So what's correctable?

I think the OLine/run game is the one area that's the most easily correctable, but it's going to take time this team cannot afford. This offense is eerily similar to how they used Ben his last two seasons and I'm concerned teams will figure these concepts faster.

Defensively... I have zero clue. I really think they need to run 34 more than 50% of the time and get Benton off of NT when they run 34. Also when they go to 4 man fronts, using Sawyer more often than not is the way to go against the run. As for Highsmith, as good as a player he is, I just don't see a future for him here long-term. Great guy, great player, just a bad fit for the 425 Defense.

What fixes would yinz make? The good news is that it's only two games with the bulk of the season ahead of us.

 

They need more classroom. Too many coaches are assuming the players know football science. Take a look at what Paul Brown did with the chalkboard and what one of his players who went on to coach for the Steelers did. Even the dumb players can understand Xs & Os and stick figures.

 

I’m not a huge stat guy I just watch and get a feel from that POV. BUT,
Whad they give up against Seattle, looked to me to be like 400 yards?

Whad about the lowly Jets, looked about the same?


I saw the Chin coach n person, he’d a had a conniption fit right there on field. At his age now we’d prolly see the first coach heart attack while the game was in play. I remember seeing him call players with that forefinger come hither right now.

He had his problems and we complained about him too, and in all fairness it’s a different game today. But, NOT making changes was not one of em.

He was speaking in an interview a while back and everyone on the broadcast was ready to go play. I was too.



Benton, would’ve been looking into this face, like yesterday. And that’s just for starters.

I miss that.

 

Unfortunately that is not how this regime operates. Just line up and beat the man in front of you has been the philosophy for a long time now.

 

Mike Tomlin.

 

The pass defense giving up all of those plays in the middle of the field, it should help once all of the guys in the secondary get healthy. Harmon returning so Loudermilk doesn't have to play many snaps should help.

 

TOMLIN said this D was going to be historic! Have faith all.

 

This problem is a systematic one and not just a health issue. The mof of our pass defense has been abused for years and our run defense had been in shambles for ten straight games. Our ILBs haven't been able to stop the run since Dick left.

 

And he was right. The Steelers D was the first team ever to give up a rushing TD on 3rd or 4th down and goal to go with 19 or more yards to go.

 

They are historic all right, historically terrible.

 

I think we used to have big run-stopping LB's, but teams maybe most notably the Patriots used to pick on them in the passing game, so we've gone to smaller faster linebackers who can cover, but now they're getting run over. We need a better dline but I'm not sure how to manufacture that midseason.

 

Harmon. Apparently he is Warren Sapp and Reggie White wrapped into one player who will magically fix all our ills.

 

Nah, we just somebody who won't get driven back 5 yards off the LOS.

 

He almost better be.

 

It does suck he got hurt. We obviously need a lot of help on the D Line.

 

Players have to be the ones to be able to make the adjustments; namely the Offensive Line. That said, more growing pains are to come I'm afraid. For that unit, things have to get worse before they get better.

Now, as far as Coaching is concerned?! Given how the likes of Teryl Austin and Mike Tomlin both told the fandom that "new things" were on the Horizon this season, it is safe to say that, given what has been showcased, not much has changed; doubly so from an All 22 perspective... sans a few wrinkles courtesy of Jalen Ramsey. As far as blitzes are concerned?! More of them than in previous years yes but not nearly as exotic nor creative enough to cause opposing Offenses confusion.


Long story short?! Get back to the basics. Until that happens, expect more of the same.

 

Teach the rookie on kickoff returns the basic rules before putting him on the field.

 

I feel they can get the run going, but they need to actually try to establish the run.

They aren’t even really trying.

 

I'm trying my best to be optimistic with this defense and assume they'll get this together. But they played against Fields and Sam Darnold as opposed to Lamar Jackson and Mahomes. People can give the injury excuses all they want but every team has injuries and we was fairly injury free last week and they still got gashed. The defense is slow, old, and washed. This team was able to mask the poor offense due to having a great defense. If this was 2-3 years ago, I'd be far more confident that they can figure this out, but after seeing the All 22 and rewatching the game, I'm even less confident that they'll figure it out. I hope they do nonetheless.

 

We haven't tried to establish the run in half a decade...

Personally, I'd rather them run the ball 30X's a game the next few weeks, even if it doesn't work. Run it until it does work. It'll pay off in the long run and perhaps it'll give us something to build upon heading into next season. Running the ball will set up the PA pass and everything else they want to do on offense.

 

This man




Has morphed into this man

 

c'mon elliott. get healed.
get gainnotsowell off the field.
throw to our receivers.
quit playing scared defense.
gang tackle on defense.

 

Correctable? Not with this coaching staff.

We again have been sold a bill of goods. As Art II just bought another safe.

There are so many issues to correct. That's on coaching. Or lack their of.

And don't give me the players BS when you have the highest paid defense lurking at the bottom. This unit has carried on from last season in the dregs. That's coaching. Also schematics. And Scheme.

The offense also is lurking and looking like a last year product. Offensive line struggles. Older QB. No true #2 receiver.

They keep adding outside pieces because they can't develop correctly.

So I don't expect much. Its the rinse and repeat jump on the Merry Go Round mentality. Some love it. I don't.

 

Last night's game between Tampa and Houston was a Defensive dream. Those two defenses are for real.

What I liked:
Houston's Defense is stiff and I liked how Tampa switched gear and started pounding White and Bucky Irving into the belly of that defense.
I think Houston didn't have the running game (blocking) that was quite up to that.
Tampa found all sorts of ways to apply pressure, 1 in particular was showing zero and filling the gaps so that Houston's offense had no idea who was coming or going.
Houston relied mostly on their base formations.

I don't know if Austin watched any of that but he should be forced to.
Both those teams have defensive coordinators leading them and influencing how that play Defense.
DeMarrco has every single player hustling to the ball at 100 mph....
Bowels has his defense just turning up pressure like a python and he finds ways to get to the QB.

I was very impressed with both Defenses. A rare thing for me.
The Steelers, I remember those great defenses, and they had a mindset that they needed to score.
And when they bunched up in zero, Offenses were scared.
Austin does none of that.

And I am not sure we are getting those kinds of players anymore either.
That's another sore topic with me.

 

The Oline is young and should get better the more they play together. I’m not too worried about them.

But the D is stacked with veterans who should know how to play together. They’re paid a ton of money. And they flat out suck. No pressure, no coverage, no run D. They’re bad in every aspect of the game. That’s going to be hard to fix.