Is our defense really that bad?? I don't think so...

If you go back & look at the past games we played on defense this year, you'll find that way too many drives have been extended due to silly & phantom flags. 15 yards here 15 yards there, we are certainly not the most discipline team & the new silly/girly rules of not being able to hit anybody is absolutely killing us. Like the one Watt got fined for, as a result of missing the QB he get a roughing the passer penalty?? We have been getting beat legitimately too much, but the refs rate of throwing flags have skewed statistics keeping drives alive, making our bad play seem worse than it really is ...not only against our defense but all other defenses too. Yes, our offense has benefited when horrible phantom calls was to our favor. Lets hope the refs can eventually let the players play & decide outcome....

 

Things are improving. Last season the defense started out hot and fell apart after Shazier got hurt. Hopefully this year is will be the opposite. We started out in shambles. So maybe we end up playing our best defense at the end of the year when it matters. Penalties definitely played a part in our struggles, but only a small part.

 

Our secondary is terrible and our MLB's are too slow to cover. We have one good corner and that's it. Both great and slightly above average QB's have no trouble exploiting that. If the QB's are given any time whatsoever then they can carve that defense apart.

 

I hope they never call upon you to give a pregame speech to the defense.

 

It's rare that our defense can manage to get off the field on 3rd downs. But once in a while when it seem as if we stop anybody on 3rd down ...low & behold there's always a questionable flag to extend the drive...

 

Couldn't agree more. The Steelers' ILB might be the worst in the NFL.

 

What's sad is I feel more comfortable with this defense stopping a 3rd and 5 than I do on a 3rd and 20. That's how bad they are on obvious passing downs. Been that way for several years now.

 

Are they that bad? Compared to what? Compared to the current NFL defenses playing in this era of no-touch offense, no. Compared to defenses of old, even of 10 years ago, oh hell yeah. These guys couldn't hold a candle to them. But as you mentioned, that's just the way of the league these days.

 

it’s improving. Will get gashed again, good qb + receivers not dropping.

Brady
Brees
Rivers

If we keep any of those under 25 points I’ll be shocked

 

This is true. Our offense needs to its job

 

Also they've played 5 teams Currently ranked in the top 11 in scoring, meaning the schedule has alot to do with their current defensive rankings.

 

On defense, we have ability to pressure the QB, but little else IMO.

 

Maybe these teams are ranked in the top 11 in scoring because they played against our defense?

 

No, Kansas city (34.8), Tampa Bay (28. 5),Cincinnati(30.6), Baltimore(25.4) and Atlanta(30.0 are the scoring averages taking the Steelers games out.

 

Pittsburgh ranks 14th in Dvoa defensive efficiency, so no the defense isn't nearly as bad as people think.

 

True... It's just the situational part of the D that is as bad as we think. Can and should get better just need to keep getting the communication solidified and get some consistency.

 

Since the 16th place team in points per game is sitting at 24.7, 25 is about what you'd expect a league average offense to put up. 25 against the teams you mention is a good defensive game in the current NFL.

 

I believe the defense gets a little better each game, and I don't know what more you can ask for really. Yes, there are road bumps, and yes, there are people out there that could help, but that would be the case no matter how good we are. If we can keep trending upward, then we should be in decent shape.

 

When I see the defense get some 3 and outs and make the Patriots and Saints punt... then I will think more highly of the defense. They are still a mess, IMO.

 

They have 2 decent CBs, in Hilton and Haden.

 

it's not just the defense. Time and time again it goes like this.

Pats - 3 and out
Steelers - 3 and out
Pats - TD
Steelers - fg
Pats - TD
Steelers -TD
Pats- stopped
Steelers -3 and out
Pats -stopped
Steelers - 3 and out
Pats - stopped
Steelers - 3 and out
Pats - TD
Steelers - turnover
Pats - TD
Steelers - fg
Pats -TD
Steelers - garbage time TD

Pats 35 Steelers 20

 

The rule changes can't be blamed for receivers running wide open while defenders point at each other and scratch their heads, like in the KC game, or multiple defenders getting dragged several yards downfield multiple times like in the Balt. game (just as examples).

 

as long as our offense is explosive and our defense does enough, then we can hang with the best of them

 

There are 3 kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics. - Mark Twain

 

I agree, but that doesn't mean the defense hasn't been 'really that bad'. It has.