The X factor on defense this year...

Vince Williams. His persistance and heart reminds me of 92 and is poised for a break out year now. "When I die I want it to be on the 2 yard line 4th & goal in the Super Bowl in the fourth quarter. Big hit force fumble game over" - Vince Williams

 

I like him, I hope he gets a chance all over the field

 

I really like Williams. He's a young player that gets it. What he may lack in pure athletic ability he more than makes up for in HEART!

 

I'm really having good vibs about the entire defense for 2015, i believe we will see many talked about names have their pivotal breakthrough this year getting this D back to it's heritage of being feared!! One thing i miss is the dominance of a front four. If were going to add Superbowls to our resume, we need to get back to the old recipe and i believe we now have the ingredients.

 

i think grant is going to suprise alot of people in the amount of playing time he gets.

 

To me the success of this team on D is focused right down the middle much like you say about baseball. The NTs....the ILBs...and the Safeties.

If those guys step up we will be fine....

 

Love me some Vince Williams! I remember that atrocious Minnesota game in London his rookie year where he was not having a good day, but then had a nice stop on a running play (could have been near the goal line IIRC) and seemed to get everyone excited. He played much better after that.

One X factor for the defense this year could be the unknowns that Butler is going to bring as the new DC. Yes, he's probably using a lot of what we've done in the past, but he will add his own stuff guaranteed. Plus a new person calling the defense will limit the other team's reliance on our tendencies from the past. That could be the little thing to result in a splash play for the defense.

 

I concur, he has an excellent opportunity
to really set himself apart from the pack if they will let him.

 

Williams will be a backup, so I don't really see him as a X factor more as a solid backup.

 

I think Shamarko Thomas shows up big too. I also hope he says I would have done this sooner if I could have played as a rookie.
Love LeBeau but rookies starting are either good or they suck. Be nice to find out before 3 years in

 

I honestly think this "we are pretty much going to be the same with some twists" is a smoke screen. He has already said it is time for the lbers to fend for themselves. I think he is going to make some significant “twists”

 

I think Williams swoops in and takes this position.

 

We went from being weak at this spot ...to having 10 players that all could be starters.Moats,Timmons,Shazier,Harrison,J Jones,Dupree,V Williams,S Spence,H jones, Zumwalt and there is always a surprise waiting in camp...WOW! Im definitely Excited!

 

Timmons obviously is a lock at ILB. Shazier is going to be given every opportunity to be the other starter. Unless one of those guys gets injured or Shazier falls on his face, there's no way VW is the starter.

 

I think the 10 yard cushion is going to gone. Heck our lineman being free to rush the qb is a significant change. I also think Butler is going to be a lot more aggressive and we actually could see more of a hybrid 3-4 like Baltimore runs where sometimes the OLB has his hand in the dirt more like a DE. Not saying all the time but there is no way with how the defensive scheme has worked the last few years that they aren't going to make changes. Also Tomlin has input now as well. With as long as him Butler go back you don't think they are going to tap into some of the stuff they used to do.

 

Also I have a hard time believing them because why would they show their hand so early. Why would they tell the league they aren't making very many changes. The league has too much tape on our old defense.

 

This is where I was heading with my earlier post. If KB can buck the trends we showed with DL calling plays, then we may be able to catch the offense off guard and win crucial plays. KB calls man when we used to call zone in certain situations for example. We're going to get a new mindset on calling plays for the defense which may be the biggest X factor as opposed to new plays and/or formations (which will be included too imo). Just like when a team gets a new OC, defenses are not sure how they will game plan. I think the same advantage could be had for our defense this year.

 

I think if we rotate guys and sub packages and play aggressive and hungry, our D will be legit. Don't care about individual stats. Stay fresh, play hard, get takeaways, impose fear in the qb and bring home #7.

 

I think this D is going to take a major leap this year. While I don't expect dominant, I expect a D which plays hard and plays well. No, I don't expect a Seahawks defense from 2 years ago, but a good, solid D which can win a game if they have to.

Honestly, I am really excited about so many guys who have yet to really break out while playing with us.

The starting Dline looks solid with potential from the Ends to really create some havoc, especially if we can find some depth.

The OLBs have a decent mix. 2 vets who know the ropes mixed with 2 young guys that I cannot wait to see actually make their mark.

The ILBs are 3 deep with the 3rd group being special teamers. Shazier breaking out this year would be huge.

The CBs have more question marks than answers, but if Allen rebounds, Gay stays solid, and Golson proves he can play, this group could make a leap most of us don't expect.

At S, many will say we don't have much, but I truly believe both starters are going to rebound. I am excited about Shark, much like most of us were when we drafted him, and Mitchell I think will play much, much better now that he is healthy.

The D overall is full of question marks, but in reality...there is a TON of potential an high draft picks in this group. If they step up, I think NEXT year they could be special.

 

For sure, this is a young Defense. So, should it become a top 10 defense this year, I have no doubt that the Steelers may be able to go on another run. With the offense we have, there should be no reason for a top 10 Defense to contribute to a deep playoff run this year (having said that, if Bell wasn't hurt, they may have had a deep playoff run last year).

 

yep. hopefully youth athleticism will make more plays then the youth mistakes cause and that maturation is short lived.

 

Positively smashing commentary!