I thought our defense would be good

I doubt it. So then what is the difference? I think it's the "bend don't break" attitude that they've been running. We were I believe almost last in passing defense last year so it seems they made a concerted effort to make progress on that front and it seems to be at the cost of sacks and pressure.

 

from 31 to 28 woopity do lol

 

What Dallas, Tennessee and Oakland are doing that the NFL cannot stop really is not that ingenious as many top analysts make it out to be.


To stop the uprising of the modern, ultra athletic tight end, teams have invested heavily in smaller but more dynamic ultra athletic linebackers who can not only play sideline to sideline and pass rush, but also stuff the run. This does come at a price; one defensive lineman has to be taken out to maximize this scheme called sub packages. In addition, this is also not accounting for the lack of substitutions some of these defensive ends get during games.



To counteract this new age defensive minded NFL, all Jason Garrett, Jack Del Rio and Mike Mularkey had to do was play throwback smashmouth football. In short; power vs. speed. Power is clearly showing its ways now we are in the second half of the season. Some players who have played ridiculous levels of snaps, like Cameron Heyward, do have their limits. As for offensive lineman, these guys normally play 100% of the snaps anyway barring any setbacks, so they are conditioned to grind it out for as long as possible. As a defensive end, this is not always the case unless you have done it since high school; truly rare and very seldom seen anymore.




"How does this have anything to do with Pittsburgh?" I here you asking. Quite a bit. Now that Pittsburgh primarily uses sub packages like the rest of the league, the solution is to simply wear down the defense. Once that happens, opposing offenses can do whatever they want. Of course the lack of execution and discipline is always going to factor in the winner, but this supposed "revolutionary" concept is the new way to attack sub package football and if Dallas somehow wins the Super Bowl, expect the league to adapt and maybe play base defense more often once again.

 

maybe thats why our defense cant hold anyone in the 4th quarter... gassed?

 

It is not just Pittsburgh. Any team facing those three or other teams using similar ways have learned that it is going to be a full 60 minute slugfest. The better prepared, fundamentally sound, and disciplined will always win out in the end, but other factors like player health and stamina and defensive formations will always be a key factor the same.

 

On Sunday we probably played good enough to beat most teams in the NFL, but we played a hot team that is very good.

As they say, timing is everything. We have no timing this year and too many injuries.

Amazingly, we are very much in the hunt for the division because everybody else is pretty sorry. IMO, if we played at the same level as in the game against the Cowchips for the rest of the year, we would win the division, but have no chance to go far in the playoffs. That`s not saying much about most of the NFL, but I think it`s true.

The defense MUST get better and the offense MUST be healthy. It would be a miracle if we got both and were on a roll as the regular season ended to give us real hope.

 

we got green. SUPER BOWL BOUND!

 

I think I read his big problem is that he can't stay low and keep his balance. This is where opposing linemen take advantage of him since he is so tall. I wish he could get his issues situated. He's strong as all hell.

 

Cam out for season lol season was probably over anyways

 

When you have a 38 yr old being the most physical and dominating on your defense then there is a problem

 

I agree we are more than a few people away from a good defense.

Time for a free agency splash signing?

 

Maybe it's due to the fact he's playing two rookies in the secondary this season.

 

I was listening to some of the media guys that cover the team, they said the Steelers defense needs 3 players. A playmaking safety, DE, OLB.

 

So, football IQ?

 

Can McCullers play DE? Seems to me he's certainly big enough to two-gap. Are we still even having them play as 5-techniques under Butler?

 

Maybe, rookies are going to make mistakes.