Less Dropping in Coverage OLB'S

Filtering all the info on Coach DL leaving and Coach Butler taking over I see all roads lead to DB'S . Butler has made some key statements about getting pressure and being able to cover. He has also stated that he needs speed and Athletic ability on the back end, he will also use a lot of hybrid sub packages .

The newest rumors are not wanting his OLB'S dropping in coverage so much. The speculation is that he wants them to get after the QB more.

This is the type of approach that I think can and will yield big results. With the talent log jam at CB in this draft this very well could be the year to pull a Pats type move and trade back a time or 2 .

The Second round will be loaded with DB'S . I predict that somewhere between 8 and 12 will come off the board in round #2 now couple that to the approach I feel is coming we could use 2 or 3 of those guys in a big way.

I am almost certain we will go CB first , but IMO we may want to trade back and double dip and then look for Safety help as well .

Give the new DC the tools he needs and he is correct when he states you have to be able to cover on the back end . Hopefully Butler values DB'S more than we have in the past. As stated the way he is talking it seems that's how he wants to address the situation.

 

I think with blake still young (which is more like a seasoned draft pick) and so many in free agency (77) we may go that route. (skrine)

cortez is signed and I believe they still have some faith in him to get healthy. shamarko is still an untested draft pick that has flashed some coverage skills. McCain may also be an easy sign and gay could be up for an extension (the way he played last year). I'm not so sure we draft one that high yet.
I think we will see a safety in the first couple of picks to replace some age on the backend.

there are a couple of OLB'ers that wouldn't necessarily have to be #1 picks that I like. they have some smarts about them also. (Jordan hicks from texas and norkeithus Otis of NC), they both have a lot of upside and could be mid rounders. worilds could be franchised for another season if we find the money, so blast, you could be on to something.

while I like our two young wr's I still think we need a better #2 opposite AB. ( bell was the 2nd leading receiver on the team last year) a

good RB to spell bell wouldn't be a bad thing later in the draft either, but with 3 young guys here( harris, perkins, archer, I'm not so sure.

which leads us to the O-line and DL. I think with a 1 and 2 already on the d-line with two good young players, that kind of eliminates that first. which leaves us Cameron erving as the new LT. beachum as the new LG.

we may dabble in the TE spot and CB spot later possibly.

LT erving, beachum, pounce, DD, gilbert
S harris, Thomas, Mitchell, lewis/ allen/ golden/ fogg/ ventrone?
WR locket, AB, wheaton, Bryant, Washington, goodwin
OLB hicks, JJ, worilds, Otis, zumwalt
CB scott/ diggs/ everrett/ grant, skrine, gay, allen, blake, mccain
OLB Otis, see above.
RB/TE , bell, harris, perkins, archer. heath, blanchflower, egnew.

 

Came up with that all by yourself?

 

I don't see a lot there, I mean outside of press and cover what else is there for a DC to focus on? I did read where he will use some hybrid packages of sort but so did his mentor, DL.

In terms of the draft, what would one be without Pittsburgh investing in the LB position? People would fall off their chairs and it would throw Mayock and draftniks into a proverbial tailspin. Steelers like to throw the new hire toys so I do think we'll see a heavy investment to please Butler.

Don't expect them to bust the bank on a CB though, I can see mid round as opposed to late, which will inevitably send some board members into a state of confused depression.

I agree Safety will be on their radar big time. Staff will suffer major withdrawals not being able to utter the very words "linebacker" over the bat phone but this time they'll get it out. Safety

This draft is going to be fun. I will have somewhat recovered by then and should be back on solid food to enjoy.

Go Steelers!

 

Does that has something to do with where the QB is looking to throw? I still like Wheaton as a number 2 receiver.

 

You guys make some solid points and I guess a lot does depend on what they really think of Cortez Allen and all his CB'S ?

I still think we have more talent up front than we do in the back .If Coach Butler sees it the same he should be asking for DB help.

The NFL is changing and so must the Steelers. The back end must be solid as most Teams are throwing Teams now . Used to be only 3 or 4 Teams that ran multiple WR sets and now almost every Team does and they do it a lot more often.

 

We need to follow the Starship Troopers mentality.

They cannot complete their passes IF we disable their QB!

[video=youtube;FNhYJgDdCu4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNhYJgDdCu4[/video]

Ahem... and by 'disable' I mean sack, right. Not like, put in a wheelchair or anything. Just so that's clear.

 

I have been watching the Hawks a lot on NFL rewind and looking at a lot of there stats. One conclusion I could draw is they don't get much pressure at all . In 2013 they had 44 sacks and where plus 20 in the turnover department. In 2014 they had 37 sacks and plus 10 in the turnover department . They blitz very little and most of there sacks are coverage sacks.

The Steelers sack numbers for those 2 seasons are not that far off from the Hawks. 33 and 34 with a even and a minus 4 turnover ratio. Watching the tape not many of those are coverage sacks and the Steelers do send a lot more blitzes a whole lot more.

So the conclusion is plain to me . If you can cover then you don't have to blitz as much if you don't have to blitz as much you have more guys available to help turn over the pass it also will create coverage sacks.
This has always been my feeling on how to play Defense and the Hawks are proving it works the same in the NFL as it Did and does in High School.

As the league keeps going towards more multiple sets , more spreads , and the 6 receiver report stuff we need to adapt .2 Teams in the Superbowl both of which have stocked the back end with great players if we intend to get back we need some great talent back there, until we get that we are in trouble .

 

I wouldn't say I am blind to the front. I do understand they work together . I actually think I understand it greatly. If you can't cover you can't get coverage sacks. Those front 4 don't make the QB uncomfortable if the 1st. read is open in 2.0 seconds.

The Pats and the Hawks because they can press and take away half the field it allows those front guys to be front guys . I think we have some better than average DL, we are just so weak in the DB area we will never get to see it .

I am not fixated on CB'S only , we need a FS and a SS as well . I am fixated on those 4 key spots so we have the talent to see if Big Dan, Tuitt, McClendon, Heyward and the rest can play ? I think they can if we tighten up and let them play.We need more talent to do it that's my fixation , I hope the Steelers or Butler are similar.

 

They have a free safety. They need a Strong Safety. Could be the 1st pick. As I was in favor of the Shamarko Thomas move up due to the fact it was time to find a replacement for Troy, the negatives out way the positives at this point. Health first and foremost. Then he gets healthy and can't break into the line up. I feel it's time to get a conventional SS as Will Allen proved. And it paid dividends where Mitchell seemed to play better. Troy's best days are over and was a liability.

As far as Cortez Allen's injury, best to cure what's in the head first. A lot of cash for that display this past season. And a big bonus for that display coming up. If they cut him I wouldn't be surprised. Big Toast and Little Toast can head to Arizona.

Bring McCain, Blake and Will Allen back.

 

Are you comfortable with Mitchelle ? I am not more of a hitter type and not much coverage from what I have seen. Or are you saying to start Will Allen in that spot ?