The Steelers need to change their philosophy

I don't really that the Steelers made a mistake not drafting a CB. That doesn't imply that I think their secondary is good or even okay. It isn't. But I think the Steelers were basically trying to draft the best player available. Now why Dri Archer as opposed to a solid CB, not really sure, but maybe Dri will be a major asset. The problem for the Steelers is the super corners drafted over the past number of years always go very early and the Steelers are never high enough on the board to get one like Patrick Peterson.

I think the Steelers sub-package schemes are maybe becoming a problem in itself. They are so desperate to provide max coverage that they are becoming all too susceptible to the run. Basically trying to man the line with 2 DL is allowing the OL to get to the second level with ease and it is going to be hard for a guys like Jones, Shazier to shed blocks on 300 lb lineman. I think a lot of us marvel at Seattle and granted Seattle has far greater talent on defense than we do, but they also keep it simple. They really don't do anything exotic. They have 4 guys who push the line and enough physicality in their safeties and corners to ball hawk and attack the ball.

The one thing that has passed LeBeau by is that because it is such a passing league and most notably a short passing game, exotic blitz packages are not going to work most of the time. So the goal today is to collapse the pocket where the throwing lanes get disrupted enough where your LB and secondary can react. It's about winning the line of scrimmage and the Steelers do not seem very well suited to do this. Even if we had a good secondary, we would still be giving up lots of yards because the QB is getting very little pressure or when the QB sees the sub package personnel he is calling a run.

Also - before we get too carried away about the defense being a wash - remember the Eagles do have a very good OL and it was likely they were going to do damage against most teams that night.

 

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I always hate watching that blitz where they cross the inside linebackers. That blitz takes years to develop. QB's just don't hold onto the ball long enough for that to work anymore. It used to work great, now ... not so much.

Eagles and Chip Kelly design their plays to make teams look stupid. I think Steelers weren't game prepping and just playing a vanilla scheme. I'm worried, but not super worried.

 

Uh yeah...just a little bit.

 

Philly came in that game against us 0-2. I'm sure they open it up and game plan against us to get their starters some confidence.
We on the other hand had a good showing the week before against Buffalo and had no need to open up our playbook.
After our game against the Eagles which team put more tape out for their opponents be used against them? I say the Eagles!

 

They spend all these first and second rounds picks on LBs, why not draft some stud CBs once in awhile. When they had two Pro Bowl OLBs in Woodley and Harrison, they didn't need great CBs those guys are gone the pass rush isn't as good now. In 2015 Taylor is gone and Cortez could leave as a free agent now what do you have not much. They should've drafted some guys by now learning the system, so they would be ready to play next season.

 

I agree they should have drafted some CB, but stud corners are not the primary thing that makes the Steelers D good, it is the DL holding the line and the LB creating chaos. Losing Keenan Lewis was a big problem, but that had a lot to do w/how they got themselves in cap hell, not that they didn't want to keep him. They can keep Cortez - I think to some extent they are trying to figure out if they should.

 

They may not need stud CBs like Peterson or Sherman, and Haden, but they can do better than a 34 yr old Ike Taylor.

 

Until we get a dominant pass rush,
you will continue to see pitch and catch.
ATTACK! Don't play off 10 yds. Get back
to exciting football.

 

I wonder if this is the mentality of the players (Ike specifically) who didn't seem to adjust much against the Eagles. If they know that the refs will go easier on them once the proper games start, what's the point of adjusting now? WHich raises the question - why bother with all the extra flags in the first place?

I don't know how it will play out when Week 1 starts... I just hope our secondary get a good read on how the officials are going to let them play. Last Thursday was not encouraging in t hat regard.

 

And we can't play in the same time zone because our CB'S are so out matched. If we get up on the WR'S they will get torched 4 or 5 times a game.

Some people believe that the pass rush helps with coverage.
Some people believe that the coverage helps the pass rush.
Well both are true ,but in a passing league and against spread sets you have to be able to play tight coverage so the pass rush has a chance to get there.

So the answer to the equation is we must start drafting better skilled CB'S .

 

I wish we had better corners too, but I still think Dick is going to have to play his corners a little tighter and take his chances that the pass rush will get there or hope that Troy and Mitchell provide enough help over the top and Shazier/Timmons can adequately cover the TEs. Because right now with the way he is playing off the ball and trying these sub packages they are getting gouged in two ways (1) simple pitch and catch plays for 5-10 yards with some YAC added on and (2) being run at with ease or screen plays, with a significant portion of those going for big yardage plays.

 

You make some solid points as well. IMO until we get better CB'S we need to go with more DL and less LB'S .This would allow us to get pressure up the middle with stunts and allow us to play umbrella coverage on the back,

Tighter on the Corners and loose in the middle.The premise of this to funnel everything to the middle of the field and take away the sideline stuff.

 

I don't care if we play man on man and forget the stunts. If the DL can hold their man and apply pressure up the middle it clears the way for our LBs. The amount of time required to rush the QB and apply pressure is greater then the time it is taking to get rid of the ball ( i.e. Foules)

We need more strength up front and a NT that requires double teams

Bman

 

You're preaching to the choir, that's my whole point when CB is your weakest link going into the draft you don't wait until the 5th rd to draft one.

 

This is why I say the team should start McCullers at nose. 50% of his snaps where he consumes his blockers and pushes into the backfield is much more valuable than someone like Ziggy Hood who never did that. So what if McCullers gets chopped by guards half of the time. Teams will still have to put two guys on him and plan for him. Also, he should get better over time with experience and reps.

His upside is huge (literally), but even now he can contribute. He could be the anchor we need, because let's face it, our pass rush and run stopping has been terrible since we lost Hampton, who was perhaps the most important player for us in our 3-4 scheme.

 

Our pass rush was suffering while Hampton was here - he was often getting chop blocked out of the game in his last few seasons, don't forget.

As for starting McCullers, I wouldn't want to make that call after 3 preseason games. I'm all for him getting reps (and generally rotating whose on the field more), but I wouldn't give him the starting position just yet.

 

Well we were awesome the year we went to the Green Bay Super Bowl, and we were doing awesome the year we were Teboned. After that though......yikes. We also started purging All-pro players nearing the ends of their careers, when we probably didn't have replacements for them yet. Lots of factors contributing, but I don't consider anything beyond the past two seasons to be suffering.

 

True enough - no arguments from me about when the team started to drop, or why. But I wouldn't align it just with Hampton's departure. I'd probably put more on Aaron Smith's retirement, overall.

 

I have to disagree a little with you, even the best QB's get happy feet, if they are forced to throw
quicker than they want to and the CB is at least
running with the receiver, we may have a chance
to intercept. In our current defense the QB gets
too much time and (most good QB's) are accurate making for a pitch and catch situation.
Hell Mel Blount couldn't cover a wr with as much time as we give the QB. I do agree with your
assessment that the Steelers are lacking in the CB evaluation category and that we could do much better job defending the pass. It all starts with the pass rush.

 

As was already mentioned, they don't have the horses (DBs) to keep up wth a lot of the elite WR's or TE's in the game. The 5 yard chuck rule is still in existence. I say use it for all it's worth. I say line up right across the LOS and manhandle the opposition. What good does hand fighting do as the guy is running right by you? Why can't a DB lay a block on a WR/TE and just take them completely out of the play? What exactly does the rule say to this? I did a brief search and couldn't find a definitive answer.

 

The title suggest we should change philosophies...... I disagree!!!

We should pick one and stick to it, man it with the correct personnel and perfect it. I don't care if it's a 4-3, 3-4, Tampa-2, "46" or whatever designation its given.

Against the eagles Timmons played the "Buck" but also the LOLB while worilds dropped into coverage. Gay played the slot, FS and as a Hybrid LB. JJ moved inside and Timmons moved outside on a play. Troy was Troy,- Safety, CB, Robber. We played a lot of 2 DL.... Tuitt even played some zero-Tech.....???? why?

We have a couple solid 3-4 DE's in Tuitt/Heyward and with a returning Keisel but NO NT!!!! McLendon & Thomas are NOT quality NFL zero-techs. Our LBers aren't suited for the 3-4 except for worilds who is on a 1-year deal. Shazier is actually best suited for the Tampa-2. Our safeties are flexible enough ( except allen & Mitchell ) to play CB meaning they are "46" versatile.

We have so much diversity on defense trickery is becoming our stable and skillset has become wanting. Here in the south there's a saying...." Jack of all trades & Master of none"...... I long for the Steel Curtain when we lined up and beat you with what we had and didn't care what you brought to the table because we were that good!!

Cajun-

 

Football is really simple, can you beat the man
across from you? People try to make football harder than it should be. As the Emperor once said, you block and tackle.Fundamentals my son
fundamentals and skill level. Not smoke and mirrors.See Denver Bronco's last year.