Run Defense; A Closer Look

Steelers are allowing 4.49 yds/att rushing.

Chart of all runs against the Steelers defense. There is a cluster of 15 yd runs and several big ones that skews the average;



Steelers tied for 5th most run yards of ≥15 yards:

 

ugh
Miami 3 rd on 15 yd runs

 

I hate the 2 DL formations.

 

I just hope that Harmon comes back. The defense seemingly is much better against the run with him in the game, vs. when he's out. Should be a big help. We held Jonathan Taylor in check... we can hold Miami's run game in check too. Just have to play well.

 

It would be somewhat forgiveable if they were good at defending against big passes. They aren't.

 

Well, if he's not back, then maybe they should stop with the 2 DL formations. Kinda dumb to keep trying something that doesn't work too well.

 

Top 5 Steelers in tackles:


1. Wilson
2. Queen
3. Ramsey
4. Heyward
5. Watt


Must be why they make those big contracts.


Btw, Wilson also leads the team in missed tackles at 64 according to statmuse. How many tackles is he in on each game? Dudes always near the ball.

 

Problem with Wilson and Queen that far too few of those tackles are behind the LOS or within 2 yards of the LOS. Those dudes make a ton of tackles after 4-5 yards.

 

The Bears were second in the league in rushing IIRC and they held them in check for the most part.

 

With Harmon it puts us as 6th best run defense. Without him we are 36th place lol

 

Achane is having a great season.

Steelers need to contain him or he could single handily beat them.

 

He might be hurt. Has bruised ribs, I think.

 

Black may improve and be able to step up, might be a steal where they got him.

I was listening to Steelers Depot again and Dave was down on Black a bit because some YouTube’er was talking him up. He actually said I just don’t see it, “you put 2 guys on him, he’s super easy to move” WTF?!

a rookie playing more snaps than anyone expected is Easy to move with 2 guys on him playing in his 13th game?

 

I like to use y/g as the primary indicator on how good a unit is and as bad as the Steelers offense is the defense actually ranks worse. We are 28th in y/g on D and 27th on O. Those combined rankings should have us as a bottom 5 type team in the NFL but yet here Tomlin has us 7-6 once again smack dab in the middle.

 

Steelers are 2nd in takeaways. We would probably be a 3 win team otherwise.

 

or a 9 win team if we capitalized more off of TOs or had less giveaways
Seattle
Chargers

 

Seattle is pretty damn good surprisingly. They are 2nd in points scored and 2nd in points allowed.

 

Yes we are usually good in turnovers year over year which must be something they do excel in however……. When we don’t get turnovers we are one bad fundamental football team.

 

Darnold has a lot to prove in the playoffs but that team looks damn good right now.

 

He left their last game early due to the rib injury, but he is expected to play. Perhaps they will have to limit his touches or perhaps he will not run as well as usual.

 

Black needs some work on his technique. He also needs to an offseason of conditioning work, but he has shown some real promise.

 

Really is amazing. The more one thinks about it the more baffling. He's his greatest adversary.

 

Some of the local media has been saying Black is more of a 4 tech than a NT, he doesn't handle double teams well at NT.

 

Seattle is a perfect example that changing head coach after over 10 years can be good for a team even if Carroll had a great career in Seattle but it was time