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Darius Slay Blasts Steelers Defensive Scheme: ‘Backwards Over There’

Discussion in 'Steelers Talk' started by Steelersfan43, May 7, 2026 at 2:59 PM.

  1. Steelersfan43

    Steelersfan43 Well-Known Member

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    https://steelersnow.com/darius-slay-blasts-steelers-defensive-scheme-backwards-over-there/
     
    Steelersfan43, May 7, 2026 at 2:59 PM
    Steelersfan43, May 7, 2026 at 2:59 PM
    #1
  2. MojoUW

    MojoUW Well-Known Member

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    It would be interesting to hear the perspective besides that of players that left under less than ideal circumstances on the defensive approach. It could be really really flawed, but it is hard to tell when the only vocal critics are guys like Slay and Nelson that are likely a bit salty about how things went down.
     
    MojoUW, May 7, 2026 at 3:36 PM
    MojoUW, May 7, 2026 at 3:36 PM
    #2
    • Winner Winner x 1
  3. Bubbahotep

    Bubbahotep Well-Known Member

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    Well Slay's rant might have some legs if the Steelers defense wasn't top 5 in the RZ last season.

    Sorry Slay. You bad.
     
    Bubbahotep, May 7, 2026 at 3:46 PM
    Bubbahotep, May 7, 2026 at 3:46 PM
    #3
  4. Thigpen82

    Thigpen82 Bitter optimist

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    Definitely.

    it’s true the defense did little to hide coverages and played a lot of single high, but the idea that the d line was going to bat down every ball sounds more like a throwaway comment than an actual strategy
     
    Thigpen82, May 7, 2026 at 3:47 PM
    Thigpen82, May 7, 2026 at 3:47 PM
    #4
  5. Thigpen82

    Thigpen82 Bitter optimist

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    He was a massive disappointment
     
    Thigpen82, May 7, 2026 at 3:48 PM
    Thigpen82, May 7, 2026 at 3:48 PM
    #5
  6. Steel_Elvis

    Steel_Elvis Staff Member Mod Team

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    So scheme was why he couldn’t tackle a first grader last year?
     
    Steel_Elvis, May 7, 2026 at 3:51 PM
    Steel_Elvis, May 7, 2026 at 3:51 PM
    #6
    • Like Like x 2
  7. SteelersfaninPhilly

    SteelersfaninPhilly Well-Known Member

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    Is that the ghetto english they use nowadays?
     
    SteelersfaninPhilly, May 7, 2026 at 3:51 PM
    SteelersfaninPhilly, May 7, 2026 at 3:51 PM
    #7
  8. Steelersfan43

    Steelersfan43 Well-Known Member

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    Slay was still good with a super bowl champions team the year before....
     
    Steelersfan43, May 7, 2026 at 4:08 PM
    Steelersfan43, May 7, 2026 at 4:08 PM
    #8
  9. MojoUW

    MojoUW Well-Known Member

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    No. He was not. He was hardly playing by the end of that season.
     
    MojoUW, May 7, 2026 at 4:58 PM
    MojoUW, May 7, 2026 at 4:58 PM
    #9
    • Agree Agree x 1
  10. MojoUW

    MojoUW Well-Known Member

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    Possible that there was more to it than that and either Slay didn't understand it or the coaches did a bad job of explaining it.

    Again, be interested to hear from someone who didn't have their Steelers tenure end their playing career.
     
    MojoUW, May 7, 2026 at 4:59 PM
    MojoUW, May 7, 2026 at 4:59 PM
    #10
  11. Steelersfan43

    Steelersfan43 Well-Known Member

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    He has played 91% of the snap on defense in the playoffs with the eagles in 2024....He was unplayable the next year with the steelers
     
    Last edited: May 7, 2026 at 5:13 PM
    Steelersfan43, May 7, 2026 at 5:07 PM
    Steelersfan43, May 7, 2026 at 5:07 PM
    #11
  12. jeh1856

    jeh1856 13 good years RIP buddy

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    jeh1856, May 7, 2026 at 5:51 PM
    jeh1856, May 7, 2026 at 5:51 PM
    #12
  13. Blast Furnace

    Blast Furnace Staff Member Mod Team

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    Not surprising, whether its ex players or players from other teams, the common theme is the Steelers schemes suck and easy to defend.
     
    Blast Furnace, May 7, 2026 at 6:31 PM
    Blast Furnace, May 7, 2026 at 6:31 PM
    #13
  14. Iron Nickel

    Iron Nickel Well-Known Member

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    [​IMG]
     
    Iron Nickel, May 7, 2026 at 7:12 PM
    Iron Nickel, May 7, 2026 at 7:12 PM
    #14
  15. Steel_Elvis

    Steel_Elvis Staff Member Mod Team

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    A huge problem with him last season was missed tackles. I seem to recall he had around a 20% missed tackle rate. I’m definitely not defending the scheme, but Slay sucked last year and was bad enough to suck in any scheme.
     
    Steel_Elvis, May 7, 2026 at 7:16 PM
    Steel_Elvis, May 7, 2026 at 7:16 PM
    #15
    • Agree Agree x 2
  16. steelersrule6

    steelersrule6 Well-Known Member

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    If that's the case along with not having a franchise QB the Steelers must've been terrible the last 5 years :shrug:.
     
    steelersrule6, May 7, 2026 at 7:31 PM
    steelersrule6, May 7, 2026 at 7:31 PM
    #16
  17. Blast Furnace

    Blast Furnace Staff Member Mod Team

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    They did and it reared its ugly head in the playoffs.
     
    Blast Furnace, May 7, 2026 at 8:13 PM
    Blast Furnace, May 7, 2026 at 8:13 PM
    #17
    • Disagree Disagree x 1
  18. steelersrule6

    steelersrule6 Well-Known Member

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    What you were describing those teams should be losing more than winning. Losing in the playoffs had more to do with lack of talent at certain positions.
     
    steelersrule6, May 7, 2026 at 8:22 PM
    steelersrule6, May 7, 2026 at 8:22 PM
    #18
  19. AskQuestionsLater

    AskQuestionsLater Writing Team

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    True.


    However, with Slay (at least by his own perspective), there is a common theme around the who. Stevenson Sylvester was the first player who stated Tomlin got too involved with some of the day to day coaching. Slay's recent comments don't help
     
    AskQuestionsLater, May 7, 2026 at 8:23 PM
    AskQuestionsLater, May 7, 2026 at 8:23 PM
    #19
  20. Steeldude

    Steeldude Well-Known Member

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    It's amazing isn't it? That's a college graduate :facepalm:
     
    Steeldude, May 7, 2026 at 8:32 PM
    Steeldude, May 7, 2026 at 8:32 PM
    #20

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