Adversity a motivating factor for Steelers cornerback Blake
Steelers cornerback Antwon Blake could have said the heck with it, and nobody would have blamed him.
Blake spent the better part of two years experiencing the highs and lows of life in the NFL with the lows being much more substantial than the highs.
Blake went from being an undrafted free agent to leading the Jaguars in special teams tackles as a rookie to getting cut to being picked up by the Steelers for special teams purposes with little chance of seeing the field — all within 17 months.
Giving up was an option. But not for Blake and now it's paying off.
Blake quietly moved into the starting lineup at cornerback, nudging aside Cortez Allen and his $26 million contract along with a pair of 2015 draft picks (Senquez Golson and Doran Grant) and a veteran (Brandon Boykin) acquired to help solidify a position that was in need of stability.
Blake has no intention of giving up his starting spot, especially considering how difficult it was for him to get to this point.
“I always look back at where I was because they say you can't forget where you came from,” Blake said. “My past definitely motivated me to get to this point. I have always believed in myself and am a firm believer that hard work will be rewarded. That's just the type of person I am. You never know where your opportunity may come, you never know who may be watching and who notices your grind.”
The Steelers noticed enough to make him a surprise opening-day starter ahead of Allen, and it appears it is Blake's position to lose especially after rebounding from shaky performance against the Patriots to have his best against the 49ers.
Blake allowed six catches to 49ers receivers but for 54 yards. Blake stood out against the run where he was credited with 10 solo tackles.
It was the fifth-most solo tackles by a Steelers cornerback since 1994. Only Dewayne Washington (13 in 2001), Bryant McFadden in 2010 (12 in 2010) and Deon Figures (11 in 1994 and 1996) had more in a game.
Blake is second on the team in total tackles with 13 and unassisted tackles with 12. Only Adam Jones of the Bengals has more tackles in the NFL through two weeks (19) for cornerbacks.
“He can do everything you dream of doing on the football field,” renowned trainer Tom Shaw told TribLive Radio recently. “He is that guy. He is going to be a star. He has work ethic and dedication and those are two key com -ponents. And when you have speed and agility like the way he gets in and out of breaks and move and change direction … he is a freak of nature.”
The Steelers used Blake in a multitude of ways against the 49ers. He covered, he was used for run support and he was even asked to blitz. He added a special teams tackle as one of the gunners on the punt team.
“We knew he had the ability the entire time,” linebacker Jarvis Jones said. “He was just waiting for his opportunity.”
Blake got his first break late last year. With Ike Taylor and Allen injured, the Steelers turned to Blake to play corner in their sub packages.
Blake saw action from Week 9 on and allowed only one touchdown and finished with five pass defenses and an interception. He had a forced fumble and fumble recovery in the season finale against the Bengals, proving to Blake that he could play with the best in the league.
“It is one thing to feel like you can do something, but it is another thing to go out there and actually do it,” Blake said. “I felt that it helped my confidence. But it's the NFL, so every week there is another great receiver waiting for you. We have Antonio Brown, and I feel that preps me for anybody I am going to see.”
Blake held Torrey Smith to 30 yards on Sunday and the Patriots' Julian Edelman to 41 yards. To put that into perspective, Smith finished with 131 yards Sunday, and Edelman has 194 yards in two games.
Blake has done enough over the past two years to impress Brown.
“He is super quick and really fast, aggressive hands and a special player,” Brown said. “He has all the skill set to be a great player. All he needed to do is go out there and prove it.”
