How unproductive were Harrison and Woodley?

Since the Steelers began recording sacks in 1972, Lawrence Timmons was the first inside linebacker to lead the team in sacks (and he only recorded 6).

This is far from a #1 defense. The biggest problem this season, in my opinion, was our inability to, not only sack the quarterback, but even to get pressure on him. THAT is what creates turnovers. Few sacks and fewer turnovers will keep you out of the postseason often.

 

I read this somewhere. I think it was the Trib. It's amazing how we was the number 1 defense. Is it a testiment to Lebeau or just luck.

No way would I put our defense on the field against Peyton Manning with two minutes in the game.

 

. . . or Matt Hasselbeck . . . or Carson Palmer . . . or Andy Dalton . . . or . . .

 

Yeah, we have the #1 ranking and at times we looked good, but there are still big problems with this defence. We didn't really play any high powered offences this year, so that will skew the stats a bit.

NYJ - Awful
Philly - Awful this year
NYG - Have struggled badly at times this year, and we got them during a down stretch
Baltimore - Not exactly a high powered offence
Cinci - Same as above
SD - Awful
Oakland - Awful
Tennessee - Awful
Washington - Okay, they actually had a good offence
KC - Worst offence in the league by far
Cleveland - Bottom 5 offence
Dallas - Good offence, but mistake prone and we didn't force any turnovers

We had the benefit of playing only one high powered offence, and they put up 31 on us. If we can't pressure the QB and can't force turnovers, the top QB's in the league will eat us alive, and chances are the road to the SB goes through a top 5 QB. Give Brady 5+ seconds and he'll throw for 600 yards and 6 TD's on us. This season has hidden some of our problems. I still want to see Lebeau go and bring in someone like Lovie Smith as the DC.

 

I agree 1000% percent.

Generate a pass rush and keep the O line healthy and this is one of the best teams in the league.

 

lebau will never retire till somebody will pressure him to do it , and i don't think there is someone they will

 

Oh I agree. Lebeau isn't going anywhere unless the Rooney's step in and get rid of him, but that won't happen since this season our defence was a statistical success. They sure didn't pass the eye test though.

For those who will defend our defence, ask yourself this, it's 3rd and 9, how confident are you that our defence will make the stop? Because I have no confidence in our defence whatsoever.

 

what D would you put on the field against manning with 2 minutes to go ?

HINES

 

and why would they when he has a top D everyyyyyyyyyyyyy year

HINES

 

yeah I agree lebau was not the problem this year

 

It did seem we had a problem getting to the QB, but did we blitz just as often as previous years, more often than usual, or less????

It might be less.... Lebeau might have purposely sent less guys this year to sell out on pass defense instead? Just a thought.....

 

I don't think that it was an accident that our defense progressively improved along with the health of Harrison. Woodley, however, had a very disappointing year. He's too young to have the injury bug bite like Harrison has had the last couple years, so color me concerned.

 

As I stated as my #1 concern at the beginning of the season
was how we were going to generate a pass rush? Well it looks like
it came to fruition. Most Qbs in the NFL are just to accurate to give
them time to throw. doesn't matter if you have Mel Blount or Rod Woodson covering
it will be pitch and catch if you can't get pressure on the QB.

 

your right. DL was not the problem, ut his defense was not a #1 defense. is it DL's problem that his guys arent getting to the qb or creating turnovers? no, but it is his responsibilty to make sure he puts his guys in the right spots and put the best guys on the field.

i do think he has a loyalty to his vet players and that hurts this team. Keisel, Harrison and Hampton should not have been starting. i think the younger and more athletic Worilds, McClendon and Heyward should have been starting.

those 1st 3 have been great Steelers, but at some point their legend isnt enough to get it done.

DL is a brilliant coach, but he needs to recognize that this league isnt about who has the biggest bodies up front anymore. the guys that are piling up sacks are tall and athletic. still big, but not just big.

 

Weird, given the thread title, there's very little mention of Woodley and Harrison. I say cut them both, like we did in the old days. Rid ourselves of their $24M and get younger, healthier and faster.

 

I was one Steeler fan that was not happy when they threw that money at Woodley. Nagging injurys and lack of production. Hopefully he comes back IN shape and has an injury free 2013. They are stuck with him.


Harrison. He was the only defensive player recently that instilled fear in an offense. I believe Timmons is next man up. Harrisons nagging injurys and this past season has reduced him. I would like to see him back for another season injury free. But is he a liability? If released I believe Wourlds can step in and be a force.

Hopefully Sean Spence comes back healthy. What a setback. Have to look for an Inside backer in the draft as well.


The starting D line, needs to be Hayward, McClendon and Hood. Period. Casey, thanks for the memories, but you are a shell. Keisel, no one fears the beard. Keep him for rotation possibly.


Complaints are that the corners play way off the recievers. Well, this is LeBeau's scheme. Don't give up the big play. I'm sorry, to say that Ike Taylor is our best corner is unacceptable. The priority is to sign Keenan Lewis. And hopefully Cortez Allen can get that much better and push Taylor. Corner and safety are priority in this draft. Maybe Troy can stay healthy in 2013. Seemed to come on at the end. But a replacement needs to be drafted. Clark who I have been ultra critical of really played well this season. He seemed to work on his coverage skills finally.


The number 1 defense. Really? Against the clowns we all saw, at least I did, what consistant QB pressure, sacks and turnovers do to help the team. This has been a glaring weakness, lack of pressure, sacks and turnovers.

This all comes full circle. The defensive line gets push taking up lineman, the linebackers florish, and the corners can then blanket. This has been lacking.

Getting younger is the answer. Although LeBeau is notorious for keeping older players on the field. There is no one that can convnice me that Hampton should have been starting over McClendon this season.


12 mill over the cap. Cuts will be made, and morgaging the future with restructures will happen. Some will have to stay due to the contracts.

Should be an interesting off season, one that i'm looking forward to.

 

I would be all for it if it was that easy. We'd still be on the hook for part of their salary

 

As much as I like Keisel his days are over and so is big snack and for pete sake please get rid of Ziggy Hood or change the scheme because it is painful to watch him dancing with his man at the line of scrimmage while the RB runs by him untouched. I think the problem with Woodley and Harrison besides injury is the D-line doesn't get any push or penetration, we are the opposite of the giants who have a massive D-line but very little talent at LB and secondary positions, if the Steelers had a D-line like that with the talent level at LB we have it would be very hard to throw against us. I would love to see Heyward, McClendon, and anyone but Hood on the D-line and see if they can't generate some push to free the LBers.

 

yes and with colon too , but if you do it then we will clean the team you eat the bonus (maybe you can trade some of them )you start young players for next season and after that you have plenty of cap and probably a very high pick in the draft .

 

Woodley I would defintely look to trade. Harrison is untradeable I think, with his age and injury history. Woodley may still have some value. Colon probably have no value, same with Hampton. I agree though, I'd dump all those guys one way or another and start fresh.

 

I

 

The 2005 Steelers.

 

As well as the 2008 Steelers

 

i would trade woodley and colon for what ever we can get than i would ask harrison if he wants to play for let's say 2 milion , i would start worilds and him with a high draft pick plus robinson as a backup

 

Captain Obvious.