what needs to change, and how

Until the OL learn how to run block and the offensive coordinator knows
how to call plays to have a successful run game, we are going to have trouble
with any teams.

 

Need to execute better.

 

I did not know this but The Steelers are top 3 in most punts after the Jets.

I always felt the OCs should have a redzone rating where they get a certain amount of point if they convert to a TD from 20 to 20, inside the 20, inside the 10, inside the 5, at the 1.

My point is...if you placed a ball on the 3 yard line and had all 32 teams be given 4 downs...its amazing how efficient the Pats and Colts used to be in getting the TD.

Steelers used to be good also in the 2 pt conversions but many of Bens passing lanes seemed to get batted now with his quick releases.

 

Bruce Ariens

 

He does have two SB rings from Pittsburgh.

 

No, but injuries can lose them. I'm sorry you don't understand that getting absolutely no pressure from their weak-side edge rusher diminishes the defense. Part of what made that defense so good was having four guys who are very good at pressuring the quarterback. The defense lost a key playmaker and it showed last night.

The injuries are ruining what was a great defense. The run defense hasn't been the same since Bush was injured. The pass rush isn't the same without Dupree. Now both cornerbacks are injured, and the communication is a big problem without Spillane.

 

Bring back Ron Erhardt.

 

Yep, Steelers getting majorly banged up at exactly the wrong time. You want to be coming in to form and full health right about now. Pittsburgh is going in the opposite direction.

 

No I agree, I said it before our run game is going to do us in before the loss of Dupree would.

 

You are spot on Scribe, we will miss Dupree as we have missed Bush. Spillane was playing like a beast. I'm just not sold yet that losing Dupree has us out of the running. Highsmith just cut his teeth yesterday & we didn't see a drop-off with the pressure. Bye years end it most likely shows up. Highsmith has a chance at greatness, let's see how he responds.

 

We're not done yet bbh. Looking at our recent finishes in the near past is cause for concern but I'm wired with the optimistic outlook.

Actually you were worried about the run defense like back in July. I agreed with you ...lol

 

Change the blocking scheme.Change the sets . Get creative . The Coach can make the OL better if he actually Coaches .. I could take this group and produce a running game at a high level.. I could grab 1 of my high school playbooks out of a drawer and be 100 percent better with 1 practice..Snoop is dead ASS our OC sucks..

 

How about having your 6'5 240+ lb QB doing a QB sneak once in a while?
For as much of a veteran as Ben is, sometimes he doesn't seem to understand situational football. Brady/P. Manning/Rodgers know when to quick snap a ball to catch a defense off guard with a quick play or catch them with too many men in a substitution.

 

More like a super soaker

 

I think we need to have Dodson as a starter and kick Feiler back to RT.

 

We actually did see a decline in pressure yesterday. Washington's pass protection is among the worst in the league. Smith should have been running for his life. Highsmith generated no pressure at all. Dupree is much better. As I already mentioned, the four-man rush was not effective most of the game. The one exception was a great individual effort by Tuitt for a sack the play before the field goal at the end of the second quarter.

So far, the response by Highsmith has been solid run defense and no pressure on the quarterback.

 

Anybody who thinks the loss is being overblown is mad about him performing better then when he started out, give me a break Blast. The world is full of surprises grasshopper.

 

His point is that some people just can't give Dupree proper credit for the player he has become because they can't get past the disappointment of his first four seasons.

 

Nice try "o' i back up my arguments with factual data" Scribe. Strike one. 3 sacks along with 9 qb hits last night. You have yet to produce any evidence that the Steelers are suffering with Highsmith. Dupree is not consistent enough to discredit Highsmith with his first outing. Washington hasn't had Smith running from defenders all year that you are snake selling.

 

Washington's pass protection has been poor even with Smith, but that isn't the most relevant detail. The truly relevant statistics are Highsmith's. In terms of sacks and quarterback hits, that would be zero and zero. Yes, the Steelers still had a pass rush, but it would have been better with Dupree.

 

Hypothetically, yes. Sack machine rolled on with Highsmith not recording a playmaking stat. Not really striking evidence that this defense misses Dupree at the moment.

 

You questioned me for daring to post something without statistics, so I responded with statistics that were more relevant than those you presented. I demonstrated how Highsmith did nothing as a pass rusher, the area in which Dupree excels. In such a close game, you don't think another sack or pressure might have made a difference? Now you are just being obtuse.

 

I am not going to judge Highsmith based on such a small sample size , but as for Butler, he just is not willing to bring serious heat. For me that mean bringing seven at least. That allows even mediocre qbs to look good against the Steelers. I know the sack numbers are high, but I wonder where we rank when it comes to hurries, knockdowns, throwaways etc.

 

Seems to me when we play a tough defense, it causes us a lot of problems, but against weak defenses we look good.

Bills allow a lot of points. I`m expecting we will score on them quite a bit and win. If we were playing the Dolphins, I would be worried.