Steelers rookie Artie Burns is like Ike, except he can catch
PITTSBURGH 鈥� Artie Burns flashed promise when the Steelers last faced the Ravens on Nov. 6, the rookie cornerback鈥檚 first-career start in the NFL, and it has been an upward trajectory ever since.
There was his first-quarter interception of Joe Flacco, a byproduct of being in the right place at the right time while staying true to his defensive assignment. And there were his four tackles, including one for a loss, and two pass breakups.
Burns, along with Ross Cockrell and Will Gay, played a lead role in limiting Flacco to just 241 yards passing and an 82.9 QB rating, with a majority of those yards coming on one play. A play, in which, that Burns certainly wishes could have back.
Baltimore receiver Mike Wallace beat Burns on an inside slant route and broke his diving tackle to race 95 yards untouched for the longest touchdown reception in Ravens franchise history. When the Ravens come to Heinz Field Sunday, Burns said assuredly there won鈥檛 be another long touchdown taking place.
鈥淯nless it鈥檚 going the other way,鈥� he said.
Burns鈥� confidence at 21 years old doesn鈥檛 come without merit. He has thrived as an outside corner since that game, notching a team-high three interceptions to become the first Steelers rookie to do so since Scott Shields in 1999.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the best job you could possibly ask for,鈥� Burns said. 鈥淒efensive backs get paid the best, but we get criticized the most. There鈥檚 no better thrill than playing it.鈥�
Despite the mishap against Wallace, one of his few since taking over a starting role, Burns has a fan in the former Steelers鈥� receiver. On a conference call with Pittsburgh media this week, Wallace was asked who the rookie reminded him of from his days at the Rooney 缅北禁地 Complex.
鈥淚 would have to go with 25 as an Ike (Taylor) type of player,鈥� Wallace said. 鈥淩eally fast guy. Smart, got length. He鈥檚 a young guy, but I see him getting better every single week.鈥�
Burns鈥� potential to be the best cover corner in Pittsburgh since Taylor, who retired in 2014 to conclude a 12-year career in Pittsburgh, has been incrementally visible. And the comparisons between the two make sense.
Both are 6-foot-1 with long wingspans. Both are fast, bump-and-run style corners, though Taylor has an edge on the rookie in speed, running a 4.12 40-yard dash at his NFL pro day in 2003. Burns posted a 4.4 40-yard dash at the NFL combine after a college career that included participating in the hurdles on the track team at Miami (Fla.). His time may be slower, though we鈥檝e seen instances of Burns鈥� ability to make up distance between he and receivers his speed.
Taylor started 140 of 174 career games as a Steeler, ending with 517 tackles, 133 passes defended, 14 interceptions, one of which was a pick-six, and three sacks.
鈥淚 watched Ike play a lot,鈥� Burns said. 鈥淗e was a real good corner, but I didn鈥檛 really try to mirror my game behind his or anything. He played here for a while and he put the time in. He gets the utmost respect from me.鈥�
There is one area where Burns already has the upper hand(s).
鈥淭he speed and the length are probably pretty close. The catching ability, I think Artie鈥檚 probably got a little bit better catching ability than Ike,鈥� defensive coordinator Keith Butler said with a laugh. 鈥淚 love Ike to death. Ike鈥檚 had a lot of (passes) hit him in his hands, but he鈥檚 always has been a great player for us.
鈥�(Burns) is a lot like Ike I think in terms of length and stuff like that. Artie鈥檚 got to keep getting better for us to advance.鈥�
Burns鈥� improvement stems from a variety of factors. He鈥檚 more familiar with Butler鈥檚 defensive scheme, whether it be out of base, nickel or dime packages. That has led to increased confidence in his both his ability and positioning, which Wallace noted he recognized on film, and that enables him to play at a faster speed. Secondary coach Carnell Lake has polished Burns鈥� technique while not asking him to do too much in coverage.
鈥淚 like him. I wish we would have had him over here,鈥� Wallace said. 鈥淚 think he鈥檚 a good player, and I think he鈥檚 going to be a great one. You can just see him like he鈥檚 evolving. 鈥� He just trusts himself. He鈥檚 patient. For me, I think that鈥檚 the most important thing as a cornerback to just be patient and not go for a lot of the stuff at the line (of scrimmage). He does a really good job of that.鈥�
Burns has 50 tackles, 12 passes breakups and three interceptions in seven starts this season. For perspective, look at two cornerbacks drafted ahead of him. Tampa Bay鈥檚 Vernon Hargreaves III (11th) has just 15 more tackles than Burns (65), and they鈥檝e come in 14 starts. The Giants鈥� Eli Apple (10th) has just 45 stops in nine starts. Hargreaves III and Apple each have five less passes defended (seven) and two fewer interceptions (one) than Burns.