Colbert said QB pressure was a priority last year...

[Super Heathen]

I guess that it's a double secret priority after this year?

From the PG...

Short on sacks
After starting the season with a rush, the Steelers have just 33 sacks with two games to go, threatening to have their fewest sacks in 17 years.

After they managed 39 sacks last season, director of football operations Kevin Colbert last spring cited an improved pass rush as a priority.

The Steelers at one point led the league in sacks. They had 19 after six games, but only 14 in their next eight, including one in their past three.

"We've got to do a better job of rushing the passer," Tomlin said. "We got home at times. We missed [Jaguars quarterback David Garrard] in the backfield one time. People have gotten the ball out on us pretty quickly. It's been some things. When people run the ball as well as they ran the ball [Sunday], it makes it tough to pin your ears back and generate a rush."

The Steelers' low under the 15-year tenure of coach Bill Cowher was 35 sacks in 2003. They had 34 in 1990.

On the other hand, Roethlisberger has been under a heavy pass rush much of the season. He has been sacked 43 times, just three fewer than last season, which was the most since Cliff Stoudt's club-record 51 sacks in 1983. Roethlisberger was sacked eight times in the past two games.

p.s. Ben just 8 sacks shy of tying Stoudt for all time. It could very well happen. What a fucking mess.

[Vader]

No worries. QB sacks and pressure is sooo overrated.

[Super Heathen]

No worries. QB sacks and pressure is sooo overrated.

Sacks can be occasionaly overrated but pressure can NEVER be overrated. We're getting neither right now so i guess that we are overrated.

[tjack]

If the Press keeps writing stories like that they will have Fans screaming for the 4-3 defense just so the Steelers can get a sack.:eek:

[Royd92040]

After they managed 39 sacks last season, director of football operations Kevin Colbert last spring cited an improved pass rush as a priority.


He must of been talking about next year.

[Vader]

Sacks can be occasionaly overrated but pressure can NEVER be overrated. We're getting neither right now so i guess that we are overrated.

I was being sarcastic. Earlier in the year I was told that sacks and pressure weren't that important by a few people.

[Sarge]

There's plenty of pressure on the QB. Unforttunately, it's our QB.

[tnsteele95]

LeBeau has been and still is overraated. There, I said it.

[LetMePlay]

Sacks build character. Think of this year as a character building exercise for Ben.

[Jmat]

43 times Ben's been sacked.
I wonder what the number would be if he weren't so mobile and elusive.

LeBeau's blitz schemes have been figured out. Time for new blood and new ideas leading the defense.
It's one thing to not get sacks but to not even get pressure on the QB is unacceptable. Generate enough pressure and the sacks will come but at the very least you'll be making the QB hurry and make poor decisions.

[Super Heathen]

Is it LeBeau or is it that he no longer has the players to do what he's asking them to do?

Hard to say.

[Blount 47]

Every year we come out strong and get sacks in droves against the bad , inexperienced QBs, see Frye and Alex Smith this year. EVERY year we severely decline in number of sacks per game as the season progresses as more and more game tape is available to upcoming opponents. Scheme only gets you so far, eventually one on one battles must be one and we lack the players to win these matchups. The Steelers have a lot of nice players on defense but no real playmakers.

[avoidlloyd]

we dont have the personel to apply pressure. None of our down 3 can win one on one battles and we have one 33 year old ilb and one to light in the britches to blitz. Our best pass rusher is 5'8 and occassionally gets pressure the other olb would not start for the other 30 teams in the league and we are supposed to get pressure????

[BermudaSteel]

...Short on sacks.

LeBeau's blitz schemes have been figured out. Time for new blood and new ideas leading the defense.
It's one thing to not get sacks but to not even get pressure on the QB is unacceptable...

I hate to emphasize these points...but...we are short on sacks (pressure) and yes, LeBeau's schemes are too easy to stop. This does not mean that I want to see the 4-3 or cover 2, for that matter...

But, I sho would like to see the exotic stuff Larry Foote was braggin' about this preseason...

[BLITZ 43]

I think Foote and Haggens have lost a step and now with Smith out our front 3 will be hurt. I think it is time to get Woodley and Timmons in the game more often and let them loose. When we do blitz we blitz from 5 yards deep and we just don't have the speed or the ability to get to the qb. I hate to say this and it is no disrespect to LeBeau but it might be time to go to a 4-3. LeBeau is a good but he just don't have anything to work with anymore. Maybe now with Troy back we might get a little more pressure, it seems LeBeau like to blitz him more when he is on the field. I do miss the CB blitz's we use to do with Woodson why can't Townsend or McFadden blitz from the corner? It seems like the only blitz we run is the delayed LB cross fire blitz and we just don't have enough to get to the QB. If we are not able to blitz Bulger with the make shift line he has then we are in bigger trouble then we know.

[Far51]

Is it LeBeau or is it that he no longer has the players to do what he's asking them to do?

Hard to say.

I think a bit of both, Lebeau doews'nt change things even when his sets are getting destroyed I tought we were gonna see a mix of some 4-3 this year, not fully Lebeau's fault for the way the D has been in a few games dismantled as Haggans & Foote have shown they are past thier best days.

Without Smith we gotta change the formations from time to time, the report on Kirschkie's injury, I believe said something broke so if he cant start all we got a is a pisss poor DL in Eason.

Was sickening the way we let Cutler, Brady pick us apart as no personel change or formation changes were made.

[TDX27]

I don't think the 3-4 is as good as it was a few years ago. Teams know how to play against it now.

It just makes sense that if you rush 4 men in a 3-4, one of them is a LB who only weighs 260-280. He is outweighed by 50 lbs in most cases and just gets pushed around - especially our LB's. Plus the fact that our Dlinemen aren't very big - other than Casey. So, late in a game and late in the season, our guys who are way undersized are getting pushed around because they are just too damn tired.

I would actually have no problem going to a 4-3 again. If we don't, we need 3 big ugly fat guys on the line so the LB can try and hit a gap or actually use his speed to get around a big o-lineman. Right now we can't do that and the schemes are not working any more.

[Vader]

I would actually like to see the 4-3 in the burgh. I get sick of seeing Qbs have all day to throw because our DL isn't designed to get pressure and our LBers can't win battles against Rbs or TEs.

[Hines57]

I am more worried about Ben getting sacked then us not getting sacked. Our defense didnt get bad overnight. Our offensive line is playing like shit

[Ghost of Frenchy Fuqua]

Correct thread title, based on the story:

Colbert says QB pressure was to be a priority this year.

Too bad it hasn't worked out that way...

[Irv24]

Is it LeBeau or is it that he no longer has the players to do what he's asking them to do?

Hard to say.


I vote for the lack of talent.
Long gone are the days of Greene and Lloyd.
Hell I will take the days of Gildon and Porter.

I also remember Seals, Buckner and Steed leading the league in batted passes.
Our dline now is too busy doing the mambo with the oline they cannot tip passes.

[Coryea]

I vote for the lack of talent.
Long gone are the days of Greene and Lloyd.
Hell I will take the days of Gildon and Porter.

I also remember Seals, Buckner and Steed leading the league in batted passes.
Our dline now is too busy doing the mambo with the oline they cannot tip passes.

Gildon and Porter had more sacks combined in a season than Lloyd and Greene ever did, just a little did you know.

[Irv24]

Gildon and Porter had more sacks combined in a season than Lloyd and Greene ever did, just a little did you know.

But I bet QBs were more afraid of Greene and Lloyd.
Plus Gildon had a knack for not getting blocked.

[BLEEDS]

Is it LeBeau or is it that he no longer has the players to do what he's asking them to do?

Hard to say.

Upside down and inside out, I'm about to show all you folks what's it's all about...

PEACE

-BLEEDS

[Coryea]

But I bet QBs were more afraid of Greene and Lloyd.
Plus Gildon had a knack for not getting blocked.

I'll take the sacks over fear, but I wasn't trying to start a debate, just posting some info. that might surprise some people.

[BLEEDS]

It just makes sense that if you rush 4 men in a 3-4, one of them is a LB who only weighs 260-280. He is outweighed by 50 lbs in most cases and just gets pushed around - especially our LB's. Plus the fact that our Dlinemen aren't very big - other than Casey. So, late in a game and late in the season, our guys who are way undersized are getting pushed around because they are just too damn tired.


I've been saying that for years. Rushing (ony) 4 in the 3-4 is akin to having THE SMALLEST 4-3 in the NFL. The next time we get any pressure from a 4-man rush will be our FIRST in recent memory.

Against Cincy and Cleveland spread offenses, we can drop 7 or 8 and defend the pass, but not against New England for 60 minutes. I can't imagine what Indy would do to us on the carpet.

That's ONE reason why I am (probably) OVER-Excited to see Woodley get a start or two. He's actually got the size/strength/speed/skills to play OLB in a 3-4 and get some pressure and - I know this sounds weird - BEAT AN OT ONE-ON-ONE!!

I think we'll see Woodley at OLB next year, and probably Timmons playing more of a Kendrell Bell role, though dropping back in coverage a lot more. I also think we are going to have a hard time paying Farrior $3.2M to play ILB for us in his last contract year.

PEACE

-BLEEDS

[Irv24]

I'll take the sacks over fear, but I wasn't trying to start a debate, just posting some info. that might surprise some people.

Right now I would take either one.
Opposing QBs are just staning flat footed tossing pass vs our current defense.
Yeah, the rush may get to them once are twice a game, but it appears that most teams know exactly where is coming from and its getting handled pretty well.

[5RINGS]

Our players look small out there on defense. Foote, Farrioir and Haggans are small guys. Compare them to the likes of earl Holmes, Levon Kirkland, Jason Gilden and Kevin Greene and you will see how far we have fallen as it relates to size at the LBer position.

[Stlrs4Life]

I am more worried about Ben getting sacked then us not getting sacked. Our defense didnt get bad overnight. Our offensive line is playing like shit


Same here.

[Punxsutawney]

It just makes sense that if you rush 4 men in a 3-4, one of them is a LB who only weighs 260-280. He is outweighed by 50 lbs in most cases and just gets pushed around - especially our LB's.

260-280 lbs is plenty big enough to beat OTs consistently. Robert Mathis of the Colts is only 245 and he doesn't have a problem getting to the QB. You just need the talent to do it.

Size is not really a problem for players like Harrison and Haggans when it comes to rushing the passer. Their problem is that they are not quick and or athletic enough to do it.

In the 3-4, the OLBs are the most important players in defending the pass and currently they have mediocre players manning those positions.