Each week Steelers' defensive coordinator Keith Butler, offensive coordinator Todd Haley and special teams coordinator Danny Smith share their insight in exclusive interviews that can be heard on SNR every Thursday beginning at 12 noon.
This version of Coordinators Corner will give you a sneak peak of what to expect each week, but this just touches the surface. Read what they have to say, but take my advice, listen every Thursday at 12 noon for the full interviews or check back there later in the day for the archived versions. It will be worth your time.
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Gaining confidence:** Sammie Coates is showing steady improvement and has become Ben Roethlisberger's go-to guy in the deep passing game. It's getting that work that is building his confidence and making him the threat he is.
"He is not just running paper routes where you see the drawing and you know in a broad sense what you have, but there are so many finer details to it," said offensive coordinator Todd Haley. "He is not just running the paper routes. He is fine tuning what he is doing. That is giving the quarterback confidence. It's giving him confidence. So then he is playing faster and more decisively."Speaking up: Linebacker Vince Williams put up big numbers against the Kansas City Chiefs last week with 15 tackles and a sack, but he also contributed in another manner. With his big mouth. Defensive coordinator Keith Butler had Williams in position to communicate with the secondary, and he did exactly what was asked of him.
"He is what I call a big mouth," said Butler. "You need a big mouth upfront. A guy that likes to talk on the field, likes to make checks so everybody can hear him. You have to have a voice that carries. You have to have one in the front and one in the back end to relay the calls. That is what Vince did. He stepped up. He had a very important job of making sure we communicated with the secondary."
Leading the way: Robert Golden leads the Steelers special teams unit with five tackles, more than double of what any other player has. Special teams coordinator Danny Smith said it's Thomas' approach that has led to his success.
"Shamarko is an outstanding player," said Smith. "He really is. I love the guy. He and I have been together for a while. He and I have plans that we put into practice. I count on him a lot. I demand a lot from him. I expect a lot from him, as he does himself. He is a fun guy to be around, he is a fun guy to coach because he's number one competitive and number two he is tough. He can run. He has a lot of attributes. He has that want to. He wants to be special. He has a chance to be. He is playing well. I think you will see continuous good play out of him and I am proud of him because he works his butt off to do that."
