Sure Do Miss Aaron Smith, Don't We?

[SteelSamurai]

No way do we give up all those yards on the ground with a healthy Aaron Smith. I like to think I'm an optimist, but I don't see this team going far in the playoffs without some serious changes, and it's mighty late for that.

But at least we got an INT today. Anyone else find it sadly hilarious that it was Anthony Smith?

[TDX27]

If we make the playoffs, we lose in the 1st round (wild card round) by a few points or get blown out in the 2nd round. I see no way we make it to the AFC championship game.

[Coryea]

Why the fuck not play Hoke at LDE? I realize he's Hampton's back up, but he's better than Eason nad Kirschke.

[Spike]

Aaron Smith was the one guy we had no back-up for. No decent depth on the D-line at all, really.

We have now become the Browns on defense.

[Sarge]

More than Aaron Smith, this team misses it's killer instinct and passion. I'm convinced the defense just wanted to sit on the sideline in their warm coats. They certainly didn't show up to play.

[Max Power]

I kept thinking we would rebound and resume out quest as it was. The injury to Smith is just too much to overcome this late in the season. We will make the playoffs and will exit early. At least we've seen where we need help. This off season will be for BOTH SIDES OF THE LINE.

[Blitzburghv5]

I wanna see the new talent get some burn this coming weekend. Woodley and Timmons. Foote, Haggans and Farrior have tired legs man. You can just see it. And playing the extra preseason game didnt help.

[SteelrzGirl]

I cant say enough how underrated and underappreciated Smith is.

[NC STEEL]

Why not try Woodley at defensive end? I realize he's a backer but he's played it college. At some point you have to realize that there all football players.

[Coryea]

Why not try Woodley at defensive end? I realize he's a backer but he's played it college. At some point you have to realize that there all football players.

He'd get destroyed at DE in a 3-4, he should be starting over Haggans though, no question, and if he's still having trouble in coverage, then just use him like we used Kevin Greene.

[Lorak]

He'd get destroyed at DE in a 3-4, he should be starting over Haggans though, no question, and if he's still having trouble in coverage, then just use him like we used Kevin Greene.

Well, we get absolutly no pressure with what we having playing D-line now. At least Woodly seems like he can tackle. Right now even that would be an improvment.

[Super Heathen]

I'd start Hines Ward at LDE. He's tougher than what we throw out there right now.

[Coryea]

Well, we get absolutly no pressure with what we having playing D-line now. At least Woodly seems like he can tackle. Right now even that would be an improvment.

You don't expect to get much pressure from the Dline in this system, the pressure is supposed to come from the LB's. The Dline is supposed to hold ground and take on the blockers while the LB's make the plays, that's why Smith is so badly missed, he takes on the blockers, pushes them back and makes plays, best 3-4 DE in the NFL.

[Lorak]

You don't expect to get much pressure from the Dline in this system, the pressure is supposed to come from the LB's. The Dline is supposed to hold ground and take on the blockers while the LB's make the plays, that's why Smith is so badly missed, he takes on the blockers, pushes them back and makes plays, best 3-4 DE in the NFL.


I agree, and see where your coming from. But from what we have playing now (with Smith out). I don't see Woodley as much of a drop off. He is a bit undersized. but I think his speed would make up a little bit of that.

he can't be as good as Smith was, But can he really be worse than Eason?

[Coryea]

I agree, and see where your coming from. But from what we have playing now (with Smith out). I don't see Woodley as much of a drop off. He is a bit undersized. but I think his speed would make up a little bit of that.

he can't be as good as Smith was, But can he really be worse than Eason?

You're taking away what he's good at by putting him inside on the dline, you want him on the edge as a pass rusher(LOLB). He should be starting for Haggans, he'd get pushed around way to easily by the interior Olinemen. We're pretty much screwed at DE.

[SteelerFan448]

Jacksonville still would run all over us with Smith. There were a ton of missed tackles. That is the second or third time this season that our defense has gotten run over by an opposing RB. I have never seen it happen so much to us in one season in a really long time.

[Punxsutawney]

To run the 3-4 successfully, you need at least 2 solid run stuffers up front. With Smith out, the Steelers only have one.

We all know that Kirschke and Eason suck, but IMO, Brett Keisel is no prize either. He makes a lot of tackles in pursuit, but he gets pushed around against the run and is below average in the one area in which he is suppose to excel, rushing the passer.

The Steelers have been blowing off their need for depth at DE for years and now they are paying for it.

[Far51]

maybe we can activate Mcbean he cant possibly be worse than Eason.