change defense

[rebco]

The 3/4 sucks and the Steelers can't stop anyone and if they get into the playoffs, they may give up 65 against a team that can throw the ball downfield and score quickly. Their linebackers can't cover anyone and are a step behind....they need to make some wholesale changes, especially with the linebackers.:mad::confused::o

[SteelAddiction]

the 3/4 zone blitz only works if you have speed on defense. Outside of a few players we have no speed on defense

[Coryea]

Harrison and Timmons IMO could play LB in a 4-3, but we need another stud DT, unless we could move Smith to DT and hope Woodley could pan out as our pass rush specialist and leave Keisel as the other DE.
Our LB's are done, and Harrison will 30 soon also.

[steelcan58]

The 3/4 sucks and the Steelers can't stop anyone and if they get into the playoffs, they may give up 65 against a team that can throw the ball downfield and score quickly. Their linebackers can't cover anyone and are a step behind....they need to make some wholesale changes, especially with the linebackers.:mad::confused::o

I agree. Our LBs are so bad that if we are ever going to change to 4-3, next year would be the perfect time.

[Jmat]

I'm embarrassed by this defense right now and I never thought I'd say that about a Steeler D

[Spike]

No excuse for the defense, the loss of Aaron Smith is gonna hurt the rest of the way.

Mutt and Jeff who are replacing him couldn't make the Wheeling Ironmen team.

[Vader]

This was an abomination. The jags came in and physically dominated us. Our OL, DL and Lbers were pushed all over the field. We need help from the draft and FA if we are going to do anything next year. This year we have no chance without Smith on the defense.

[TDX27]

Jackson is going to have a field day against our D next week. They better man up.

[Munnin]

The defense is not the problem, you leave any defense on the field that long against a power offense and they will get schooled. The offense was the problem they could not move the ball or stay on the filed. the only reason we were in the game is because Ben picked the team up and willed them forward.

[FAB802]

The defense is not the problem, you leave any defense on the field that long against a power offense and they will get schooled. The offense was the problem they could not move the ball or stay on the filed. the only reason we were in the game is because Ben picked the team up and willed them forward.

They had a 20 play drive. That has dick to do with the offense. The defense lost this game, plain and simple.

[Blitzburghv5]

They beat us last year. They out-manned us last year. They're a more physical team than we are. Ever since last year we've not done well against teams that try to deliver blows to us. We used to dish em and even if we took em, we'd get back up and deliver a harder one than the opponent threw. Nowdays we get hit and we stay lying down like a bitch sometimes. We no longer instill fear in anyone anymore. And Tomlin and Co need to change that quickly.

[Munnin]

They had a 20 play drive. That has dick to do with the offense. The defense lost this game, plain and simple.

After the offense left them out on the field to get beat on during the first half.

[rebco]

The defense is not the problem, you leave any defense on the field that long against a power offense and they will get schooled. The offense was the problem they could not move the ball or stay on the filed. the only reason we were in the game is because Ben picked the team up and willed them forward.
The offense has been a problem and it shielded a defense that is ok, but they cannot stay on the field or they get pounded. They better start changing coverages or the most impoversihed city in america(cleveland), will put a hurt on them if they get into the playoffs.

[Munnin]

They beat us last year. They out-manned us last year. They're a more physical team than we are. Ever since last year we've not done well against teams that try to deliver blows to us. We used to dish em and even if we took em, we'd get back up and deliver a harder one than the opponent threw. Nowdays we get hit and we stay lying down like a bitch sometimes. We no longer instill fear in anyone anymore. And Tomlin and Co need to change that quickly.

No doubt the Jags have the offense we had. They reach out and beat on defenses the way we used to. Now we are more of a finesse team.

[rebco]

3rd and 11 and you run a draw and pick-up 19....I am with you on that one.....it has been the worst tackling team that I have seen over the past 3-5 seasons. Tomlin is suppose to be a hard nose leader, it appears he has lost his edge.

[Doc]

the plays I'm going to have nightmares about are the 3rd and 10+ yards and they ran the Steeler special draw play and gouged us for 15+ both times....heh, I coulda puked.

[Munnin]

The offense has been a problem and it shielded a defense that is ok, but they cannot stay on the field or they get pounded. They better start changing coverages or the most impoversihed city in america(cleveland), will put a hurt on them if they get into the playoffs.

Cleveland does not have a power offense and they don't have the defense necessary to stop us. Clevland does not worry me. Unless our offense gets it together and figures out how to cover for the weakness on the left side of the line we are dead no matter what.

[rebco]

I couldn't of said it better......

[BlastFurnace]

The problem is our front 7 more than anything.

Our defensive line and our linebackers do not make plays. Better yet, they are not imposing enough even to force a holding penalty against the other team. Our blitz package must have been published for the entire league because I haven't seen any of our big blitz packages get to anyone in quite some time. Our linebackers are very slow...and that is what scares me about even putting Woodley in as a starter....he is slow and would be exposed as a coverage lb very quickly.

As much as I like Casey Hampton, he doesn't take over the game in the middle like some of the better NT's in the league. Keisel is just an athlete, but is not a playmaker. As much as the Steelers try to use him like the Ravens used Adalius Thomas, Keisel is not that gifted to do that.

Our DB's are good, but no DB's are good enough to cover for eternity when the front 7 is incapable of doing what this version of the 3-4 is designed to do.

Our defense is a below average unit.

[SteelerFan448]

You could have thrown any defensive scheme out there today and it wouldn't have mattered. Whenever you have poor tackling like that you aren't going to win many games.

[kurtistb]

Cleveland does not have a power offense and they don't have the defense necessary to stop us. Clevland does not worry me. Unless our offense gets it together and figures out how to cover for the weakness on the left side of the line we are dead no matter what.

the best way to cover for the weakness on the left side of the line is to point out how bad the right side is. It'll make you forget all about the left.

[BlastFurnace]

I'm watching the Cowboys game and they run the 3-4 as well. It's amazing to watch what a player like Demarcus Ware can do for a defense. We do not have a single player on defense that is in Ware's league....and please do not say that Polamalu is in that league. He hasn't been the same since the 2005 playoff game against Denver. Ware is a playmaker, a difference maker. We need someone like that on defense that can get to the QB.

[Blind Official]

FWIW, Keisel's not that good of an athlete either.

He's not a good 3-4 DE and he's certainly not a hybrid playmaker like Adalius Thomas.

The depth everywhere in the front 7 (outside of NT) stinks. They added Timmons and Woodley, but the years of drafting are now catching up with them

[VaSteelerFan]

After the offense left them out on the field to get beat on during the first half.

They had the whole halftime to get a rest, and the Offense closed out the half so they had even longer. IIRC, the 20 play drive was to start the second half. No excuses.

[Blind Official]

That really is one of the interesting things about this defense....the best LB is the one that previously sat on the bench all the time as a backup and is only now getting his chance at starting. The other 3 have either never had it, or lost it.

[FAB802]

That really is one of the interesting things about this defense....the best LB is the one that previously sat on the bench all the time as a backup and is only now getting his chance at starting. The other 3 have either never had it, or lost it.

You're right. Sad thing is it looks as though the new regime isn't interested in giving the young players a shot either. At least with Harrison he had guys who were better in front of him. Now? I don't see it. I don't know if it's Tomlin's call, or Lebeau's but they need to play more. At least you know they'll come after it EVERY play.

[Vader]

You're right. Sad thing is it looks as though the new regime isn't interested in giving the young players a shot either. At least with Harrison he had guys who were better in front of him. Now? I don't see it. I don't know if it's Tomlin's call, or Lebeau's but they need to play more. At least you know they'll come after it EVERY play.

I really don't understand either. Haggans' primary job is to rush the passer. Since he isn't sniffing the QB what could Woodley do that would be worse than Haggans?

Our defense is basically a "shoot yourself in the foot" type defense. We do well when other teams aren't physical and they make mistakes on their own. When we run into a team that doesn't do that and actually punches back we get hammered.

We don't create turnovers and we don't get quick pressure on the QB. Now we are even having problems stopping the run. We have no play makers on defense and they look old and slow.

[FAB802]

Come over to the Fire Tomlin thread and help me out.