Run defense

After the 2nd Baltimore game, I was feeling very good about our defense vs the run. After the Cincy game, not so much.

Honestly, I cannot remember a Steelers team that struggled to stop the run as much this year's team. It's really been painful for me to watch. When opposing teams are averaging 4-5 yards a carry, it's humiliating.

Don't get me wrong, I'm excited for today's win against Cincy. I'm also happy for Gay, as he came up with two impactful plays. But, what can I say...I'm spoiled. For years, no one has run well against this team, and I would like it to remain that way. This year is different though, and I'm not entirely sure why.

 

Once 56 gets back I think he might make our D alittle better!!

 

I noticed one guy was having his way with Casey in this game, all game....not good.

 

I too, not so much, they scare me now.
A good line and a great back (Arian Foster) could cause problems down the road.
Our defense in general scares me.This is the frst time in years that this has happened.
They just are not making plays. Silverback gets held all the time, Troy hasen't played
great ball, Timmons seems uninterested.Woodley has played 4 good games 4 not so good!
Whats the answer? We will have to stay tuned to find out.

 

I would much rather them run on us than pass on us.....

 

where is timmons? MIA.

 

They're struggling so much to stop the run that Troy spends about 80% of the snaps up at the line trying to go for the run as well.

 

109 yards doesnt make me panic. Most of the yards came when they were well behind and the Steelers were playing pass. It doesnt help that they decided that it was okay to block Harrison with the half-nelson (the big running play they had on their firstTD should of been done in the backfield).

Also, maybe due to Worilds replacing Woodley the defense is moe 'vanilla'

 

That was a really good offensive line they faced. The problem is the yardage they made on first down and made it easier for the rookie.

 

I don't really think this is as much of an issue as it appears. Defenses in general are being geared to protect against the pass in a Goodell world. I might be wrong but I'm betting most teams are giving up more rushing yards this year.

 

I thought I was hallucinating, but I'm sure I saw Big Snack getting pushed WAY back on lots of run plays. Maybe it was the beer goggles.

 

2 words...Ziggy Hood. He is the reason big snack gets beat because he now gets 2 linemen going after him, which is why there is always that big cut back lane right in the middle. What is happening is Ziggy is being man handled by 1 o-lineman so there is no need for any help, if fact you don't even see a second lineman go in the direction of hood, he gets beat and the linemen go onto make other blocks, Ziggy is a decent back up nothing more.

 

Yes...and they were running on first down. Last year, it simply didn't matter--teams weren't going to line up and power run against us successfully. This year it's different, unfortunately.

 

While I respect your opinion, I just don't think that we have changed our defensive philosophy such that we have sacrificed run defense in favor of better pass defense.

Now against certain teams I could see a change of personnel packages (nickel and dime packages like we used a lot againse NE). But Cincy isn't a team we feared for their passing game. If anything, the coaching staff would have been concerned about their running game. And Cincy was running effectively against our base 3-4 even on first down when we were expecting run.

Now in one sense, I'd rather teams have to earn their way down the field with 4 and 5 yard runs--in the hope that we eventually slow them up and get them off the field--instead of large chunks of yardage on a few plays through the air. But...ugh...getting pounded on the ground is hard to get used to.

 

Then why can't we run the ball?

 

Bruce Arians... :banghead: ...
Just kidding, sort of... But that was too easy...

As to a couple other posters...
I believe LeBeau has changed SOMETHING in his philosophy, to guard against the big pass play.
I can`t figure it out, exactly, but he always used to have the cornerbacks sitting back in coverage(giving that horrible 10-15 yard "cushion", against recievers)...
There has been a lot less of that this year(although not completely eliminated)...
Also, we seem to "swarm" to the ball, less..
That was always a big point of emphasis in a Dick LeBeau Defense...
We had so many people flying to the ball, that the first one could miss a tackle/take a gamble,
And there would be someone else there to back them up.
Haven`t seen that this year...
If our first defender misses... we get burned pretty badly...

On another poster`s point about Hood...
That`s a good point.
And as I don`t usually watch a replay, to study all the intricasies of the line play,
I am wondering where Heyward was the last two weeks...
Was he injured?
I know he tends to fill in for Keisel, if Keisel is hurt, but since he wasn`t...
Did he spell Hood at all, on "Aaron`s side?"
Was he being pushed around by one lineman, also?
I love Hampton, I just wish the other team would piss him off more!!!
When he gets mad, he can be unstoppable!
The rest of the time, I just don`t think he gives the same effort as he did, when he first got here...

Just a couple things I thought about, after calming down from the excitement of watching the game...

 

Having him spend more time around the line of scrimmage could be a good thing.Maybe they could incorporate some type of package by replacing one of the inside backers with Troy and at the same time add another safety like Mundy.With the way Troy has always struggled in coverage they could better utilize him this way and give him more opportunity to free-lance like he used to.Maybe that would also help us to create more turnovers. I think it would greatly increase our coverage ability when trying to close out games. Thoughts?

 

I think Troy actually spends LESS time around the line of scrimmage, than he has in the past...
I have seen him lined up A LOT 20 yards or more off the ball, and STAY there, not, rush up at the last second, than he used to...
And while I agree that his "coverage skills" were pretty suspect, when he stood in the endzone, and watched a completion...
I also know that he is one of our best chances to intercept the ball, when he roams the middle of the field, and relies on his instinct to get to the ball.
Sure I want him on the line, to maybe make the O-line jump offsides,`cause they`re scared of him jumping over their heads, to get to the qb...
He is one of a kind!
Let him do what he thinks is right, and it will be successful about 80% of the time!
Scheme-wise... Yeah, I personally would have him around the line pre-snap, more often, to make the O worried...
He still has the speed to drop into coverage, if that`s the defense you choose to run...
Keep `em guessin!