It's lots of things, but it is the offense

I looked at the scores from all of yesterday's games, and only one team won scoring less than 21 points. We rarely score that many points, but our D can hold people under this more often than not, especially if the offense doesn't offer up easy points. In this offensive oriented league, I think DL's bend/don't break philosophy is pretty reasonable, but it needs an offense that can score more than 21 points.

Perhaps with a putrid offense, DL needs to take more risks. I believe that the offensive and defensive game plans, abilities, and philosophies need to complement one another, and right now that is one of the many things that are out of sync.

What at a mess.

 

I put that loss yesterday a lot more on the defense - especially LeBeau. The defense didn't bend yesterday - it flat out broke with the big runs it gave up. I mean how, how, how can you not game plan for the read option w/Pryor at QB and have 3 experienced players in Clark, Timmons, and Woodley be out of place for such a big play? The read option is virtually the only real big play capability the Raiders have.

But I do agree, the offense is still pretty bad and scoring 20 points for the Steelers offense seems to be a great accomplishment when it should actually still be an underachievement.

 

It's the offense...definitely the offense.

Yes, the defense didn't play their best game yesterday, but it was still an overall good performance--got several turnovers and held the Raiders to under 300 yards of offense (under 200 yards if you take away the 93 yard run by Pryor--yes, that was a huge breakdown defensively, but I mention this because it means that the Raiders weren't able to move the ball consistently throughout the game).

Offensively, however, we continue to struggle. The common thread in all of our losses this year has been poor offensive line play. Even in our victories, the o-line play hasn't been "good", only good enough. Injuries on the line certainly haven't helped, but I really don't think it would be much different without the injuries. We simply don't have the talent on the o-line needed to be successful (outside of DD and Pouncey).

 

The defense's performance was not good, yes they gave up under 300 yards but they gave up 200+ yards in the first half and it was pretty obvious that the Raiders played not to lose in the second half. Even without the 93 yard run by Pryor, the Raiders had nearly 100 yards rushing in the 1st half and furthermore you can't take away the 93 yard run especially from a standpoint that anyone who charted the Raiders this year knew it was very much in the norm to have Pryor run on 1st and 2nd down. Certainly the Steelers offense is not built for "come from behind", but the defense played a big role in allowing them to be in that hole.

 

They gave up the one big play to Pryor and while it was one of the things that killed us it was a decent overall effort by the defense. Other than that the Raiders managed only 3.2 yards a play and 186 yards total offense. Oakland didn't even get to 90 yards passing and averaged 2.8 yards per carry otherwise. We finally got 3 turnovers but the offense had two. The defense needs to keep those big plays from happening but in today's NFL you have to score points and we just flat out can't do it.

We're 14th in scoring defense and 27th in scoring offense (tied with the Jets). We're almost dead last in red zone efficiency and we gacked there again yesterday. Missing two field goals killed us as did the dropped passes and interceptions (one was due to Brown's drop).

 

After Belichick and Brady carves them up Sunday you all are really going to be pizzed off????

 

I think we make the mistake of seeing 30+ points on a scoreboard and think that the offense has done all that damage. It's not really true. When you see scores like that, it's because the D is scoring or setting up TDs with turnovers deep in the opponent's territory. Special teams can play a part, too. And the D helps if they produce three-and-outs that give the offense a very short field to work with.

14 of the Bengals' points yesterday came off int returns.
7 of the broncos' points came off a pick 6, the other was a pick deep in the Redskins territory.
7 of the Packers' 44 points came from a punt return. Others were set by a lot of three-and-outs by the D.

I am not absolving the offense of blame, here. BUT...the Steelers don't have a defensive or special teams TD. The Steelers consistently start drives deep in their own territory. I have not looked at the numbers, but I would guess that the Steelers' average starting field position is in the bottom 3 of the NFL.

 

Great post. One thing I have always thought has been pretty good about the Patriots defense is that yes they can sometimes be sieve giving up points, but the defense does create a lot of turnovers. Patriots scored 27 yesterday and 14 was due to the defense getting TO deep in Dolphin territory. The Patriots D turned that game around and allowed the offense to get into more of rhythm. Brady was 6-8 for 25 yards in the first half.

Also, I think you are correct, pretty sure they put something up about the Steelers going into the Baltimore game that the Steelers had the worst average starting offensive position in the league.

 

We had three picks and a 46 yard punt return. What did the offense do with it?

14 points off turnovers for the Bengals? That's still 35 points of offense - you won't see that this year.
Give the Broncos 14 points for the turnovers and that's still 31 points.

We are at the bottom on starting line of scrimmage (30th) but we're 4th in yards against, 26th in yards for, and 31st in punting. The offense isn't exactly flipping the field.

We're 6th in the league in three and outs per drive on defense and 21st on offense. Sounds more like an offense problem to me.

If this offense was playing as well as this defense we'd be looking at a wild card race instead of wondering how high we'll draft. There are problems to be resolved on defense but this offense is an absolute total, inexcusable mess.

 

I would have to agree with the mases here. Our defense is okay but our offense is really bad. The offense had several opportunities to score points and they pissed them away with incompletions, turnovers and penalties. I especially blame Todd Haley. But it goes farther than that.

When you have an oline that can't pass protect you don't have time to sit and throw the ball deep down the field. That's why we use the screens and the wide receivers screen because the ball come out quick and we need to do that so Ben doesn't get killed.

I would invest heavily in our oline next season and see what happens.

 

does offense count the fg kicks and the onside kick
those things struggled yesterday too

 

4 if you count preparation.

 

Yep we can't establish the run,we can't convert on 3rd. down,we are always behind the chains...


Our small WR'S can't get off the line,The WR'S can't help block in the run game,and Ben has a problem putting the ball where it needs to be consistently...

 

The offence has been the problem every year that Tomlin has been here.. The offence is always the problem with this team. It was the same way under BA, except we would get the odd big play that would result in a TD. I'm fine with firing Haley, but don't expect anything to change with a new OC. We're still going to suck on offence.

 

It is a total team effort, I disagree with any finger pointing that doesn't equally lay blame. Had the defense not given up three touchdowns, but forced a field goal perhaps a different outcome. Had the special teams not missed two field goals, botched a punt, given up a long return, or scored perhaps a different outcome. Had the coaches get the play in so that Ben didn't have to burn the first timeout, perhaps a different outcome. There were so many facets of the game that were frustrating and did not go right yesterday that it seems ridiculous to solely blame the offense. Not that they aren't without fault, just not completely.

 

I think it's equally both. The offense is simply predictable - and not to where you can predict they will make a big play. Instead, you can predict a stupid WR screen that doesn't get us anywhere. Or you can predict that by the time Ben drops back into the pocket, it collapses and the play breaks down. Or worst of all, that once we fall behind 14+ pts Ben goes into Superman mode and will force at least 1 INT.

On the defensive side. Yeah, we're ok. Until it's 3rd down and ANYTHING. I honestly don't feel comfortable with anything less than 3rd and 20+ with the way this defense handles itself. The only plus yesterday was that we seemed to actually make an adjustment (or simply remembered to spy on Pryor) after the 1st half. But you have to give him credit - he's a beast when he goes to run. Some serious moves.

 

I would like to know why it seems the offense doesn't get into gear until the 4th quarter. They are playing pro-athletes on the other side of the ball, so I disagree with Rich Gannon when he said that the defenders were getting tired covering Brown and Sanders.

 

Well said,but at the same time a little scary because there are so many areas that need to be improved. It's a good thing that things can change quickly from year to year in the NFL, but we have to be pro-active. We can't just sit back and expect things to improve in their own. Drastic times call for drastic measures. Sorry but im already looking towards next year and it's going to be make or break for many. If we don't unleash hell next year ,heads need to roll. I just try to stay positive that some real high picks next year will give this team the infusion of talent that is needed.

 

I should probably be more clear. My posts above may seem to imply I think the defense is more of a problem. I know the offense is the bigger problem on this team. But I do think LeBeau gets of scot free when his schemes have not been doing a lot to help the team. The Steelers have 5 losses. I think a larger share of the blame goes to the offense for losses to TN and Cincinnati. I think Chicago was about equal, Minnesota I lay more blame on the defense...just way too many big plays and they were playing Matt friggin Cassel at QB. This one I blame the defense more because yes the offense was stinky, but at least they weren't putting the defense in poor field position. If the score could have been 10-3 instead of 21-3 at halftime, it may have given a more realistic chance to the offense to come back, it would have kept the possibility for some semblance of a run game still possible.

I guess the way I look at it, is everybody wants to hang Haley - but that guy is dealing with patchwork OL at best and a QB who has talent but isn't exactly willing to be on the same page as him - sure he deserves plenty of criticism, but in context LeBeau is regarded as a saint. Keep in mind this defense basically in recent years despite being top 5 in yardage has numerous times given the lead back to the opposition when the Steelers O has responded with points. Witness that half of the losses last year (Denver, Oakland, Tennessee, and Dallas) occurred when the Steelers were ahead mid-way through the 4th quarter - the Steelers averaged 24 points a game in those losses....for all the talk that the Steelers would win most the games that they score 20+ points well, I'm not sure there is much proof out there for that. Also - in the Steelers 8 wins last year, not one score was the result of a special teams or defensive touchdown. I'm sorry folks, no making excuses for the offense - but the defense is a problem and the defensive mastermind that is Dick LeBeau should be raked over the coals some as well.

 

Three turnovers? They gave Ben and the O three more chances than Oakland had to score and the D lost?