Darius Slay Blasts Steelers Defensive Scheme: ‘Backwards Over There’

I can't believe some fans fall for that BS Butler said after he left the team, I heard from people who cover the team that Butler was made a scapegoat and was forced out. He does an interview right after he leaves the team and claims he wasn't calling the defense . Last season fans kept trying to claim Tomlin was calling the defense until Austin told the media he made the calls, he explained Tomlin can get involved on occasion though.

 

Slay said that Austin was not like that in Detroit

 

It could certainly be the case.

I liked Butler as a DC for the same reason I liked Haley as an OC.

I agree that it's unknowable whether Tomlin was calling the plays at that point or not. I don't think he was because he didn't have a call sheet (I think he did have a small call sheet later with Austin). I wouldn't be surprised if all defensive calls did get routed through Tomlin when Butler was DC though. And as HC, that's his right. Especially when it's "his" side of the ball.

At the end of the day, Butler was hired to increase our sack numbers. And our sack numbers were elite when he was DC. But IIRC, we'd also give up a lot of explosive and double explosive plays in the passing game.

My sense was that Butler would push Tomlin out of his comfort zone by trying to favor the rush over the coverage. Having guys that don't see everything the same way is good for growth IMO. I think Austin just did whatever Tomlin wanted him to do...so Tomlin was the de facto DC.

Same with Haley and Ben. I think Haley pushed Ben outside his comfort zone and forced him to grow as a QB. Which was critical as his ability to physically dominate trailed off with age. But I think Fitch did whatever Ben wanted. So Ben was the de facto OC.

 

Good thing for us he wasn't like he was in Detroit

 

Read what he said...

 

I'm looking at reality not what a guy that feels mistreated is saying.
Reality says Austin D was better in Pittsburgh than in Detroit.

 

For the stats,possible since Austin had not T.J Watt or Cam Heyward in Detroit....Of course Watt was out for the first half in 2022 and the defense could stop nothing

 

And the only time Austin had a all-pro caliber player in Detroit,it was in 2014 when he had Suh in his prime and also in his contract year and the Lions finish the year 3rd in PPG and second in yards...Never happen with Pittsburgh for Austin

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/2014.htm

 

Slay got old and has to say stuff. Anyway----- I will blame Tomlin for a lot of the Def. woes but there's more to it than coaching -Players play --adapt and overcome.

 

This coming from a guy who thought Tomlin was calling the defense without a call sheet .

 

Well, Austin wasn't any good with Detroit either .

 

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/det/2014.htm

Second in yards and 3rd in PPG in 2014.It was the only time he had a all-pro player when he was in Detroit

 

I'm pretty interested (and a mix of excited and nervous) to see how the D changes with a new DC.

 

Exactly. I don't know where Mojo got the idea that Slay wasn't playing much by the end of his final season with the Eagles. He was still a solid player for them in 2024, but it certainly helped that he had a dominating pass rush to limit the time he would have to cover opposing receivers.

 

That is part of the problem. The other issue is politicians who do make it a priority, but insist on putting their own stamp on it. George Bush had No Child Left Behind. Then Barack Obama had Common Core, which was actually a good idea, but the implementation of it was a mess. Donald Trump promised to get rid of Common Core, but never got around to it. When the standards constantly change, it makes it harder for educators and students.

 

I don't think anybody was denying Tomlin had an influence in the schemes and game planning, my argument is fans that tried to say he was calling the defense and Austin was just a yes man.

 

Anybody that watched them play knows Butler was calling the plays, you really think after promising Butler the job they told him he wouldn't be calling the plays . Maybe something happened at the end of LeBeau's career and Tomlin got more involved. But don't give me this crap that Butler and Austin didn't call the plays.

 

Because what are You ranking it on, meaningless yards??
Besides yards,and I don't even know about that, but I do know for a fact our D gave up less points, got more turnovers, and got more sacks, and most importantly more wins. What on Defense is more important than the points you give up, the amount of times you sack a Qb, and the amount of times you take the ball away???
So pray tell what were they better at??? Yards....lol, yards don't win games.....especially over, sacks, turnovers, and points allowed.

 

So Mike Tomlin was a ventriloquist also. Because I've watched Butler, just like Austin looking at a play sheet, and calling plays. While Tomlin is not even moving his lips, so either Tomlin is a ventriloquist, or he has a high form of telepathy. Of course I guess that is easier to believe than the truth to some people. LoL

 

They were well behind us in points allowed, sacks, turnovers, and wins. 4 of the most important things.
How someone thinks that yards given up is more important than points given up is something I can't explain.