Something good happening on defense

While we have been wallowing in misery and debating what this team needs it seems something good is going on and that is with the current crop of linebackers. I'm hoping it wasn't a fluke but it appears Williams has some instincts and skills to go with Jarvis Jones abilities. There were a couple of plays I thought were going to be big gainers but Williams saw what was going on and made a play, these things weren't happening in the 4 losses. The other thing that is glaring is that I believe the team could live with most of the secondary, I really believe that the first 2 rounds of the draft need to be oline picks. I watched how the jets were playing up to kill the short passing game and what happened was the 2 tight end sets were killing them and so to stop that they went with a 4 man rush and picking it up really helps, we complete passes and gain yards. Gilbert has got to go and Foster was horrible on the goal line, Bell didn't even get to take a step but while the offense struggled the defense looked to have its best game.

 

I agree the O-line needs to be addressed we need some maulers up front.

 

I say we use all 7 of them surely we can find one good one out of 7

 

the defense played a good game but they are still lining up to far off the receivers but I know that's lebeau's scheme. But they did mix it up with some man-to-man.

 

The defense hasnt been the problem. The only problem the defense has is its tired from being on the field too long. Maybe thats why DL is playing them back, so they dont have to run as far.

 

In Their worst performance of the year...against Minnesota...they were only on the field for 24 minutes.

 

Dont confuse a good story with the truth

 

Sorry my bad.
Carry on...

 

Actually he's correct, the Vikings TOP was under 24 minutes. The two things that killed us in that game were missed tackles and turnovers.

 

please stop making excuses for the defense. they have been pretty bad this year. even yesterday they weren't great. they finally got their 1st 2 turnovers of the season.

the 1st pick by Clark was a good one, but then he falls down for no reason. most other dbs take that the distance. he also had another pick that hit him right in the chest had he dropped it.

the 2nd pick from Timmons was good, but the pass went right to him.

this defense just doesnt create turnovers. both were gifts from a rookie qb.

 

Jones hitting the QB forced that int to Timmons. Amazing what happens when the other teams offense has to press a little...

 

I don't think the defense is special by an means, but I'm happy that they're playing the young guys... Even if it's more from necessity than intentionally.

Jarvis Jones and Vince Williams aren't impact players yet (although JJ had a near sack, and caused an INT), but they're putting real-time snaps in the bank. It means those guys are going to be seasoned vets by the time the team is "re-built" (hopefully). I'd like to see Shamarko in there even more than he is already.

 

why is it always a struggle? yes that int stopped a drive on a gift from a rookie qb, but Clark could have taken that ball a lot farther if the turf snipper didnt get him.

yes Jones did force a bad throw on that 2nd pick, but those have been far and few between. so before we all say the defense is back lets see them do it against a much better qb next week.

 

The defense isn't great (one Steeler standard that actually is the standard) but it is pretty good at preventing scoring over the last few years. This year's version is having issues with tackling and is softer against the run than any Steeler team I can remember in a while. They're still playing well enough for the team to be in contention in the division this year.

The offense is 27th in the league in scoring. The defense is 16th in scoring and would be closer to top 10 if the offense hadn't felt it needed to set the Bears up with the short field 3 times. This team's main problem is its offense. We'd be in contention for the division right now if the offense could score in the red zone, protect the football, run the football, prevent sacks, and take advantage of the new rules to race up and down the field.

Could we have more wins if the defense was like the Steeler defense we're used to? Yes. Is it the defense's fault we're 1-4? Not even close. We have a pretty average to good defense. With an average offense we're at least 2-3 maybe 3-2

 

there 17th in scoring defense, but whos counting?

the defense is just as much to blame for the 1-4 start as the offense is. sure the offense has not been good, but when your offense puts up 27 points against a Vikings team that just got mauled by the Panthers you would think that would be enough.

the Steelers offense has the worst starting position in the NFL this year. 1 time they started a drive on the other side of the 50.

i agree the offense hasnt helped, but they have had no help from the defense either.

 

This season will be determined on the play of the offensive line. If they can find a way to somehow protect Ben a bit and get even a little bit of a running game our defense is good enough to keep us in games. Our defense will probably not win us games but in the majority of cases it won't lose us games either.

Press coverage works as long as you can get a jam on the WR. Look how many times Brown toasted Cromartie yesterday because Brown got past him before he could jam him. In addition when we were able to get pressure it caused issues. I really liked what I saw out of Heyward and Hood yesterday.

 

I'm counting, in today's NFL teams are scoring much more effectively than we are. In an offense-oriented league we have a dysfunctional offense. Defense gets paid to prevent points and offense gets paid to score them. One side's doing a decent job and the other side is awful. 90% of this team's failure is on the offense. They're seldom on the same page, they have no push for the run, no protection for the QB, and they can't score touchdowns in the red zone.

I agree that the team hasn't had turnovers - it's what keeps it from being a great defense. They're 6th in yards against so part of the starting position issue has to do with the offense not flipping the field.

The Steelers' offense is one of the most ineffective units in the NFL. As I said we have an average to good defense - they could and will improve as the young guys break in. With an average offense we'd be an average team and could compete in this division. The thing that worries me most about the offense is the fragile and ineffective nature of the offensive line and the fact that Ben and Haley still don't seem to be on the same page. I see the defense getting better before the offense does.

Even if the defense turns into a playoff caliber defense we're going nowhere if we somehow get in the playoffs. A strong offense could carry this defense a long way in the playoffs.

 

Lets be content that the young guys
are at least getting some playing
time on defensive, this can only help.
The Steelers defense need playmakers,
someone that can consistently get after
the opposing QB, until we get that person
you will continue to see the same thing.
Hence Lawerence Timmons, PLEASE CUT HIM LOOSE!