Who Is Responsible Specifically For the Defensive Collapse?!?!

Who is specifically at fault on the Defense?! For that matter, is it a player or a coach?!

 

I'm leaning defensive scheme. The Steelers need a fresh scheme on defense. I don't know what the answer is per se. It could be a 33 stack or 42 stack for all I care. Find something that's working in the college game to attack the spread offenses that's bled into the NFL. In some ways they've been running a 42 as its base.

Austin wasn't able to keep his gig in his previous spots for a reason. And for me it begins and ends with him. They've invested too much $$$ into this defense for it to be this kind of flop. For the defense to give up 30+ in its past 4 or 5 playoff appearances it truly doesn't matter what they fix on offense because the defense won't get the job done when it matters most. Great defenses can carry teams. This defense is a paper tiger.

 

Agree on scheme change, 1000%

Tomlin run def, scheme, calls, personnel, "adjustments " Austin a figure head

Lame ownership BIG issue too, Art thinks a 9 n 8 season n getting boat raced on the playoffs is a Great Season....

Dan would be mandating changes n is likely rolling over I. His grave

Tomlin n the lame ast coaches he hires n works like a puppeteer is THE issue PERIOD

Meyer, Austin, keeping Canada for THREE YEARS, etc etc etc.

Definition of insanity

 

I would say injuries. Your best CB didn't even play today, and most know We are weak behind him. We've had 5 different starters not play during the last 3 games.
If we weren't weak already at the secondary it wouldn't be a problem, but we are even with him playing.

 

It starts and ends with Tomlin
The standard is the standard

 

https://steelersdepot.com/2024/12/t...n-elliott-doubles-down-on-defensive-critique/

 

disagree. It starts and stops with Art II

 

Injuries are a factor. But I believe it’s more scheme. Rushing 4 and dropping back in zone is not working. It really has never worked all the way back to the Brady days. Too many times it’s waaaayyyy to easy on third down. Then they give up long drives. Even if they make a stop and hold to a field goal, the offense lets them down by doing nothing. Which then leads to the defense being even more gassed as the game goes on.

so yeah actually it’s multiple reasons I guess.

 

Patrick Queen though isnt exempt from blame here either. He has played his worst three week stretch as a Steeler. Same goes for Donte Jackson.

 

The Steelers defense is built on the pass rush, the last two games they only have one sack. You can't have your best player in Watt go these last two games without even hitting the QB.

 

The secondary is a weak link system and they’re depending on special teams guys to play corner. Mahomes is always going to pick that apart

They miss Porter and they need another corner that can play man in the offseason.

They look beat up and worn down even allowing for injuries and this seems to happen every single year

Given that they lead the league in TOP I thought they may avoid it this year but it seems not.

 

Again. Did You see what happened when we actually blitzed.

 

I vehemently disagree. The defense gave up 31 to the Bills in last years playoffs and in 2021 season they gave up 42 to the Chiefs and 48 to the Browns during the 2020 season. Last year alone they gave up 30 pts 3 times and in 2022 they gave up 30 pts another 3 times. The past few seasons against the best teams in the league they've failed to get the job done. Injuries happen; however, all teams have Injuries. This is because of a lack of depth due to overspending on stars and not having a well rounded team combine with the fact that they've drafted horribly prior to Omar taking over forcing them to go to FA to fill in gaps. Scheme gets exposed even in games that they give less than 30. Look at how many 3rd and 15+ that they give up due to blown assignments or QBs finding holes in the zone and this happened prior to the injuries.

 

I guess the injuries, down to our 5th MLB/ILB, our 3rd safety, and no TJ Watt had anything to do with that last year score??

 

And what's the excuse for the front seven not doing anything the last two games?

 

It's the fact that these past 3 seasons they have historically underachieved against the better offenses in this league. TJ Watt and our MLBs played against the 49ers and Texans.

 

The DBs seem like they don’t fit on this squad and can’t communicate with the rest of the defense.

 

I was going by Your playoff games you mentioned.

 

TA may be losing the players confidence.

Keith Butler was no better. Get 6 sacks against a bottom tier team and then none against a top 5 team and 400 yards (none of it being garbage yards)

 

The fanbase can argue this forever at the root cause and if justified but maybe he is on the hot seat now.

 

I also mentioned regular season blowouts.

 

Everyone was there when the Boys march down and beat us.Browns samething..get corners that can play man

 

I know , but I was just thinking about the playoffs, because that's what we have coming up.

 

I posted a whole thread about this and people came in with in pitchforks and laughing emojis blaming the offense. Like no. This defense is not elite.