thoughts on the dline

Freudian slip???

 

Seems like my smart phone isn't so smart!

 

I've been dying for a good corner for a looooong time but I would have to say that we might need to take a nose asap in next year's draft. We just do not have the personnel that we used to that can really execute DL's schemes. I've been pining for Casey Hampton more this offseason than ever before. A good nose would go a really long way in helping this team. One that can draw double teams. However, IF they let Worilds walk wouldn't you think they'd go with ANOTHER LB early next year? Also did McCullers and Moats play today? I never did notice them. I thought that maybe since the clowns were running the no huddle it might have kept some of the deeper guys off the field.

 

Lebeau 3-4 is predicated on the NT demanding a double team, if that isn't the case our defense does not work.

Joel Steed and Hampton did. If we can't find a NT it's time to change our defense.

 

He gets penetration, problem is he tends to slide off to one side or the other. He's not the style that holds the double team at the point.

 

I think he was deactivated today, but I would like to see a little bit of The Mountain on Thursday. Even if it 2-3 plays, I want to see how he fares against starters.

 

I think the left side is more the problem. Thomas is not that great at holding his gaps a Worlids is often out of position against the run. Woolley in his better years was good at stuffing the run and boy do I miss Aaron Smith. I think McClendon is not the problem. Hope to see Tuitt more.

 

cam thomas is the biggest mistake we made this offseason .. 2 milion threw into the garbage

 

Thomas played well in camp and the preseason. it looks like he's ballooned up in weight hanging below his chest. I'd have hoped for better shape to start the season, so he could continue to play up and down the line.

worilds, JJ, and most of all Timmons and shazier need to be making these tackles. so should troy and Mitchell. we can't be missing tackles and taking bad angles. defense wide too, but these guys have to start to play the run better and allow our corners to do what they should be.

 

I think the criticism of the NT issue doesn't add up. The reason the Browns ran so well was that they heavily ran to Worilds and Cam Thomas side with Zone Blocking schemes. When you do that you often times take the NT out of equation altogether. To overcome that type of blocking you need LB and DT who can shed the blocks and it is also helpful to have safeties who can come up and help lay the wood to ball carrier. But zone blocking is set up to deal with the way the Steelers like to use LB to shoot the gaps because the blockers load up to one side and pick up a defender in their area.

Last year a lot of the problems on big runs had more to do with safeties and our LB not being in position to make plays like they should - not McClendon. I am not implying McClendon is as good as Casey Hampton in his prime, but I don't see him as the primary problem. Also a game a few years ago had the Texans Arian Foster running wild on us down in Houston when Casey was the NT. There were other games as well.

To be able to defend against that type of running, you need a defense that has the ability to laterally cover side to side while staying square enough to be able to make a tackle. It also requires patience and not overreacting (something Shazier did a bit of in taking himself out of the play). It would also help if we could bring up our safeties and corners some to help defend against the run, but I think LeBeau is so worried about being burned on the big play via the pass that he opts for keeping them deep. However, right now it seems to be a pick your poison issue with the Steelers D.

 

I guess I need to rewatch the game. I was so hung up on Ike that I really didn't notice that our run D was that bad.

 

Just watched the NFL Network Rewind.
#96 gave no effort.
There was no hustle at all, he seemed ok to be locked down by one lineman.

The final drive of the game by Browns that failed, #96 was not in.

 

I just watched and my assessment was the same especially on Cleveland's last drive in the 4th Qtr, it was like he was slow dancing with the O-lineman

 

I agree but communication is Key. THEY WILL GET BETTER though but there will be games that will make you shake your head. For those that believe that having the massive NT in the 3-4 scheme is the answer just look at New England who from 2010 - 2013 were one of the worst defenses on 3rd down, AND have given up more 20 plus yard plays on Defense than ANY other team since 2010, THEIR ANSWER - sign Darrelle Revis and DRAFT a DB. Yesterday against the Dolphins THEY TOO were gashed for almost 200 yards on the ground and unlike the Steelers lost their game to a QB who is not exactly elite status (I think Revis gave up the go ahead TD to Mike Wallace btw)......my point? ITS A LONG SEASON FOLKS TAKE THE WIN AND LETS LOOK FOR STEADY IMPROVEMENT

 

Yes communication is key. Zone blocking is not easy, it takes athletic lineman and you really have to know what you are doing. So as a defense you have to be smarter and communication. I hope the Steelers do a lot of film study of their opponent's tendencies because it isn't like you have to prepare for 50 different running plays. Teams will pretty much run the same plays out of multiple sets - so it is understanding what teams want to do and preparing for it.

 

Interesting debate and analysis in this thread, I've read them all intently. As always, there's a little truth in all.

Still, I think Snack would clog that middle up and force you outside. People forget, That big man could move! There were times our fat boy chased a runner down for the save. Now, they're off to the races if our LBs don't snag em.
Twenty and under you were dinner!

Alas, came the it's a passing league argument, position needs to change to faster lighter NTs. Problem is when you do so then a team can exploit the traditional run (hand-offs, offsets, etc)

No Sir, I'll take a Casey Hampton in a Pitt D. Is he available, you know, breathing and under 400?

 

Who on the D-line is performing better?

 

Da beard

 

kiesel heiward for sure mc lendon probably i still need to see tuitt and mc cullers

 

a well rested beard

 

I spent a fair amount of time particularly watching Cam Thomas. Specifically, I have watched the other team move him backwards.