Disturbing Defensive Stat

Caveat to the foundation of this being someone's judgement on what constitutes a missed tackle, but through two weeks PFR has the Steelers racking up the most missed tackles in the league, with 28.

To put that in perspective, the mean across the league is 8, with a standard deviation of 6.15. Meaning, in basic terms, that the Steelers having 28 is a feat less than 0.3% likely to occur. By way of comparison, last year they were best in the league with 69 missed tackles on the season.

Helps explain some things:

• 2025: 4th in Blitz% (39.3%), leading to being 4th in Press% (26.2%) and 1st in QBKD% (18.2%) - but are near the bottom in Sacks (3) and 24th in Sack% (5.2%).
  • 2024: only 12th in Blitz% (25.9%), 17th in Press% (22.0%), and 9th in QBKD% (10.8%) - but slightly more efficient in Sacks (17th) and Sack% (19th).

• 2025: 28th in Average Yards/Attempt (8.8) and Adjusted Net Yards/Attempt (7.9).
  • 2024: 7th in AY/A (6.6) and ANY/A (5.7)
  • ^^Edit: passing attempt^^

• 2025: 28th in rushing yards/game (149.5)
  • 2024: 6th (98.7)

The good news is that maintaining such an outlier of performance in missed tackles is unsustainable. Some regression to the mean should start to be seen.

 

Thanks for the info…. And ruining my day.

Just kidding. I don’t think anyone is surprised. Every stat we have on D is disturbing right now.

 

wtf

 

Simply put. Players (especially) secondary throughout the NFL are terrible at wrapping up players to bring them down. Last night a safety threw a shoulder into TB RB in which he picked up 9 extra yards til a CB finally tackled him. Other times offensive players gain several more yards than they would have had the defensive guy wrapped up instead of trying to strip the ball. Tackling fundamentals have been missing for decades. Now it’s all about those “Splash plays”.

 

Some of these stats can't be correct, because we do the exact same things every year, haven't you heard??? LoL

 

I don't disagree, and think eliminating the horse collar and hip drop tackles have cause some issues as players adjust as well.

 

I have to say, I was surprised our blitz % was that high this year. But I also think it's harder to notice because of smaller overall ILBs, not as many stunts, and less shots from the slot CB/secondary.

If the opposing team is running 11-personnel and we're in a 4-2-5 and send both ILBs, that's considered a blitz, but isn't going to be very effective if they simply pull a Pickett's Charge and bum rush straight up the middle.

 

Agree. I wouldn't want to play defense in the NFL. How do you tackle a guy while thinking about all the 'cans' and 'can't dos'?

 

One of their players told media they were excited for Renegade (played it during practice) and they were surprised the Steelers were so lethargic during it.

 

with the rules of today it sure seems like you can't have a defensive football team to carry it far. MT is not of that thinking. he's like a kid on Christmas morning with too many toys to play with. coach football not players.

 

Ok Ok. Tell me again how many injuries we have on D!!!!!!!!!!

 

We are a historic defense........for all of the wrong reasons.

 

I agree with this. The other consideration is our defense has been taught or it seems to try to get the ball out which can prove to be costly instead of tackling.

 

The Seahawks now consider Renegade their song

 

Right now 4 that I can think of.

 

LoL. That pretty good.

 

They can have it. That song has run its course in PGH. The way our defense plays anymore maybe they should play baby shark.

 

Or..........opposition ball carriers/receivers are so wide open there are no "statistical" missed tackles - just catching up with them from behind or TDs. We have to be careful what we wish for.

 

Maybe "Do you really want to hurt me" by Boy George.

 

So the blitz rate (not sure if it accounts for Dogs also)
31% week 1
29% week 2
Both weeks were low success rates.

This just drives me insane. Austin was fired for a 3 game stretch were he set a record for being scored on. And he's never really had great defenses.
If for nothing else, a change in how we do things would help.

We did sign the NE LB Bently - he's thought to be a run stuffing LB.

 

Austin is a major problem for sure but Tomlin has full control of the defense since LeBeau is gone and it was Butler who said this....

https://steelersdepot.com/2022/01/keith-butler-confirms-mike-tomlin-handled-defensive-playcalling/

 

The Steelers have a defense? Who would have thunk

 

How many times are fans going to fall for this crap Butler called the defense the majority of the time, of course Tomlin would get involved at times being a defensive HC. We're supposed to believe Butler had a playsheet and talking into his headset was just for show .