Shutdown Corner

Steelers plan to attack ‘candy bar’ Brandon Boykins

Shutdown Corner

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US Presswire

An alternative definition of the word "sweet," used by today's freshest young whippersnappers, is "easy" or "not presenting much of a challenge." For example, if you're in a bar throwing darts, and you get to play a against a man so drunk that he doesn't know which end of the dart is the pointy one, and he also recently suffered third degree burns on all of his fingertips, you just got the sweet matchup.

The Pittsburgh Steelers feel like they've found something similar against Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Brandon Boykin, a rookie fourth-round draft pick. So sweet is Boykin, according to Steelers receiver Antonio Brown, that the Steelers are calling him "the candy bar." In particular, a Snickers bar.

"He's given up a lot of plays. Whoever gets that guy definitely has to take advantage," said Brown via

Boykin is the nickel corner behind starters Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Against the Steelers' seventh-ranked passing attack, Boykin figures to see a lot of action, and will probably see a good bit of Emmanuel Sanders, the Steelers third receiver. It's a matchup the Steelers like.

Why they'd make such a public proclamation about their low opinion of Boykin, though, I haven't a clue. Identifying a weak link and then exploiting it is a part of every game plan, but now that they've insulted the man in public, karma pretty much dictates that Boykin will get an interception and then stand with the football and mime peeling the wrapper off a candy bar and eating it.

Even with the rookie in the lineup, the Eagles have been pretty successful against the pass. Only Eli Manning has had a big day against them, and even that didn't really hurt them. Eli threw for 309 yards and two touchdowns against them, but they did hold the Giants to 17 points. On the season (and yes, it helps that they've played the aerially challenged Cardinals and Browns) they're giving up just 206.8 passing yards per game.

Just a little more spice for an already intriguing showdown. The game's in Pittsburgh, Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

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