Analysts - not enough priority on DBs in Pgh

I have heard more than one sports guy say this today: Steelers put too much focus on getting good WRs and not enough on DBs.

I bristled at this, because why we have been very good at finding diamonds at WR, it's not like we spend an inordinate amount of high draft picks on WR (and we certainly know we don't spend much in free agency on them, for certain).

Yes, we have had some good WRs, but not from overly focusing on getting good ones in.

Ju Ju - 2nd round, but seemingly very worth it.
Ayers - 7th round
Coates - 3rd
Bryant - 4th
Wheaton - 3rd
Clemons - 7th
Sanders - 3rd
Brown - 6th
Wallace - 3rd

Now is it just me, or does the above not look like an over-emphasis on WRs? True, we made AB the highest paid WR in the league but no one is saying that was a bad move. No one.

Now, at DB, how much priority has been used there (I do admit it seems we've been to lax on prioritizing on CB, but not due to an over-emphasis on WR - let's compare).

Sutton - 3rd
Allen - 5th
Burns - 1st
Davis - 2nd
Golson - 2nd
Grant - 4th
Holliman - 7th
Richardson - 5th
Thomas - 4th
Brown - 3rd
Cortez Allen - 4th
Butler - 5th
Mundy - 6th
Gay - 5th

It doesn't look like WR is over-emphasized at the expense of DB; it looks more like just bad drafting of DB and a good return of lower WR picks. As far as free agency for each, we made an actual splash move in signing Haden. We've done virtually no free agency move at WR other than some ham and eggers like Hunter and Hey Bey.

We have lots of gaffs by our GM, head coach and OC, but an over-emphasis of WR priority is NOT where one of those problems resides. Lack of proper focus, attention to detail and rubbish play calling and scheming is where to look.

 

I guess if analysts just wrote “Jacksonville played better than us” it wouldn’t be long enough for an article though.

 

our problem is the front 7 focus. The game has evolved to the point a good coach can negate pressure with play calling . The Jags made our D look silly with PA and the waggle game. We would blitz from 1 side and the run was going the other.We would run inside stunts and the QB was on a roll out.

To get good pressure a Team must be able to cover first . If only 3 guys in the pattern you can play single high man with 7 in the box .A extra run stopper or blitzer in the box if u will.

This Team needs a true FS one who can play single High . It needs a ILB. It needs a SS/ILB type guy to cover RB'S and TE'S 1 on 1 who is also good in run support.We also need another man capable CB to play outside .

The Team needs bigger,stronger DL guys that can clog up double Teams and not get moved. The team also needs faster lb's who flow to the ball faster, cover better, and shoot gaps better . So basically this Defense as it sits now is trash.

 

It also needs far better coaching and leadership. Jags changed the coach and front office and went from laughing stock to top D, with mostly the same players.

 

I agree we need that as well ,but we are not even in the same league talent wise. They have real talent .The only 2 guys the Steeler's have is Watt and Haden .

If we get a new DC I hope he only sees those 2 as corner stones . All the rest have a problem you must try and scheme around . I don't expect much from a DC having to do that every game .

 

Well we know we have a better position coach for the wr's vs the secondary, or atleast I'd make that arguement everyday of the week and stand by it. For whatever reason, the message being preached in the secondary isn't resonating. These guys are out of position, suck at communicating, fundamentally lacking etc... And any time they seem to be on to something or growing noticeably it appears regression creeps up out of nowhere time and time again. I think there's too much leash given to people on this team fromcoach T on down and not enough accountability going on to reel it in.

I don't know how you get your slums in order without throwing out the problem tenants.

 

I think the argument should be that they have drafted good WR's, and not good enough picks on the secondary.

The talent has worked out much better, for sure.

 

Also don't forget even after the Jag's drafted great a few years, then they got even better by some great free agency moves. If they had a QB, nobody would touch them. By the way their coaching staff is pretty good also.

 

I would add in Heyward as well. Nothing wrong with Hilton.

 

Of course not!


That makes too much sense!

 

http://thesteelersfans.com/forums/t...at-how-jacksonville-will-surprise-many.17485/



Call it a premonition. For me however, I knew Jacksonville would be this good.


Within that same vein, I did not expect Blake Bortles to evolve the manner in which he did.

 

Ive viewed the jags as a viable threat with bortles for a while now. Bortles hasn't live up to expectations for sure, but he's been good enough when needed. Kid has talent but the between the ears thing hasn't set in fully. I wanted him here behind Ben but it is what it is. The record is what it is... Jax has bested us time and time again over the years when they shouldn't have, but our boys just never seem to grasp that aspect of it.

 

There was several of us on this board that said watch out for the Jag's before the season started. There were also several here who laughed at us saying the Jag's are the Jag's and basically said forget about them. Well what do you all think now.

 

Yeah - while getting knocked out of the play offs is never good for the soul, I do wonder if some people's perceptions of Jacksonville as a team we are head and shoulders above is adding to the frustration. Obviously that's not all of the problem by a long way, but when people compare the Jags to the Tebow game, it's really not the same.

I'll be interested to see how they do against the Pats.

 

Two years ago I said they were going to be the surprise team, I also said Bortles wasn't as bad as everyone was making him out to be. Man I was wrong on both that year but the Jags bounced back however Bortles never did, lol! If this team get a QB(eli?) watch out and if we ever fix our D watch out cause this could be a very good battle for the next few years.

 

we also have a really good and veteran wr coach, who is now going to retire. i still lean towards the coaching factor. munchak, mann, daniel, fitchner, saxon = a good offense. haley excluded.

butler, olsavsky, porter, lake = a poor defense. mitchells d-line played fairly well this season. again a very veteran coach. porter, lake, olsavsky were brought in and had very little if any NFL experience or experience coaching at all. butler was a first time DC.

it's pretty obvious that the more veteran coaching staff on the offensive side of the ball showed improvement in every aspect. the defense, not so much and actually declined under this group as a whole. no it's not just the players aren't good enough, it's being out coached.

 

I think about the Monty Python skit about reporters covering an election (involving the Silly Party candidates).
They ask for one reporter's comment: "It turned out exactly like I predicted, except the other guy won."

 

Jax
Raiders
Houston
Pit
Ne
Chargers
Raisins

Afc getting interesting

 

So, here's a question then.

It seems the team is pretty darn capable at finding WR talent. But they just can't seem to hit on a DB. Why? Are the scouts we have looking for DBs not good at their jobs? Are they being told the wrong type of players to look for?

I find it hard to believe that a team can be so good at scouting in one area (WR) yet so poor at another (DB)

 

Or maybe the Lake-Tomlin coaching is messing with them, somehow. (No evidence for this, other than "can't seem to hit on a DB".) The DBs seem to regress from their rookie year, or only play well after spending time with another team (and then join the Steelers).

 

It`s true drafting DB`s is not a priority. Something is bound to suffer when you pick. Got to keep the O-line top notch, so that is high priority. On defense, we value athletic linebackers because we value pressure more than coverage. Maybe that should change a bit.

 

This, it's mostly coaching, if I had to guess for the Steeler's, it's 70% coaching, 30% DB talent

 

That must be why Butler stays. The thinking by management is, and I think it is correct, Butler did a whole lot with so little talent. When we lost Shazier, that was a tipping point where scheming around weakness became impossible.

 

I would look at our coaching at but positions.
Development of players are important. I wonder how much of Mann is responsible for the receivers success.
How much of Lake is responsible for the lack of development of all those corners?