Run Defense. Are they just over eager?

One of the things I have been looking at since week 1 has been how they are playing run defense. I have at times felt that they were so focused on not giving up that 100 yard rusher that everything else suffered because of it. Now this year that hasn't been a problem because they are giving up more yardage that they normally do on the ground. This seemed to be corrected about midway through the Bengals game. Instead of everyone flying into the line of scrimmage the held their gaps and waited to make the play when the RB committed. This allowed them to flow to the ball carrier instead of flowing to where the play seemed to be going. Tonight they were once again flying towards the LOS and allowing Charles to cut back into gaps. they were over pursuing while trying to stretch the play out. This was also messing up what the DL was doing. On one of the few plays where Heyward got in, he maintained his position and tied up his counterpart but left a gap which wasn't filled by a LB because he overplayed the run to one side and the Chiefs were able to hit the gap for a forward gain. IS this over eagerness or just good play design by opposing offenses?

It has also lead to success in some of the intermediate passing routes especially over the middle to the TE. Foote and Timmons have been creeping up on their zone coverage in order to be ready for delays, draws and QB scrambles allowing the TE to get open space just behind them. I think we saw tonight what can happen when Timmons plays his zone responsibility and relies on his teammates to do their job in run defense.

 

It seems to me like our rush is just taking bad angles. I mean we have guys in the backfield but they are WAY behind the actual play? Wouldn't that indicate a bad angle? Or they are just getting man handled by the o linemen?

 

I think they are taking bad angles but they are also being way too aggressive at stuffing the run. They commit to it way to early and end up getting blocked. Now I am not talking about the occasional buying a head fake or juke but they read run to the right and then they all fly towards the right in an attempt to make the stop meanwhile the back has cut bac into the gap they just left and gains positive yardage.

 

The problem is players, take a look at how many teams find success running to the right which is the left of the D, what is the common thread? Ziggy Hood! I watched Charles go to the right and saw Ziggy get man handled so bad it looked as if the blocker was running free. And because he can't win at the line it forces the safties and corners to come up and if they bite on play action they get burned. If Hood is still starting after that performance then I know the Steelers don't have anyone close to being better on the bench because the only way he should see the field is if he is the last or only option.

 

ziggy has to be replaced as soon as possible , i don't know why they can't put heiward in

 

i thought ziggy played pretty well last night. can foote quit trying to make tackles backwards? i have never seen a LB turn his back to plays like foote does. it goes against everything they teach them to do.

 

I agree with Mac. Hood had a slow start last night, but I thought he was very good in the second half.

 

I agree. I remember thinking as I watched it - "well, that might stop the Hood critics on the board." Seems I was a bit over enthusiastic myself, there.

 

Hood played pretty well last night as did Keisel. the problem is they still cant get pressure on the qb on a consistant basis.

when Keisel got that sack on the opening drive i was saying to myself that this was going to be a break out game for the defense as far as getting some sacks, but it just never happened.

the Cheifs have 2 good rb's and they got their yards, but the Steelers defense came up big when it had to.

my biggest concern is Harrison. he has been a none factor in every game hes played this year. thats the guy we need to be worrying about. he is not the same player he was and maybe its time we see him getting benched.

 

i think foote has alot to do with it. yes he has been playing pretty well at times, but he also does alot of things that hurts us. people like to focus on all the good plays and not take into account the whole body of work throughout. same with the o-line. foote is not a thumper type nor is he a good pass defender. it shows at critcal times and against teans that can exploit it. timmons can't play pass and run alone.

we have also freed up keisel some to play more of a reckless style. he no longer is just taking up blockers because the LB'ers are not up to snuff this year. we had to do this to find playmakers. harrison is just not the same player this year and isn't going to be until they fix that knee. just not going to happen. he's not declined, he's just playing on a bad knee and it's not going away.

i've been seeing all year, way to many tackles by the safeties and corners in the run game, that alone says the front 7 is lacking difference makers, wheather by injury or talent.

i will say i think they have been doing a decent job against the run, just not what we've been used to.

 

I don't think I have ever seen a defense get moved backwards so fast and so far as they were on that first drive last night. One of those plays Foote got pushed so far back I think he may still be going.

Being over aggressive is one thing. Getting man handled is another. I thought they did improve through the game though.

 

:goodpost:

 

I was actually watching some highlights of the game on ESPN and watched Harrison rush the passer. Go watch the game highlights and tell me if you don't see this same thing. Harrison pauses right before he gets to the Olineman. I don't know if he doesn't have a plan of attack on the play or if his body after a whole game is saying oh crap I have to take him on again? One way or another, it worries me. Mac I think makes a great point about Foote. He will get caught in overpursuit. I have said this since we were back talking about how we looked against the Raiders that is Foote is your best LB than you are in trouble.

To me the LBs still have some issues which need to be fixed ASAP. Harrison looks slow. Woodley looked lost on a few instances last night. Timmons is streaky. Foote when he stays within himself is fine, but there are times when he just takes himself out of the play.

 

That first drive looked like they were totally surprised by what the Chiefs were trying (or should I just skip that word) to do to them. Our D just looked horrible on 1st down last night. If we do that against the Ravens we will get blown out and Rice will have 150 yards rushing and a couple of TDs.

 

You've hit the nail right there. Maybe with the Haley-experience and the poor record, the team were a bit slapdash in preparation for the Chiefs? Who knows.
The one saving grace is that at least we never play down to the Ravens, and know exactly what to expect from them.

 

As much as I like Ziggy, I think his play may be the biggest problem of our run defense. And, honestly as I have said before, our run defense is a major area of concern to me. Can you imagine having to play Houston or NE in the playoffs? They have running games that are very effective combined with passing offenses that are FAR better than what we saw from the Chiefs last night.

 

I don't think it is over eagerness....

KC Chiefs and some other teams are attacking one particular side of the Steelers front 7. They obviously are seeing a glaring weakness. I'm not sure what it is, but it is obviously there.

One thing I have to say is that ESPN guys are praising Hampton know the Steelers are on a win streak, but Casey Hampton is no where near what he used to be. I'm surprised Mclendon isn't the full time guy....

 

LOL! Last night Gruden was bragging on our d and saying how Larry Foote was our leader in sacks and I just put my face directly in to the palm of my hand.

 

Man if you like Ziggy you are an endangered species around here. lol.

 

The defensive line is just getting no push on the LOS. It's hurting our run D and our pass rush.

 

I like him...he seems like a pretty nice guy.

I didn't say I liked how he's playing right now.

 

Aaron Smith was SOOO good especially against the run. He was one of thebest ever and even with 2 guys trying to block him, he stuffed runs.

I think that the combo of Hood not being that great and Foote usually not getting in the right spot hurts that run to that side.