What does J.J. Wilcox bring?

The Steelers are making late moves to tighten up their roster. The addition of J.J. Wilcox is no different than Joe Haden and Vance McDonald. They see a player who can excel in their particular scheme. So how does Wilcox fit into the Steelers plans?

Wilcox can play in the box and can play deep. However, his best play typically has come in a center field type of role. Last season, the Cowboys used him as a third safety and were able to show versatility by getting him on the field.

Typically on third downs, but against pass heavy sets the Cowboys would push Barry Church into the box or Byron Jones into the slot and have the other play deep with Wilcox.

Church heads into the box in what is technically a dime look. Wilcox comes in as the third safety and spits the deep half.

Jones lines up in the slot with Church and Wilcox deep.

It was a decently successful tactic and was a way to use him effectively while showing versatility.

How does this affect the Steelers?

The Steelers have been looking into this idea. The team ran some dime looks in the preseason with William Gay and Mike Hilton. It would essentially be replacing Vince Williams with one of these defensive backs on obvious passing downs. However, sliding one of the two safeties into that role may be a better outcome for the Steelers.

Wilcox has some of Mike Mitchell’s intentions and mentality and the two have some similarities. Sean Davis, however, is a former cornerback who has played in the slot before. If the Steelers are going to bring a third safety onto the field, it would be Davis moving closer to the line of scrimmage.

Of course, Wilcox also brings special teams value. He has put in over 120 special teams in all four of his NFL seasons. For essentially trading Sammie Coates for J.J. Wilcox this seems like a nice pick up for the Steelers. He can add in to what the are building and has the potential to see the field in spurts.