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State of the defense 1/3 of the season

Discussion in 'Steelers Talk' started by bigbenhotness, Oct 13, 2021.

  1. bigbenhotness

    bigbenhotness Well-Known Member

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    Meh. We aren't bad, just not great. One can say it's because of injuries, or because of lack of offense... but I think the biggest factor is turnovers. Only falcons, raiders, 9ers and jags have less.


    We are:

    16th in ypg
    10th in ppg
    20th in sacks

    The sack stat is troubling. Highsmith is a big drop off from dupree(I was wrong). Losing tyson was huge, especially with no Tooey. Haden older, no nelson, no hilton and mink not making spectacular plays like before and well you have a subpar secondary.

    If we can get tuitt back, and the secondary gels a little longer I think our defense should be ok. Not as good as 2019-2020(pre playoff) though.


    What say you guys?
     
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  2. Formerscribe

    Formerscribe Well-Known Member

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    Injuries have been a huge part of the problem. Highsmith missed time, but he has also been hobbled the pretty much all season. Watt missed nearly two full games and I still don't think he is 100 percent. I am still hopeful that Highsmith can be a good player, but I expect him to continue to be a downgrade from what Dupree was before the injury last season.

    Throw in the absence of Tuitt and the loss of Alualu and it is clear why the sack total is down. The pass rushers have either been absent entirely or limited most of the season. The pass rush looked great when they were relatively healthy, but that hasn't been the case since early in the game against the Raiders.

    Losing Bush again also hurts. They either have to cover for Spillane's deficiencies or live with them. Both of those approaches hurt the defense.

    The one factor that has little to do with injuries is Fitzpatrick. He has to play better. He has to make big plays and consistent ones. Remember, he dropped an interception early against the Packers. He also whiffed badly on a big run by the Broncos to set up a field goal Sunday. Maybe they are moving him around too much. Maybe it is some other issue. Regardless, he has to be better.
     
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  3. AskQuestionsLater

    AskQuestionsLater Writing Team

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    Highsmith has been disappointing to say the least. Thought he would take a big step. Still time but disappointing all the same. However, as stated, injuries have not assisted in any manner.


    The biggest problem now though is the health of Devin Bush. He has yet to stay healthy for a full season and I fear he will not be able to do something. His lack of availability is what is holding this defense back in terms of its overall capabilities.
     
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  4. Brice

    Brice Well-Known Member

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    Watts holdout hurt his readiness for the start of the season.

    I feel like we haven't seen him at the top of his game yet this season.
     
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  5. Steel_Elvis

    Steel_Elvis Staff Member Mod Team

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    1. Only having one good interior lineman for much of the season to date due to injuries to Tuitt and Alalu.
    2. Watt’s injury: lost time and reduced effectiveness when he came back
    3. Highsmith’s injury: lost time and reduced effectiveness
    4. Hilton was a terrific blitzer who needed to be accounted for by the pass protection; we’ve had no replacement in that way
    5. Vince Williams was arguably at his best when turned loose on inside blitzes. He was a very solid blitzer who put on pressure and got home.

    These are all factors that affect the sack number besides the play go the guys who are out there in the field compared to last season. Certainly Highsmith has not taken the next step that was hoped for, but I don’t know how much is due to injury. Ingram has made a lot of good pressures, but has been a half second too late to accumulate sacks. I still think he’s a solid player.
     
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  6. bigbenhotness

    bigbenhotness Well-Known Member

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    I think Ingram is better than highsmith but that’s just me lol
     
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  7. bigbenhotness

    bigbenhotness Well-Known Member

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    Tyson is one thing, Bush being hurt really hampers this defense. I’m talking a big drop off lol
     
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  8. Maddog78

    Maddog78 Well-Known Member

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    Was listening to Monday's Terrible Podcast. They pointed out that there were plays in the first half where Spillane was the dime LB, i.e. the only ILB on the field. This was before Bush left.

    They were both flummoxed as to why, as am I.

    Maybe they'll update on today's podcast, but that is a headscratcher.
     
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  9. steel machine

    steel machine Well-Known Member

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    I wonder if Bush will ever play most of the games in a season.

    Imagine an injury free D with all hands on deck. They would be top 5 in league.
     
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  10. CanadianSteel

    CanadianSteel Well-Known Member

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    Injuries are the biggest factor, I think... Especially on the interior of the D line. Tuitt had 11 sacks last year and Alualu is an underrated run stuffer. Those 2 alone have a huge negative impact.
     
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  11. CanadianSteel

    CanadianSteel Well-Known Member

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    That's insane. Does our coaching staff way overvalue Spillane?
     
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  12. troybellringer55

    troybellringer55 Well-Known Member

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    Its been disappointing, Week 1 in Buffalo they did good.

    But, injuries keep it down from what it could be which is nothing more than average currently.
     
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  13. Lambert

    Lambert Well-Known Member

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    I don't like Butler, but guys get breathers here and there or miss a couple plays for lots of reasons. Looking at any one play and judging personnel can be impossible to figure out. If it's a usage pattern though, that's worth pointing out.
     
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  14. Steel_Elvis

    Steel_Elvis Staff Member Mod Team

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    Oh, I agree. He’s a former Pro Bowler who still plays at a high level.
     
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  15. CanadianSteel

    CanadianSteel Well-Known Member

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    Good point. Let's hope it's not a pattern.

    I'm guessing the coaches don't have a lot of faith in Gilbert... He rarely sees the field on D, unless there are multiple injuries.
     
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  16. Brice

    Brice Well-Known Member

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    When does Taco move to the active roster?

    I know Butler said he was supposed to play OLB, but we have a huge need at DE if Tuitt never comes back.
     
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  17. thorn058

    thorn058 Well-Known Member

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    Anyone notice that the Chiefs attacked the Bills using a 4 man front and weren't sending more than 4 on Sunday night?
     
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  18. Formerscribe

    Formerscribe Well-Known Member

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    I noticed that he was on the field in those situations. I don't get it, either.
     
  19. Formerscribe

    Formerscribe Well-Known Member

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    I guess you missed the opener. You should watch it. That was a fun one.
     
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  20. bigbenhotness

    bigbenhotness Well-Known Member

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    Defense or not we need to score more, end of story
     
  21. dobbler-33

    dobbler-33 Well-Known Member

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    Waiting on the former browns mauler to take shape! So far he seems steady but he ain’t been a thorn in the side like he was against our squad and others
     
  22. mac daddyo

    mac daddyo Well-Known Member

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    i think the coaching staff is part of the problem. when you have a highsmith, watt, ingram, bush, schobert on your team and they are not that effective you have to look at coaching. olsavsky and butler are part of the problem. spillane being put in those situations is coaching and scheme. not so much about the player but how we use them against offenses. this has been a problem for a few years. bush and vince running up into a gap and getting taken out of a play are not how they should be playing. it has gone on for a few years. that is coaching. :cool:
     
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  23. steelersrule6

    steelersrule6 Well-Known Member

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    Ingram has seemed to apply more pressure to QBs than Highsmith.
     
    Last edited: Oct 14, 2021
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  24. steelersrule6

    steelersrule6 Well-Known Member

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    I have heard they're blitzing less, probably due to the secondary isn't that good, their 4 man rush was only good against Buffalo.
     
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  25. bigbenhotness

    bigbenhotness Well-Known Member

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    Tyson and a healthy watt
     
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