I thought our defense would be good

We were on the upswing last season, even with Blake and will Allen. 3rd in sacks, 5th in rushing, 11th in points and like 3rd in takeaways.

I'm like awesome we draft a sexy hargrave, upswingers in burns and Davis, and a potential hawk awaiting in golson.

We regressed bad. Cream puffs. Lol at least this year.

14th in points
30th in sacks
18th in takeaways
15th in rush ypg
28th in pass

Abysmal

Maybe next year

 

Unless we go all Defense it won't be much better ...We need at least 2 Starters up front and 3 in the back ...You don't get stud players with a BPA approach...It is not reaching when you can look at your Team and know if you cut them they would have a hard time finding a job in the NFL...
Burns is being forced to play because he is the best that we have, he is probably about the 60th. or so best CB in the NFL..He may work his way up to a top 25 guy , but that will not cut it in today's NFL...

 

It's very depressing. Tomlin changed our identity but maybe it would've happened anyways

 

Steelers drafted Shazier thinking he would be a "game-changer" like Troy Polamalu. With the exception of the 49ers game last year and the playoff game vs. the Bengals.. it hasn't happened. Polamalu was making splash plays just about every game from '04-'11... we don't get those from Shazier or anyone else on D for that matter.

 

Where would you rate Mitchell, league wise in safties? Golden is becoming a disappointment. Davis looks like the better athlete of all just making rookie mistakes.

 

It looks like the defensive coaching staff thinks this defense is all good to go:

http://www.steelers.com/news/articl...-better-/7a1f3054-7b31-4020-a7b1-8cd3f4f47654

 

Of course the defense lays an egg when the offense finally shows up. Defense is bad but this is the only game we can really blame on them? I'll take it. I'm just shocked they didn't stack the box and make Dak throw but he was making the right throws early. Also his prereads and audibles are pretty good.

 

Mike I would rate in 2 ways ...As a hitter type I would rate him top 25 ...As a read and react guy I would say the bottom 5 ..If we had skilled CB'S who could play 1 on 1 and a rangy FS with good Football IQ ,I would Love Mike , but with what we have he only compounds the problems...

 

Good thing that was the last great offense for awhile

 

I think we need 2-3 players on defense. #1 Mitchell needs to go. #2 get a pass rusher!!! #3 Get an ILB who can stuff the run! Basically adds up to we need a playmaker. We need a run stuffer. and we need a safety that doesn't suck.

 

I knew this defense would fall without a legitimate pass rusher. Even if Dupree was completely healthy, i think they would still be in the same position now.

Let's be honest, Harrison, Jones, Chick, Moats and Dupree are the worst group of OLBs in the league.

If we had just one elite pass rusher, or at least one above average pass rusher, the secondary would be a whole lot better.

 

Run defense is a absolute must. If you can't stop the run you will not win. We used to be a steel wall all those years we had a #1 defense

 

Let's get our big snack. Let's get our kiesels and run stuffing linebackers

 

Cowboys can run the ball and stop the run. They are 8-1, to me that's a successful build like we did in 05. Bettis I miss you

 

I forgot the most important need. We need a new coach.

 

The defense has a lot of under-developed players. So we've got at least 3 rookies either starting or playing significant time (hargraves, davis, burns), along with some other players that are probably backups on a lot of other teams (moats, chickillo, williams, etc). None of these guys have had extensive NFL experience and are getting out of position or burned because of their inexperience. Maybe long term they will be great players, but so much of this D is inexperienced.

 

Miss big snack!!! remember the game where he got pissed becaue he kept getting double teamed and blew up the center for Baltimore and sacked flacco priceless!!!

 

I believe the major problem is trust and chemistry amongst the players because their always off timing and late to the ball.

 

Until we have pass rushers that can put pressure on the QB, we will be in bottom 1/3 of defenses every year.

 

We were third in sacks last year. Was will Allen, Blake, McClendon, spence a difference maker?

 

Butler took more chances last year.

 

So sad

 

What made last year's secondary more trustworthy? Is Butler's concern with this year's secondary that they won't know their assignments or that they can't cover their men one-on-one (or in whatever scheme they use when LB-blitzing)?

 

I was looking for a NT in the first round two years ago in Malcolm Brown but got a lot of negative feedback. They only play 30% etc type comments. OK fine. Now we want one. Not picking on you hotness, just generalities. We had a good one in Steve Mac but let him go to the Jets. Maybe they should have kept him. He seems to be doing fine and playing more DT than DE like most have stated. Player movement/selection aside, they went with a more penetrating attack style and we may be seeing some of the effects. I think the problem lies in McCullers not stepping up to that inside presence he can be. Not what they didn't do in the draft.

 

I like to see them playing, the onus is on the coaches to not put them in situations where failure is imminent. If they are not creative enough, do they deserve to be on the staff?