Neal Coolong of Behind The Steel Curtain notices something funny about this weekend's Steelers-Raiders matchup: the Raiders are struggling at cornerback, while former Raider DeMarcus Van Dyke had a nice game for the Steelers against the Jets last week.
↵↵↵Silver And Black Pride writer Levi Damien also points out the Raiders are "in serious trouble at cornerback," after it was revealed CB Ron Bartell was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return due to a broken shoulder blade. They lost CB Shawntae Spencer in the Raiders' 35-13 loss to Miami in Week 2.
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Raiders cornerbacks Pat Lee and Joselio Hanson have struggled since taking over for Bartell. Their only other active corners are Coye Francies and Phillip Adams, who are both special-teams guys.
↵Of course, Van Dyke's impact against the Jets came on special teams, and the Steelers have more use for him there than at cornerback. But it's amusing that the Raiders are floundering at that position while the Steelers are getting mileage out of a former Raiders corner, and a third-round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, no less. This could be a fun week for Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers' receiving corps.
↵For more on the Steelers, check out Behind The Steel Curtain. For more on the Raiders, there's Silver And Black Pride.