that big play
Tomlin has him playing gatekeeper back there. That means no sacks, tackles for losses or timed interceptions. His job is to keep 6 off the board. He’s done that. He’s been really really good at doing that. Great team player. Still, you’d think a qb would give him a gift once in a while. Maybe on Christmas. Anyway, I still see him ending up in Canton.
The Pro Football Reference advanced defensive stats show receivers Minkah is covering catching 27 of 34 targets. The 79.4% completion percentage is the highest since coming to Pittsburgh. Quarterbacks have a 136.9 passer rating on those plays. By far he highest in his career. But perhaps some of that is based on how he has to cover. Sometimes in a trailing position on receivers in a crossing route. Still ...
he's just the guy around the ball when the play doesn't work out so PFF applies the stat to him. we run single high more than anyone in the league and yet allow the least amount of middle of the field production by offenses. he's the reason for that. just looks bad when it doesn't work out and skews perspective. i think if fans watched more than just steelers games, they'd quickly see how teams scheme around our safety unlike most others.
Say what you want about minkah people are barely targeting his part of the field I think it’s on our coaches to move him around so he can make those plays everyone want to see but he’s locking up his part of the field
I think the injuries he has had over the past few years have had an effect. He isn't nearly as quick or fast as he used to be, and he's having trouble in coverage keeping up with routes. On the pass to Akins in the Browns game, I think he lost inside leverage because he let Akins get hands on him off the LOS. Quick hitter pass, and if you lose leverage you get the completion. On the late 3 and 7 play that they converted, it looked like he kept eyes on Winston too long, and reacted too late to the WR coming across him. Porter may have expected a pass off to Minka, but probably should have kept on the receiver. The question ends up being does he have enough athleticism left to be an elite FS? I'm not so sure anymore.
We aren’t in the defensive meetings or inside the heads of the coaches. We really have no idea what he’s being told or what his mentality is. That said, he does seem to be less aggressive. You wouldn’t think a 28 year old would have lost a step, but sometimes it looks like he has. Maybe injuries have taken a toll. I still like having him back there tho.
He definitely doesn't bait QB's into mistakes like Ed Reed would do.. Saying that I think he's moved to easily by the QB's eyes OR commits too early and makes it easy for the QB to go elsewhere
@@johnnypastrana6727 He's paid to make plays - no splash in almost two years. I appreciate the routine done routinely, but he's the highest paid safety in the NFL.
He isn't very good. Elliott is way better and gets paid a tenth of him. Fitz is one of the most overrated players in the league. Teams tried to not allow Troy and Ed Reed to make plays, but they did. I would take Ryan Clark over Fitz any day of the week!!
Solid breakdown, Alex. Love that we can always count on you for sober analysis.
Yes. One of the best for sure.
Minkah is elite! He has stopped a lot of game changing plays. Dudes a stud!
It's the Scheme More than him. He's in a Cover 1 high 85% of the time.
Minkah out there doing cardio
It’s not just the int’s Alex. Tackles for loss, sacks, forced fumbles, fumble recoveries. He’s not making any plays. Great players make plays. Ed Reed did it his entire career & TJ gets schemed against every week. Still these guys make plays.
I'm less concerned about that. He's not a box guy this year. He's not being asked to blitz much. So he's not going to get TFL or sacks. He's forced a fumble and FR is a lot of luck, right place/right time stuff.
@@Alex_Kozorahe has been around a few fumbles just didn’t get the ball. I admit though I have wondered where is ball hawk mentality went. He has had opportunities. He isn’t going for them.
He was forced to play in the box last couple of years because we could not stop the run. He is playing free safety and not being a blitzer. Interceptions is where his splash will be now. His area is not being targeted alot they play away from him
Just looked up both players all time stats as of the current year for Minkah in his 7th year and Reed in his 12 year career.
Tough to get sacks and Tackles For Loss when you are protecting the deep ball...top priority. He is a free safety for Christ's sake.
Reed got 6 sacks in his 12 year career but they used him on blitzes from time to time...when is the last time you saw Minkah on a blitz? That would be the 12th of never. MF has zero sacks in this his 7th year.
FF Reed had 11 MF has 5...FR Reed had 13 MF has 5...Interceptions Reed had 64 MF has 19...TFL Reed had 34 MF has 7...
Now we get to where Minkah has shined and reflects how the Steelers have used him....Solo tackles Reed 534 MF 383 (in a few years at this rate Minkah will catch him...Combined tackles Reed had 646 Minkah has 573...and this last is an amazing stat and shows how valuable Fitzpatrick has been for the Steelers...without Minkah Fitzpatrick holding the D together, contributing all of those tackles, they would have lost so many more games.
How many times did Ed Reed cover tight ends? Steelers use Minkah like a linebacker and a strong safety a lot...which Reed could never do.
IMO Fitzpatrick is the finest free safety in the NFL his detractors are blind to his many vital contributions which is why he was offered the lucrative contract.
@@johnnypastrana6727 hi Johnny, thanks for the stats, I think they reveal what I was saying. As for your defense of Minkah, I’m a little confused. You started out saying minkah is a straight free safety, that’s why he won’t have tackles for loss or sacks, yet at the end of your explanation, you said the Steelers use him a lot as a linebacker and strong safety. Which one is it? The reason I bring up those other stats is to somewhat give him a pass on the lack of interceptions, if he was making any other type of splash plays. He’s paid to make plays.
As for him trending to have more tackles than ed Reed, Reed played behind a guy name Ray Lewis. Wasn’t many tackles to be had behind him, unless they were pass plays. Teams came in every week saying they were going to stay away from Reed, yet the picks still came. That’s all I’m saying. Film study, anticipation & play diagnosis play a big part.
Simply put, can a S making less than half of what Minkah is being paid, be just a productive?
what is production to you? stats? yes, just about any other safety in the league will get more picks than minkah right now. now, running cover 1 more than anyone else yet still allowing the least amount of MoF production? no. he takes away entire portions of the field, unless of course theres a bad snowstorm
Simply put, no. Just look at the league and check if anywhere else a defense is so reliant and successfully so on one guy playing center field and still not allowing bombs over the top.
When it's someone on our team suddenly the goal post move and making a splash play here and there is suddenly not important. How many teams do we think tried to avoid Troy P and take him out of games? Every single team we played did. Minkah is a freakin FS that doesn't have an INT in 2 years and people endlessly defend him being average. I understand that he's still affecting the game just being out there but he has to start making plays
let others make plays. as long as we are first in MoF defense just by letting him sit back there, that is more important than him racking up stats
I've had disagreements before on your analysis, Alex, but not this time. This is spot on. It would be nice to see splash plays from him. But he's there to prevent the big play. That's what the position requires. Not every safety has that Troy type awareness. And as I have seen this year, and that you confirmed, I am happy with what he's doing.
Regardless of whatever, it's just unbelievable that he hasn't made a splash play in 2 years, even if he was trying it would be almost impossible.
No reason to apologize for Minkah on that last play. He just sucked and it’s disappointing
Alex, do you think that the quarterbacks we have faced have played a large role in Minkah not getting INT's? Think about it: Cousins, Herbert. Rogers, Prescott, Daniels, Jackson. Lot of quality QB's who aren't taking risky shots in the deep middle. Minkah has not been dropping any possible interceptions. I think the tape would show that Donte Jackson has had 3 INT thrown right to him. Stats don't tell the whole story!
@@peterlivengood553 to an extent. But I don't think it explains it all. I do agree that stats fall short of telling the whole story
Ever notice once a player gets a bag, their performance drops ??
Not the case here, to be clear.
@ Minkah hasn’t been the same since his injury last season.
Yup or they get injured
You're making a broad statement that you have little evidence of. Many players like TJ, Cam, Highsmith etc get paid and get even better but negative fans never notice such things
Ever notice how most football fans just repeat bad takes?
It may be more scheme. Iv'e noticed he's deep in the backfield a lot of the times. He's saved a few runs from going to the house, but it seems more like teams working around Mink more than playing to his strengths and betting against him.
Great video, thanks. Minkah got beat by Andrews on a long out, Lamar brought a picnic had a sandwich washed his face and hands and then threw a strike. No pressure anywhere near him. On the second one Watt could have disrupted Andrews' route. In Cleveland he just flat out blew it.
He's definitely regressed. He's consistent a step behind to make game changing plays. Hes still very good and does his job well since deep passes against us are almost non existent but he just can't make that big play
Tomlin has him playing gatekeeper back there. That means no sacks, tackles for losses or timed interceptions. His job is to keep 6 off the board. He’s done that. He’s been really really good at doing that. Great team player. Still, you’d think a qb would give him a gift once in a while. Maybe on Christmas. Anyway, I still see him ending up in Canton.
Bravo...Minkah is the best IMO.
The Pro Football Reference advanced defensive stats show receivers Minkah is covering catching 27 of 34 targets. The 79.4% completion percentage is the highest since coming to Pittsburgh. Quarterbacks have a 136.9 passer rating on those plays. By far he highest in his career.
But perhaps some of that is based on how he has to cover. Sometimes in a trailing position on receivers in a crossing route. Still ...
he's just the guy around the ball when the play doesn't work out so PFF applies the stat to him. we run single high more than anyone in the league and yet allow the least amount of middle of the field production by offenses. he's the reason for that. just looks bad when it doesn't work out and skews perspective. i think if fans watched more than just steelers games, they'd quickly see how teams scheme around our safety unlike most others.
He is old he needs traded I like the guy a lot but we needed to draft Brian burns and didn’t
Say what you want about minkah people are barely targeting his part of the field I think it’s on our coaches to move him around so he can make those plays everyone want to see but he’s locking up his part of the field
I think the injuries he has had over the past few years have had an effect. He isn't nearly as quick or fast as he used to be, and he's having trouble in coverage keeping up with routes. On the pass to Akins in the Browns game, I think he lost inside leverage because he let Akins get hands on him off the LOS. Quick hitter pass, and if you lose leverage you get the completion. On the late 3 and 7 play that they converted, it looked like he kept eyes on Winston too long, and reacted too late to the WR coming across him. Porter may have expected a pass off to Minka, but probably should have kept on the receiver. The question ends up being does he have enough athleticism left to be an elite FS? I'm not so sure anymore.
I think he's alright, he's taking the big play away, he just can't make the big play anymore.
Minkah is playing really good … teams still go away from him . Us sport fans play the results to much when in reality it’s not that simple
Do you think he is getting to many snaps? and would benefit from playing more in a rotation? Which is my current opinion on TJ Watt.
I do not. He is a starting safety. He's a 100% down kind of guy.
😂 Steelers in shambles rn. Ravens on top!
That 3rd down vs Colts was a huge play. Non bigger than the 3rd & 7 vs Browns.
Playing in actisure our coaches have him lining up in Ohio.
I’m not surprised AK makes a video like this. He was able to apologize for Mike Mitchell hideous play for years so this is very easy by comparison…
@@richstafford1245 I don't even know the point you're making. A lot of people asked for my view of his play so that's why I made it
I think it's fair but there's more to it.
Austin probably wore him out making him play box safety the last two years
That's at least an original lame excuse. Not a good one considering he was in the box only 20% of the time last year
Nah, not an issue. And he only did it last year.
We aren’t in the defensive meetings or inside the heads of the coaches. We really have no idea what he’s being told or what his mentality is. That said, he does seem to be less aggressive. You wouldn’t think a 28 year old would have lost a step, but sometimes it looks like he has. Maybe injuries have taken a toll. I still like having him back there tho.
He definitely doesn't bait QB's into mistakes like Ed Reed would do.. Saying that I think he's moved to easily by the QB's eyes OR commits too early and makes it easy for the QB to go elsewhere
man that last browns play gets worse the more i see it.. like 3 routes are open lol they had a touchdown on beanie he was cooked
So many typical Steelers fan reactions to Minkah. It's good but not great and we expect great.
I guarantee minkah gets a pick vs cincy
🔥🔥
It's scheme
Andrews is 29 fyi
@@SerDiesel90 dang you're right. He feels like he's been in the NFL forever
@Alex_Kozora I thought the same thing earlier this year and looked it up
I said this weeks ago. He’s morphed into Terrell Edmonds. A reliable tackler, not much more than that.
YOU are mistaken and don't comprehend what you are seeing on the field.
He's become an average Safety, not what he was, not what he is getting paid to do
He is being paid to keep the top on the defense, and he is doing it.
@@johnnypastrana6727 He's paid to make plays - no splash in almost two years. I appreciate the routine done routinely, but he's the highest paid safety in the NFL.
Nothing wrong he's overrated maybe get something for him this off season
Insanity...
He isn't very good. Elliott is way better and gets paid a tenth of him. Fitz is one of the most overrated players in the league. Teams tried to not allow Troy and Ed Reed to make plays, but they did. I would take Ryan Clark over Fitz any day of the week!!
slow your role kid. I think mink will eventually get back to his old self. This could just be an off year.
Joe Burrow just said Minkah was a great safety.
@@21Kolb I'm not a kid knob
@@johnnypastrana6727 This must be a burner of minkah. your need to defend him is funny lmao