Passing Stat shows how bad our defense is

I am going to post this thread from steelersdepot.com - TTF hope this is okay.

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2014/1...d-net-yards-per-passing-attempt-differential/

The basics of this stat as I understand it is it compares how well you perform as a passing team compared to how well your defense is performing against the pass. It takes a number of things into effect including TD passes, interceptions, sacks, explosive plays (those greater than 20 yards) and does some normalization to get a number. Not sure if it is Dave Bryan's (the writer) stat or borrowed from somewhere else. Anyway Dave Bryan had indicated that he researched this stat and that something like 85% of playoff teams over the last 5 years have a DPAR of 1.0 or greater and that every team that finished the year over 2.0 made the playoffs. The Steelers are currently at 0.05.

If you read this link it discusses how if not for the performance of our offense on the defensive side of the ball the Steelers would be among the worst in the league - and remember that is also considering the benefit our defense gets by having an offense that controls the ball. In other words, even with as little as our D is on the field compared to bottom feeders like the Raiders and Redskins - they still give up an abundance of big plays and do little to get the ball back. I know in reading some of Dave Bryan's stuff before that the Steelers have been one of the bottom five for 3 years running in the number of explosive plays (20 yards plus) they give up and I think they lead the league last year in number of double explosive plays ... i.e. over 40 yards ... given up.

I get the "beating on the offense" and I do understand they have been erratic - but the above to me shows how utterly abysmal this defense really is. They stink really really bad. The #12 ranking in terms of yardage allowed is a complete mirage. It also speaks in unison how poorly Colbert/Tomlin/ownership has performed in getting replacement players - even just okay players, how poorly they have done in managing the cap. It also speaks volumes about whether LeBeau and his cadre of coaches have any friggin idea what they are doing. I mean hey - I do get that they are not the 2008 version of the defense, but giving up the number of big plays they do is inexcusable. Those stats alone are reason to at a minimum show LeBeau the door at the end of the season if he doesn't gracefully retire.