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Fixing this D: down the middle is the answer

Discussion in 'Steelers Talk' started by Watt Wack, Jan 31, 2018.

  1. stompin69

    stompin69 Member

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    Our run defense sucked this year, you can't cover guys if you are pulling safeties up to catch the runner all of the time. Our line should have more tackles than our safeties. Troy did what he did because we had a run D, Rod did what he did because we had a run D. There was a time when teams knew they were not going to run against us, and all we had to do is make sure they were right, and then turn our db's loose. Okay I had to edit this...I will not slight Donnie and Tony...Donnie was a 5 time pro bowl player and Tony did play lead the team in int's in 78'.
     
    Last edited: Feb 2, 2018
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  2. stompin69

    stompin69 Member

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    We get shredded on our unbelievable stubbornness to give up on zone, or as we know it, the inability to bump and run. Now I was against Haden at first but he has done an admirable job ( just don't rely on him for many tackles, but if he can make Brady hesitate I am good with him! ) But if we can stop the run, they are forced to throw. Wow, you think if we can stop the run without bringing a safety up every play, that we can't stop the passing game??? cmon, have you ever played or studied this game?
     
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  3. NY STEELERFAN

    NY STEELERFAN Well-Known Member

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  4. mac daddyo

    mac daddyo Well-Known Member

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    3 safeties on the field in the hybrid. I know most love Vince Williams and I like Vince but we need more from that spot in run stuffing. I'd like better starters at the ILB spot. These two things alone would help against the run than just another NT. :cool:
     
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  5. NY STEELERFAN

    NY STEELERFAN Well-Known Member

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    Some guys I really like to help that on the draft side are:

    Cam Smith USC
    Jason Cabinda Penn St
    Oren Burks Vandy
    Mike McCray Mich

    These guys are some of the few I like that I have watched that could help vs the run and have pass coverage skills. Also Leonard has shown flashes but I need to see more.
     
  6. Blast Furnace

    Blast Furnace Staff Member Mod Team

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    Another keyboard cowboy :facepalm:

    Considering that they are in their nickel defense (extra DBs since I dont think you know that) most of the time and have poor man covering DB's, yeah, they arent going to stop the pass if they stay in their base defense.

    How good a job are they doing stopping the pass with extra DB's on the field? And you think they can do it with less?
     
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  7. Diamond

    Diamond Well-Known Member

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    Ive already decided Porter is a poor LB coach, and then there is Butler who started at inside backer for 10 years and between the two of them our inside backer performance isnt close to where it needs to be taking into account shazier is absent but cant butler and porter figure out they need a backup who could step in and fill the void shaz left instead of bringing in someone like spence off the street....
     
  8. Watt Wack

    Watt Wack Well-Known Member

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    I disagree. Even the great Ray Lewis was diminished quite a bit when he didn't have beef in front of him, then they draft Ngata and Ray became a monster again. ILBs suck if DL doesn't keep OGs out of their faces. This D has only excelled with a beast at NT. This hybrid crap isn't working.
     
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  9. Watt Wack

    Watt Wack Well-Known Member

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    Honestly, that was a bad sign; when you have to bring in someone off the street when the starter goes down - not even off the practice squad - you did p-ss poor in preparing for the season. That is gross negligence.
     
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  10. mac daddyo

    mac daddyo Well-Known Member

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    changing league than when ray was good. the hybrid is here to stay i'm afraid. it's a passing league and the defense will change with it as we have seen. casey in his early years did it with quickness off the snap. hargraves was supposed to have that quickness and he used it last year. when we go to two down linemen it has to be a different breed than a NT. the 3-4 okie base is not used much now. that was mostly predicated on a zone blitzing scheme. you can clamor all you want but it's changing to this type of defense. the LB'ers are getting lighter and faster in the middle. :cool:
     
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  11. Blast Furnace

    Blast Furnace Staff Member Mod Team

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    Shazier has freakish speed for his size. They were using 3 players to try and replace him, not just Spence.

    Its not that they didnt have a player to plug in that I find fault with them, its not having a scheme to implement in his absence.
     
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  12. mac daddyo

    mac daddyo Well-Known Member

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    Maybe we should have adjusted back to the old okie 3-4defense against the jags. It's not like we didn't have that one. Probably could have used James for that though. :cool:
     
  13. Blast Furnace

    Blast Furnace Staff Member Mod Team

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    Oh no you didn't!
     
  14. mac daddyo

    mac daddyo Well-Known Member

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    :hehehe::smiley1::cool:
     
  15. NY STEELERFAN

    NY STEELERFAN Well-Known Member

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    I agree 100% why have a guy on the practice squad. I went back and forth with a few here but you have guys there for a reason and hope you don't need them but if you do you have to hope he has learned enough. jmo
     
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  16. Watt Wack

    Watt Wack Well-Known Member

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    You have some valid points, but rushing the ball, and stopping the rush, still matters.

    Look at who does it well and where they ended up at the end of the season. Philly is still playing.

    http://www.nfl.com/stats/team?seasonId=2017&seasonType=REG&Submit=Go
     
  17. mac daddyo

    mac daddyo Well-Known Member

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    Philly is done now. World champs to boot. The 4-3 has beat Tom Tom again. :cool:
     
  18. AskQuestionsLater

    AskQuestionsLater Writing Team

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    Not so much the 4-3 but the personnel to get to him. Speaking of which;


    An All Pro Interior lineman? Check.


    An supreme athlete who can cover and rush the passer? Check.


    A run stuffing defensive lineman or a pass rushing defensive tackle? Check.


    An pass rushing specialist? Check.


    Wonder where I have seen this before Mac....


    ... Oh wait.. :lolol:
     
  19. Da Stellars

    Da Stellars Well-Known Member

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    Philly has strong run blocking too, and their RB's were gashing them.

    Coming out of this game, I've decided we need a big time TE. Ertz was crucial in a lot of spots and he is a decent run blocker as well. Jesse James is okay. Vance might be above average. But we are really missing Heath Miller and what he brought to the table.
     
    Last edited: Feb 5, 2018
  20. HeinzMustard

    HeinzMustard Well-Known Member

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    Broncos owned the Patriots/Brady a few times with 3-4. Personnel is key. Steelers have the players to beat the Bengals and Ravens... but not the Patriots.
     
  21. mac daddyo

    mac daddyo Well-Known Member

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    it's all about personnel for sure. :cool:
     
  22. NY STEELERFAN

    NY STEELERFAN Well-Known Member

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    I will disagree with we can't beat the Pats we had them this year and without our best defensive player. We are 2 players off, get rid of Mitchell and get an ILB and we are so much better. jmo
     
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  23. HeinzMustard

    HeinzMustard Well-Known Member

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    Steelers D needs better and more consistent production from their D-line. Too many average RBs gashed the Steelers defense in '17 and it all starts up front. Yes..upgrading ILB and Free Safety will improve the defense, but will it be enough to beat teams like Jaguars and Patriots? I doubt it.
     
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  24. NY STEELERFAN

    NY STEELERFAN Well-Known Member

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    Your right they do need help up front but addition by subtraction will help that. Like I said the proof is in the pudding, we had the Pats help them to 27 we have the players. Need a few guys and a lot better play calling by the coaching staff as well....
     
  25. Blast Furnace

    Blast Furnace Staff Member Mod Team

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    While they do need to make some changes, Heinz is wrong about how much they were run on. The Bears game and early Jaxs game they got gashed and then at the end of the season against Ravens and Texans they got run on but they held all other RB's under 100 yards.

    An ILB and in the box safety would go a long way to tightening things up there.
     
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