Why is our run defense so bad?

Just read we allowed Houston it’s first 100 yard rusher.


If teams were smarter they wouldn’t abandon the run so fast. Gash after gash it’s ridiculous.


Is it because of missed tackles, gap discipline or lack of safety awareness?

Either way it won’t be fixed so I hope we keep forcing teams to pass by us scoring lol

 

Losing a star MLB and not really having a solid let alone good replacement is a big factor.

 

Never adequately replaced Hampton

 

Hargrave does seem to have gone backward, but I think the real issue is behind him. The linebackers just aren't good enough. Williams is decent, but none of the replacements for Shazier are getting the job done. This is also where the lousy safety play figures in. Mitchell constantly takes horrible angles, turning short runs into 30-plus-yard bursts, like the one Blue had in the second quarter. Davis isn't much better. Of course, the missed tackles are also an issue.

 

Today it was merely academic - other games - maybe not. Deon Lewis was racking up yards in 1st half last week and then they went Mongo mode. Funny, it almost cost the Pats the game as they scored too fast near the end. But that's water under the dam and a bridge too far.

 

Greatest nose tackle I ever saw play. That 2000's Defense between 2004-2010 was so much fun to watch.

 

To answer your question simply: tackling.

Our guys are getting pounded and pushed back consistently. It's like Alex Collins a few weeks ago. He's a fine young back, but dude bruised us for an extra 50-60 yards after we failed to wrap up on contact.

And yes, Mitchell has been a large part of the issue, but let's not act like we didn't have issues when Shazier was healthy. It's a team issue.

 

Shazier missed a ton of tackles as well but yes the drop off from him to a Sean Spence is astronomical. That and how bad our safety play has been is a real Achilles Heel I’m afraid. At least Haden looked nice coming back in both run and pass support.

 

The one real problem on this team is up the middle on D. The NT/ILB/S play is just not good and is noticeably worse with Shaz out.

 

I think the D-Line has become more of pass rushing D-Line.

The Aaron Smith, Casey Hampton, Kimo Von Olffhen, then Kiesel years.

Were more about getting into the gaps and run stopping and letting the OLB make the pass rushing sacks.

That and what you have at ILB now with Williams, Spence, Fort, and Dirty Red is less than ideal.

It's a big weakness for sure. But, not much better can be done about it right now.

 

The run defense wasn't great even with Shazier this year.

I agree the safeties and ILB often look out of position.

I really thought our front 3 dlinemen would wreck shop and be a dominating force, but they really aren't.

 

Hargrave is the biggest problem IMO. He gets man handled on runs. Because Hargrave is so easily beaten they can get blockers on our LB's quickly... doesn't really matter how good your LB's are if they have blockers in their face. Saw a couple plays were they double teamed Hargrave and created a lane you could drive a truck through. LB's aand safeties aren't making initial contact till the runner gains 5 yards. I've also noticed Tuitt is NOT the same player as he was in the past. I wonder if Tuitt is healthy. Most runs are up the middle at Hargrave and Tuitt.... Tuitt is not getting off blocks. Teams used to need 2 guys on him...he's getting blocked easily. Then add in the horrible tackling from our safeties and OLB's and it all adds up to probably the worst run defense I've seen in Pittsburgh in my life time. Watt isn't exactly the best run stuffer either. He's so aggressive (as is Bud) I think he too often takes him self out of the play. One thing I've noticed about Bud the past few games...his instinct or ability to read the play is atrocious. About as bad as Davis against the run. How bad is it that Davis is leading the team in tackles? It's not like he's stuffing run plays and running all over the field. Opponents are going after him.

IF can't play at least average run defense, we won't go far in the playoffs. We seem to be getting worse every game and we were bad with Shazier. SO I don't think that's an excuse. I mean we knew the Texans were going to run it and we still couldn't slow them down. That pathetic O-line of theirs man handled Tuitt and Hargrave. We have to get better somehow.

 

When everyone does their job and doesn't try to do more than their job the run defense works. Do to much and you leave gaps big enough to run three guys through

 

I’ll say it again. Tuitt ain’t the same after the biceps injury. Missed tackles and safety play lead us here lol

 

Assuming Ben comes back next year... we have to sure up our problems up the middle. We need DT's, ILB, and safeties. You can't fill all of those holes in the draft. We will have to make some FA moves. Not sure were our cap situation is but would probably be most economical to upgrade our Dline in FA. Use the draft on an ILB and Safety.

 

I miss those 4 guys. It's hard as a Steeler fan to watch a team run the ball up the middle at will.

 

and why Houston choosed to throw it 3 times instead of running it in is beyond me, Steelers should be sending O'Brien a thank you card.

 

A pass rushing D-line is theoretically what we need if the offense does its job. A high scoring offense, which is what we should have, will force the opponent into more of a passing game, so if you have a good pass defending defense, that is a good recipe. Sure it would be great to have a stellar defense in all phases, but if you had to emphasize one, given the potential of our offense, a passing defense is what we need.

 

Yeah they had an amazing streak on not allowing a 100 yard rusher. I forget how many game it was. But, it was a lot.

 

This, so many times % this.

Blue gashed us on the outside, had nothing to do with runs up the middle. We just don't take the right angles for some reason (coaching?).

 

I think a big part if it is poor tackling technique. Instead of running in for the big hit get in position to wrap up and make a form tackle. There us no breaking down and wrapping up....just guys flying to a spot and misjudging the cut backs and angles. It's either do to lack of hitting in practice or a unwillingness to practice fundamentals....

 

I believe you are correct about Tuitt. He hasn't been even close to the player he was last season. Neither has Hargrave, though that is tougher to understand. I wish there was just one flaw that could be fixed, but it's more than that. Safety and inside linebacker are the biggest problems, but they are far from the only issues.

 

JJ Wilcox was know as a run stopper in Dallas. He’s not a great cover guy but he’s a heavy handed hitter. I’d like to see them work him in abit

 

The real issue is that we have two lber coaches...one for the inside and another for the outside. How can they be on the same page?

 

Wilcox can be frustrating. He sometimes whiffs going for the big hit.