Steelers' Cameron Sutton remains prepared to man multiple positions again if needed

Cameron Sutton insists he is just like the rest of us who follow the Pittsburgh Steelers. The fifth-year defensive back says he remains in the dark about what the coaching staff’s plan is for the identity of the nickel DB.

“I don’t know yet,” Sutton said late Tuesday morning after a walkthrough at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “We are still fine-tuning all those things. We are still working that out throughout the course of practice.”

Whatever the plan is by the Sept. 12 opener at the Buffalo Bills, Sutton maintains he will accept his role and be ready.

“Just every day that comes, working and getting put in different spots and scenarios,” Sutton said.

With the regular season less than two weeks away — barring any acquisitions — the chances seem to grow by the day that James Pierre will be deployed as the fifth defensive back when the Steelers go to their nickel package.

If so, that would leave Sutton as a man shifting back and forth from outside cornerback to the slot.

After the experiments this preseason with Antoine Brooks Jr., Arthur Maulet and Tre Norwood in the slot all seemingly failing for various reasons, Pierre might be the Steelers’ last option as a nickel back. And if that’s what they go with, Pierre will play the outside, and Sutton move into the slot.

In his first year of a new contract and his first season as an unquestioned starter, is Sutton OK with bouncing back and forth between positions?

He is saying the right things. But in an ideal world, Sutton seems to be like his coaches in that the preference is to stay in one spot.

“Obviously,” Sutton said, “who would not want to be stationary?”

Sutton, though, spoke more at length about versatility.

“Whatever is going to get us off the field and whatever is going to get is some wins,’ he said.

“Being able to move around and affect the game in different aspects (is fulfilling). Obviously, I have a great understanding of our defense, and that’s where it starts. You have got to have the fundamental base of your job and the guys around you, and from there kind of match up with leverage, alignment, assignment, your keys, what you’re looking at out there on the field and playing football from there.”

A third-round pick in 2017, Sutton signed a two-year, $9 million contract shortly after unrestricted free agency began this spring. The Steelers effectively chose Sutton over incumbent starting outside cornerback Steven Nelson, whom they released.

It has become clear since that the Steelers and Sutton prefer to keep him as the starter on the outside opposite veteran Joe Haden. The team wants that because it views Sutton’s skills as better there, and Sutton does because staying at one spot is simpler — and as a bonus, outside cornerbacks tend to net more lucrative contracts on the open market.

Sutton’s first four years in the organization were a mishmash of starting in place of an injured Haden at outside corner, starting in place of an injured Mike Hilton in the slot and/or filling as the dime defensive back.

Last season, for example, according to Pro Football Focus, Sutton played 276 snaps in the slot, 206 snaps on the outside, 93 snaps as a hybrid dime linebacker, 26 snaps at free safety and 15 snaps in which he was rushing the passer.

“He’s a good corner. He’s a smart corner,” defensive coordinator Keith Butler said. “He does what we ask him to.”

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