Our Defense is still hard to watch...

Perhaps I am a bit too critical with my title, but let's not allow this win to cloud the fact that our defense still is not getting pressure or turnovers.

I thought Ike played awful today, and Cortez was not great either. Gay did play well, I will say, as did Polamalu.

Ryan Clark has become a non-factor. The team should really consider replacing him full time with Thomas or even Will Allen.

Our pass rush is non-existant with the exception of Woodley for two plays (the sack and his pressure on Flacco chasing him down), but nobody else pressures really other than the occasional corner blitz.

Very little production from our D-line except for the series where they stuffed the Ravens on 3rd and 1.

We REALLY need another real middle linebacker. I'd much rather keep Polamalu back or let him roam even more than have to have him play ILB. We also need Jones back, but even he doesn't apply that much pressure to QBs.

The team played ok on D, but seriously they need more splash plays from other players besides Polamalu. Watch the Chiefs or Seahawks and witness what our D once was.

 

Lebeau needs to be more creative in pressuring the QB blitzing Polamalu on passing downs isn't working. Right now Woodley is the only one capable of making a splash play on defense.

 

I would like to see the 10 yard cushions go away...the DB's were getting beat with these cushions quite a bit. When coverage is tight...those cases can help force QB pressures/etc...giving cushions...all the WR has to do is just stop and the DB is 5 yards away and such.

 

I don't even know why I open these threads?

 

JJ doesn't apply that much pressure to QBs?

Give him time.

 

Those drive me bonkers!!!

 

Well, tonight was a good win and I'll take it, but there is some justifiable criticism here. The defense does need to get more consistent pressure and create turnovers, no doubt about that.

 

It has almost become like clockwork that if the Steelers have a lead late in the game, the defense almost always gives it back. Watching that drive that tied it up at 16, I was like "here we go again."

Also kudos to William Gay who in my opinion has been the 2nd best player in the secondary this year so far after Ike. The guy makes his tackles and yes he gets beat from time to time, but the guy also makes the plays that he should make. That break on the ball to save the TD where Flacco avoided the sack was truly a great play. I have given Woodley plenty of guff the last few years, but he is playing with a better motor this year. Timmons was all over the place today - 17 tackles, 12 solo. But other than that - nothing to impressive.

 

The offense could have made this one a whole lot easier than it did. The defense got some big stops and only gave up 16 points.

When the offense protects the ball, consistently scores in the red zone, stops dropping touchdowns, and puts opponents away when it has a chance then I'll worry more about the defense.

The defense IS some times hard to watch but the offense is frequently unbearable to watch.

 

I agree the lack of pressure is an ongoing concern, as is Clark's play. JJ should be back and that will help. On a positive note they played the run well.

Maybe Tomlin can ban Clark's media commitments?

 

Well we haven't really been good for a while...

 

12-4 less than a season and a half ago and #1 defense if I remember right?

 

The offense is harder to watch. The need to get into the friggin end zone instead of settling for FGs.

 

Well you know if all the starters on defense aren't probowlers as well as the back ups and we don't get a shut out, 10 sacks, 10 turnovers and kill the other teams Quarterback then it's not good enough.

 

Object of the game is to score more points than your opponent and win the game right?

 

I'm not talking about 1 game.

 

As long as the Steelers win, everything is perfect. No more criticism!

 

I thought Ike had a great game, have you seen what Torey Smith does to other teams? Ike did a great job of keeping him in check for the most part.

I thought Worlids would have generated a decent rush today, and I was surprised he didn't...here is to hoping that Jarvis develops into the rush LB we need him to be!!!!

 

Ok, so we aren't allowed to post about things we've already discussed? I guess that leaves Special Teams because we always talk about offense, defense and coaching.

 

No its the style of defense that they are playing. Just because they won today doesn't mean that everything is fixed and we are elite again. The Steelers for the last two years or so have been allowing teams to move up and down the field on them WHEN IT MATTERS. I find the inability to have a pass rush is going to hurt us when we face teams with real QBs, unlike today.