Dick Lebeau's defense is pathetic

you can add 30th in sacks
15th in 3rd down conversions - which means they arent getting off the field

im not blaming the defense for the bad season this team is having, but they are not helping much.

 

That is exactly why I dislike Tomlin and have for years now. Name me one thing that Tomlin has shown an ability to improve? A team is going to have up's and down's, and it's the coaches job to turn the ship around when things are going bad. Pass rush, turnovers, Oline, running game, giving up big plays (especially on 3rd down), etc. These are all things that need to be fixed and some of these things have been an issue for over 5 years now, yet nothing has changed. Tomlin isn't an idiot, he knows what needs to be changed, but he's clueless how to fix it.

Haley will be gone at the end of this year and Tomlin will be gone at the end of next season.

 

I think it's time for Lebeau to retire. I've been a supporter of his for several years. Hated to see him leave when he coached the Bengals for a year. But if you don't have the talent to run your system then we need a coach who can install a system based on the players we have. I'm not sure of Butler but he may have some new wrinkles to help this defense out.

When was the last time we had a pro bowl corner? or an All-pro Corner? Rod Woodson? That is a shame.

 

This!!! The problem with stopping the run began the day Ziggy Hood became the starter, McClenon is good but they can double tem him on runs up the middle as Ziggy just can't shed a block and Heyward isn't much better. The problem with stopping the run doesn't allow the linebackers to attack as they now have to fill holes for the run game, something that only 1 LBer was responsible for in the past. We know the offense is bad and what happens every game, if the team gets the ball first they either score or they pin us back deep and then we end up playing on our half of the field being conservative until we up down multiple score and then we are one dimensional with a bad oline, it isn't hard to see the problem. I also agree that it isn't DL, it is the players, we don't have the personnel to carry the scheme and the problem with DL is the same with Todd Haley, he doesn't have the right players but neither can adapt their plays to make use of the roster they have. In the case of the defense the bad CBs play off and we just try to keep contain on run plays because the DTs aren't capable of defending the run without LB support and they don't create penetration on pass plays which allows RBs to help with the outside pass rush. On offense we run up the middle, run a draw play and then run an empty back field and Ben gets killed when Foster or Gilbert misses a block and then Mesko would boot a 34 yarder.

 

Are they 4th in first downs, yet 15th in 3rd down conversions because they've played one less game than a lot of teams? If so, the 4th in FDs allowed is the misleading stat, not the %conv stat.

 

It actually means we get teams into 3rd down situation more...we're some defenses give up more fist down conversions in the first two plays. All but a few select teams would thrive with our defense. Especially those teams that have an offense that can score or at least flip field position.

 

I disagree the Saints and Jets come up with creative blitzes to sack the QB Lebeau is running the same crap for 20 years. After the loss to the Raiders in 2012 their players said the Steelers defense was predictable.

 

I was hoping that wouldn't be the case with Jones but he seems like an 'almost' guy on plays because he is just too slow.

 

I'd say this defense is predictable, but it is effective with the right guys, we just don't have them.

THis defense was more vicious and dangerous in years past... I blame the rule changes.

 

Look at the big picture. Regardless of head coach or coordinators, the same old same remains. Averagely suspect on both sides of the ball on 3rd down, averagely suspect on special teams. Average line, inability to go after and or retain players while hanging on to SOME fan favorites that LONG SINCE lost their tread. It's all debatable, generals/soldiers etc... Same results producing exciting moments and accomplishments as well as cries for suit cases and swear offs.

Noll, Cowher, Tomlin... Coordinator after coordinator, same old *****ing. Good years bad years, same old *****ing.

The familiar consistency has been what makes us love em, hate em and continue to tune in during the grid iron season... And keeps a lot of our hopes alive even when the math is not starting to add up.

Weve seen teams built to smash not just outlast, and I think it's starting to takes it toll as they fail to live up to it and for no other reason that a blue collar mentality is nowhere to be found as hasn't been for awhile now.

On paper, we haven't stacked up for years. But yet we've still had quite a bit of success.

Noll outlived his success, Cowher's Marty ball tactics yielded some results but left a lot to the imagination. Tomlin either does not have the leash to reel in or the desire to do so, but appears to blame himself for botched game after botched game while appearing to do not much about it, and yet again has displayed a knack to field a decent resume where comparisons are concerned.

All coaches had talent and a lack thereof... Only thing I can say, is Noll was better at prepping year in and out, but then again he existed in a time where players made their team their home, and earned their checks. but even when that talent wasn't there, he seemed to field a team that at least played with friggin heart.

cowher and Tomlin both had/have Ben. Cowher hand cuffed him and Tomlin has gave him too much reign at times. All this said, again everything is very debatable, but the results really aren't when in question of head coaches.

but in order to play along with OP, we are very predictable... And have been for years. All tangiable aspects aside.

Maybe it's time for a different Rooney to run the show?

 

Also Emmitt had a whole dang stockyard of beef blocking for him with a beast fullback as well. We don't. But man I wish we did.

 

I left out the part about execution in my long winded retort.

I'll remedy it by adding that we predictably do not execute while being overall, a very predictable bunch.

 

Didn't the Saints just put forth the absolute worst defense in the hiustory of the NFL last season - this is what you want?

And The Jets just got destroyed by the Bengals and Daltan had FIVE (5) TD passes - 4 of which were to a second year receiver. Daltan Had ONE (1) TD pass against the Steelers and it was basically Bernard making a great play. Yet people on this board rip our defense and want the Jets defense - they say our defense is so bad that we made a scrub QB like Dalton look like Joe Montana. Hell, the Seahawks gave up 23 first downs to the Rams with Clemmons at QB.

 

Who cares what the Saints did last year, look at what they're doing this year, that's the only thing that matters

 

I do, well at least I do as part of this conversation although I hadn't thought much about them until just now. I think what it shows is that coaching matters. Another example is Andy Reid in KC. Alex Smith isn't the sole reason that team has improved as much as they have. Scheme and coaching absolutely matter, almost as much as talent.

 

The team I have been most interested in besides ours this year is the Seahawks. The Saints have been good from what I have seen though and I think if they play each other it will ultimately depend on where that will determine the outcome.

 

I'm not a Tomlin supporter but I don't know what more he can do. The players are just not excuting. He's done more this year then I've seen him do in previous years. He's benched players (you can't bench everyone) he's cut players, and he's signed other players. With them be so salary cap tight it's not alot he can do. I would like to know what would you do in his situation?

 

Ike draws criticism in a game where the defense gives up 88 passing yards because a wide receiver had three catches for first downs. The defense is held to a much higher standard than the offense.