Success this year depends on the defense

There is so much talk about Haley, Wallace, and the new O-line. I'm excited about the changes on that side of the ball but my real concerns are with the defense. How will the pass rush be this year?

Can Woodley/Worilds stay healthy? Will our safety play be better? Will the defense give up game winning drives against top teams? How will our middle LB's handle runs up the middle?

I hope Tomlin doesn't lose focus on the defense because of the artificially padded results from last year. Much of those defensive stats were recorded against a weak schedule of teams many of whom we barely beat.

 

I have some concerns about the defense as well. I am not convinced by all his off season weightlifting that Hood has turned the corner and can take over for Smith. He does well in stuffing the run but in those situation where he is called upon to rush the QB it is essential that he learns to shed the block and get to the QB. His biggest problem is that his bull rush as powerful as it is, still leaves a linemen between him and the QB and he has trouble getting around him for the sack. If he can start doing that and demanding a double team this will lead to freeing up the LB's to get after the QB.

While we are on the subject of LB's I would like to see DL get back to the days of Blitzburgh when teams didn't know who was coming and from where. Seems like the last few years the blitz is becoming less effective because it was essentially the same. Harrison and Woodley blitzing from their respective sides almost every play. They chip Woodley with a TE and the tackle horsecollars Harrison(no flag) and the QB gets a clean pocket. The cross-fire blitz is being negated because the DLine gets jammed into the middle allowing for the opposing Oline to form a solid front and the MLb's just run into solid beef. The needs to stretch that line out(happens to the Steelers line all the time) opening those gaps for the cross-fire to work. Anyway back to sowing confusion for opposing Qb's by having multiple looks, multiple blitzes, and just get after everyone.

The last thing I will say is, and I apologize for the all caps in advance, STOP CARING SO DARN MUCH WITH STUFFING THE RUN. I think it is great that the Steelers pride themselves on not giving up 100 yards rushing to any back, it is great to limit the opposing offense to passing so then you can rush the QB. However if you are going to do that, then get pressure on the QB. Holding a RB to 45 yards rushing a game doesn't mean anythign if you give up 300 yards+ in passing and 3 TD's. Rant done.

 

When is the last time that you could say that defense is our "concern"? But I agree as well. I just feel like last year we were lucky to play some crappy teams. But at the end of the day the only argument that I have to all the people that thinks our d was fine last year is summed up in 2 words... Tim Teb.... You know the rest!! Oh help me to forget!!!

 

Personally I am tired of seeing our defense keeping us in games and the nail biting has to stop.

This year I want to see an offense that can score repeatedly and not stutter within the red zone.

Our vaunted defense is something to watch and as much as I love them we need a better balance.

Bman

 

Pass rush should be okay, even if the OLB's are banged up in the beginning of the year Lebeau can still get creative with his blitzes.

To me it is still the NT position that is a concern, and the replacement of Farrior.

 

Question #1: CB play behind Ike Taylor.
Question #2: ILB play next to Timmons.

Everything else will either be the same (SS and FS) or better (DE, NT, OLB) than a year ago.

 

I just listened to the recent Podcast on Steelers Depot where they talked to a woman that attended the Tuesday practice. She said Redman ran over Hood.
While that is exciting for Redman....I would prefer hearing that no one, not even our best back can do that to Hood.

 

can we have an . team speed on both sides of the ball should be imprved this year. (OL),( rainey) for the O. (DL),(CB)(LB) and don't be suprised if mundy and cromartie-smith don't see some extra time on the field in 3 safety sets. which could add a little speed at that spot too. controlling that speed, will be DLB's biggest worry. i like what i'm hearing so far. i like the fact that our vets can be fresher later in the season when it's crunch time. a fresh casey,mendy, harrison,woodley,taylor,troy,clark and keisel down the stretch will mean we can make a run to the SB through the playoffs. can't wait.

 

Honestly, I the success of this defense in the coming year comes down to health. I am not too concerned about our age as we have youth at most of those positions, but that youth is still unproven. If the "aged" players stay healthy, our defense will be fine.

I think we are going to see a LOT more younger guys at some positions we haven't seen in the past making contributions. It is time for Sylvester and Spence to get time. Allen, Brown, and Lewis all need to step up. Carter and Worilds need to give Woodley and Harrison rest at times during the game, so those guys are good for the 4th quarter.

Let's talk 4th quarter for a moment. There has been a LOT of talk about this in the past, especially in regards to the 4th quarter comeback that Baltimore was able to pull off last year on our field. Has anyone really looked at the guys from THAT team which were missing during that game though? Aaron Smith, Chris Hoke, James Farrior, and Lamar Woodley ALL missed that game. Now you may look at that and say, well 2 of those guys won't be here this year either and that is true, but the reality of those games is about the depth. We played either with only 4 linebackers that game or we didn't have any backups make a tackle. Carter nor Sylverster who were the only other LBs on the roster didn't record a tackle. Heyward didn't have a tackle. That defense just didn't have the depth needed for that type of game.

What do I mean by "that type of game"? Many people forget that at the end of 3 quarters, that game was 16-6 Baltimore. We scored quickly at the start of the quarter to bring the game within FG range. The defense is the group that set up that lead by creating a turnover on Baltimore's 1st possession of the quarter. The Offense then scored again relatively quickly to get the lead. The defense promptly goes out there and makes them go 3 and out. Then for some unknown reason to me at least we then go out and run 6 offensive plays, 4 of which are PASSING plays. The first passing play was to probably the worst receiver on the team....David Johnson. WHY!!? With a 3rd and 6 from the BALT 30 we pass the ball incomplete and then punt the ball for a sum gain of 22 yards. We used up 2 minutes on the clock and left them the 2 minute warning, just dumb. BA used to talk about how a "controlled" passing game was as good as running the ball, but this is only true if you CATCH the ball. The D needed a rest without any depth and we just had a 34-26 minute deficit on controlling the clock. It just wasn't going to work that way, and the coaches should have known it.

So what did that 1 blown game matter? The difference was very simple. Win that game and the San. Francisco game is not one they rush Ben into after Balt. lost earlier in the week. That one loss was the difference between playing on the road in Denver beat up and having that week off as the #1 seed in the AFC. Of our 4 losses last year, only this one was a blown late game lead. If we win that 1 Game last season might have looked a little different, but we will never know. I blame that game on everyone, not just the D.

*******OF NOTE*******
The stat sheet shows no tackles for Sylvester, but I did find some in the 4th Qtr play by play, not sure why they are different. Also there may be some penalties throughout the game which aren't on the play by play.

 

The days of playing "dominating defense" are over. The NFL's new rules have taken intimidation out of it, hard hits out of it, hitting the quarterback just about anywhere at any time out of it.

We can look at the stats any way we want, but Belichick seems to be defining (or going back to old philosophies) how defense needs to be played in this era. It's all about read and react, bending not breaking. And above all, it's about taking the ball away. The idea is to give up field goals, get turnovers.

The Steelers defense was bad last year because it could NOT keep teams out of the ez at critical times and could not take the ball away.

 

No comment.

 

There are so many factors involved with having a good season,and a great season.

The main thing we have to have is healthy bodies.We must also
have people step up that may be unexpected, Oh lets say for instance Sly for example,
we need lots of production from him at this position, or lets say Baron Batch I mean we can
honestly fill in the blanks here. Or Keenan lewis, Cortez, Brown. I think you get my drift.
All in all you need to generate a pass rush and force turnovers on defense something
we did not do last year, On Offense, make the best of your scoring oppurtunity, and that doesn't mean
field goals, reduce turnovers, no dumb mistakes and you will be a playoff caliber team with the talent
that we have. Given some breaks, maybe a Super Bowl team?

 

100%...Excellent post Bman.....Lets see if offense can carry their own water this year!! Todd??????

 

No follow up.

 

THANK YOU!!!
While I think it is great that we are so good at stopping the run, and pride ourselves so much, on making the opponent "one-dimensional"...
What I have been wondering the last couple of years is, what good does it do to force the other team to pass on you, if you can`t defend the passing game?!?!
If we are not getting pressure on the qb, or forcing turnovers, and with the rule changes in favor of passing offenses, what good does it do, to FORCE an opponent to play to our weakness???
Heck, I know some teams don`t focus much on the run against us, to begin with, because they know the best way to beat us is thru the air.
Just from our reputation as stopping the run, being weak against the pass.
I agree, we need to go back to the Blitzburgh days, of bringing the blitz from unpredictable places, and confusing the Offense.
I also agree, that it doesn`t help, when the O-line, can pretty much tackle, or put a chokehold on Silverback, without a penalty, but we all know that is how it is, so it`s time to find a way to adapt and overcome that!!!
(Maybe the "replacement" ref`s will call the game, the right way? :roll: )
Anyhow, I`m with ya, on getting to the qb, and covering better, maybe coming down with some int`s again.
Hopefully Troy can get away from the line of scrimmage again, and get back to being the ball-hawk he has in the past... raying:
Whatever we do, I don`t think we NEED to emphasize stopping the run, as we have in the past, because the rules have already moved teams into passing mode to begin with, and until we show we can stop that, they aren`t gonna try to emphasize the running game, anyhow.
Just my 2cents.
GO STEELERS!

 

You guys will quickly change your tune if opposing offenses start to grind out 1st down after 1st down running the ball. That will kill a defense so quick and will only open up the passing game for them more. Isn't that exactly what so many here complained about our offense about, not being able to effectively run (and we supposedly have great passing potential). Make no mistake, stoppping the run is a key to a great defense. Cleveland had the #2 passing defense in the league last year. but they were next to the last against the run and teams ran all over them (except the Steelers, who let them stay close).

As far as out schedule -- the Ravens had basically the same schedule, so you can also say they were not as good as their stats indicated as well.

 

Vos, you have a good point.
I remember in the first couple games of last year, how I was SCREAMING at the tv, "What the HELL?!?!?! You don`t run on US!!!!"...
However, we fixed it pretty quick, teams were basically running counter/misdirection plays against us, and using our pursuit speed against us.
Novel approach, and it worked, for a minute.
Point being, our defense is so well schooled in how to stop the run, that I think we can relax on that for right now. It is almost ingrained in the players that have been here, and the system LeBeau uses, is based on it.
What I think we NEED to do, is go back to disguising our blitzes, relying on confusion, and getting pressure on the qb, and HOPEFULLY our new, young, cb`s can get the knack of snatching the ball out of the air, when they do throw in their direction, `cause, God knows, ya can`t just knock the crap outta the reciever anymore, to jar the ball loose!

 

There is something almost personally insulting about a team running consistently on us. It just shouldn't happen.

However, I hope we have a bit more "smoke and mirrors" with this reloaded defense. The pundits talked so much about it the last few seasons, few of them noticed that our blitzes weren't really as unpredictable as all that. With a healthy D, and some good prospects on the bench, I believe that will change this season.

 

When hasn't the success of this team depended on the defense? Until Ben and the offense can play with more consistency and produce more points that's just how it's gonna be.

 

i don't think as long as DLB is coaching defense , any team will run for first down after first down on us. he has an uncanny way of hiding blitzes. run blitz can turn into a pass blitz in a moment in his schemes and visa versa. having the athletes to run this is a must too, and i don't think people truely apprieciate the kind of talent we have on this team. last year we found out with a few of our big guns playing injured and well below their standards that it makes a huge difference.

 

Good point, and a popular one, but I would say this:

Giving up 300 yards and 3 TDs would happen waaaay more often if we couldn't stop the run. We're extremely spoiled. There are a lot of defenses that consider that an average day.

Average pass TD allowed = 23.3
Us = 15

Average pass yards allowed = 232
Us = 172

We see a couple of 300 marks against us and agonize over them all offseason. For most other teams, that's just a sign it's Sunday. If we didn't have a strong run D, our pass D would suffer even more. Keeping our run defense as strong as possible is a must.

 

You dont run on the Steelers. PERIOD!!!
The Steelers cant be stopped on the run. PERIOD!!!
The Steelers are known for their defense. PERIOD!!!

I realize times have changed but those 3 things got us 6 Superbowls.

 

They got us 5, maybe. We had a pretty terrible running game for most of '08. Of course, it was mostly due to a terrible OL and loads of injuries to our RBs. Having one of the greatest defenses in NFL history helped that out.

 

Speed kills and so does the lack of it. The D that left Denver last season did appear (shoot me for saying it) old and slow. Hopefully the infusion of younger talent will help in that regard.