A. Saunders Paints A Bleak Picture

Here's a snippet... if you read the whole writeup it may loosen your bowels:

"In Thursday’s loss in Cincinnati, they couldn’t cover anyone. They tried to go man-to-man, as was the plan. Porter was flagged for DPI. Ramsey was beaten 1-on-1. The Steelers tried to switch off who was covering which man. They tried to zone. They tried many different zones: Cover 3, Cover 2, quarters. They tried two-man — a combination of man and zone.

Tomlin and Teryl Austin rolled through the rolodex of defensive coverages with a dizzying speed, trying over a dozen combination. Absolutely nothing worked. The Steelers couldn’t cover routinely either Chase or Higgins, at any point throughout the entire game."

The dominant narrative on social media among Steelers fans after the game was that Tomlin and Austin wouldn’t or couldn’t make necessary adjustments, or that they weren’t prepared for what Cincinnati did. Nothing could be further from the truth, and that’s so much worse. Being unprepared or unwilling to change are relatively easy issues to fix. What the Steelers are dealing with is much more deep-seated.


https://steelersnow.com/saunders-problem-with-steelers-secondary-isnt-what-you-think-its-worse/

 

They were also beat before the snap so many times

 

This is from our old buddy James Harrison:

“We’re not going to go nowhere [with this current defense],” Harrison said. “These offenses that we’re going to face in the next 4-5 weeks, they ain’t turning the rock over like that. They’re doing things more effectively than anybody that we’ve played yet… If we come out there playing like we’ve been playing the last 6-7 weeks, we’re going to get the band struck up on us. We’re going to get embarrassed. They’re going to dog walk us.”



“… Put your foot in the ground. Stand for something. We can’t even bust a grape in a fruit fight right now.”

 

James Harrison as DC!

 

Flacco had a release time of 2.27 seconds vs the Steelers. You can't get to the QB in that much time other than thru a rare fluke like an unblocked player. That is the reality for a lot of NFL teams now. The QBs that hold the ball can be and frequently are sacked. The teams that scheme for a fast release are getting the ball out. That is what we need to worry about.....how to deal with QBs that are throwing the ball so fast. Sacking a QB is great, but when they are not holding the ball long enough to get a sack, all of the money you are paying those edge rushers is wasted.

I don't see the Steelers stopping this when they are giving receivers big yards right at the line and leaving that area between the hashes open out to 10ish yards. Gotta tighten things up and take away the fast passes. I am not smart on all of the cover whatevers, but I do know that there is a void in our defense that teams frequently exploit. We give it to them over and over. They get first down yards from it and the QB is untouched.

 

When a QB throw so fast and have a great game,it also mean that the steelers defense are beat before the snap like crazy

 

Remember theses are the players Kahn/Tomlin they went out and signed / traded for them in the Offseason

 

So I'm left with the assumption we don't have defensive backs that have any clue or talent to play defense

 

Been that way for a couple seasons at least. Same as it ever was.

 

Thanks for sharing. Didnt see the game but the fanbase appeared to say that the HC/DC refused to do in game changes or not prepared to change it up.

I remember in the 94 SB I think it was where the Steelers were spreading Dallas with 4 and 5 wide and O Donnell was gashing them with quick hit plays but Scott Case was sitting back and making the WRs pay.

I think it was Cori Holliday who got injured badly on one of those plays I believe.

My point is to make the WR pay but modern rules football doesnt allow this anymore.

 

All I know is that every time it was 3rd down and more than a couple of yards, I would say to the TV.....here comes Chase on a crossing route. It would then happen very often. Ball was out before our rush got to the QB and Chase would be dancing down the field for a gain of 8+ yards.

Go thru our playoff games. This is where we lose them. Between the hashes, out a few yards from the line. It is always an open area.

Here is a link showing his pass distribution.

 

Oh they know how to play. They don't have the speed to play the way the schemes require. Fingers crossed that Ramsey was still dealing with the hammy that slowed him.