Busted Coverage

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/58...ce=dailyemail&campaign=601983&userId=11964319

Busted coverages been a problem for a while and it was a huge part of the loss to the Cowboys. Mike DeFabo broke down some of the issues in The Athletic.


The Dallas Cowboys quarterback is a polished veteran with eight-and-a-half years and more than 4,000 passes on his NFL resume. There’s a reason he’s been selected to three Pro Bowls and just inked a lucrative contract worth $60 million annually, making him the highest-paid player in the game.

But when the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense looked back at the film from Sunday night’s 20-17 loss — during which they allowed Dallas to rack up 445 yards of offense — they were kicking themselves. Too often, miscommunications in the secondary led to coverage busts and sparked explosive plays.

“A lot of it, we were doing it to ourselves,” Donte Jackson said. “We played 80 plays. Three or four that we had miscommunication on, those obviously are going to stick out the most because we’re professionals. We don’t expect to give another professional team just a giveaway play.”

Added rookie nickel Beanie Bishop: “There were things we knew they wanted to do, but just a lack of communication. There were instances when guys were playing different calls. Half the field was playing this. Half the field was playing that. And it ultimately led up to explosive plays.”

 

80 plays?

 

Sounds about right

An NFL game averages 153 total

Offense kept putting the defense on the field

 

42 pass att
31 rush
close enough

 

73 plays...
But this term 'Miscommunication' drives me nuts.
It is a fact though... and looking at the break down it is obvious.

Steelers only were the field for 54 plays on offense.

Tomlin needs to let his offense go on the attack.
If the offense puts up two touchdowns quickly, the opposing offense now has to play catch-up and plays into the hands of our defense.
28 passes and 26 run, that's balanced but it is a balanced loss.

3rd down, 3 of 12? that's just unforgiveable.

 

I love Minkah in many ways but.....

not living up to his past reputation and current price tag. He is PAID to shut things down and make splash plays. Had chances Sunday night, made wrong decisions.

it's all a mess right now.

 

This was mentioned on 93.7 The Fan. Minkah's last interception was in January of 2023 almost 2 years ago. His last fumble recovery was in 2022 so he is definitely not living up to his big play reputation.

 

Minkah was going to get that interception that Porter Jr. got against Dallas.

 

Minkah sucks now cut him

 

sucks is extreme - don't be so obtuse.

but.....you can't pay everyone $20M a year in perpetuity. Guys making that $$ need to earn it.

more offseason 2024 decisions to be made.

stay tuned

 

And Minkah ruined the chance of a playoff victory last season playing like rusty poopoo


Minkah Stinkah

 

I hated the New England Patriots, not as bad the Cowboys though, but that Pioli/Belichick version was awesome and that carried forth with them.

They had core players they wanted to keep and build around.
They would add some names, and they would use for periods of time and then trade them or cut them (worst case)
They would add some through the draft and trade them after some time.
They always had a good inventory of draft picks.
They knew when vets where at their highest value and they would trade them for picks.
I may have not described it the best way, but New England was very good at moving players in and out and getting value.

In Pittsburgh, we lose players through Free Agency, not always by design.
We don't comp picks for some.
We don't trade players at their peak to gain maximum value.
I know I am a bit critical of our Front Office at the moment, but I feel like they are swimming upstream in whitewater.

 

Getting those turnovers can be cyclical.

 

We threw on way more 1st downs then we ran. It does no good to pass if we aren't hitting the wrs

 

Seems to me the above is the biggest reason (defensive lapses) we are not 5-0.

Some articles say Wilson should take over ASAP, but I think factoring in the O-line we have and Fields run ability, Fields gives us the best chance to win. Fields has played just good enough to give us a chance to win each game so far despite relatively low point production. Conservative play calling in 1st half of most games has been a part of the scoring shortfall in the games we lost IMO.

 

I think the defense was quite capable themselves of keeping themselves on the field.

 

True but that wasn't part of my premise.
Running with that and looking at the play-by-play... as the first half started, Fields threw almost every first down.... as the half wore on they ran almost every first down...
It almost applies to the 2nd half as well.
Weird.

But it is Hobson's Choice.
Am I mad at the QB or am I mad at the front office for not finding our QB some legit weapons?
And so on.....

Scusi, dov'e' il Bar?

 

All things considered I don’t see how you can be mad at anyone other than the FO. Obviously Kahn believed he would be able to pick up a vet wr to compliment GP. Unfortunately he probably should have acquired the new wr prior to trading away dj. I do wonder if GP is going to find himself in the same situation as Claypool and Johnson.

 

Uh huh

 

We also needed a DB so we got one

Regarding DJ he had become a “cancer” on the team

The way I equate it if a lady has breast cancer and has a mastectomy she does not wait to find a new boob before getting rid of the bad one

They got rid of a bad boob

 

Your similes need some work man. Good grief.

 

When was the last time the Steelers had a solid bunch of DB’s?

 

Well apparently we still have one bad boob

 

Miscommunication on defense leading to busted plays and easy completions has been an issue for a while. It is either (a) bad coaching and practice, (b) dumb players who can’t learn the system, or (c) a system that doesn’t fit the talent we have.

Our system seems to be heavily reliant on a vanilla defense and getting pressure on the QB, and getting a few splash plays a game. With all the injuries to our key players, maybe some modification with more blitzing is needed.

 

Hot Dog Tomlin won't open it up for Fields. I can't really blame him having 30 picks in 2.5 years with Chicago. Smith has kept his throws safe. Also he does not scan the field well. Smith has him throw to the primary #1. Not great at reading defenses either. I believe when Wilson gets in there the playbook will be opened up.