Defense the rest of the way

The defense we have seen thus far this year is not what we expected before the season and not what we will see from this point forward. The Steelers will likely have 3-5 game one starters returning to the lineup after the bye. Included could be our best cover corner, our 2014 first round draft pick and a speed demon OLB just scratching the surface of what he will be. And also some guy named Polamalu. There will likely be rust early but this influx of talent is like a mid-season steroid injected into a weakened limb of this team. I see steady improvement for a couple weeks growing towards a really good defense solidifying into a great defense right at playoff time. Any thoughts?

 

I agree that we should be much improved on defense coming out of the bye. I don't think we had any major injuries in this past game, so we should be pretty much whole in a couple of weeks. The key going forward is playing like it.

 

I can see the potential, here. I just hope Ike, Polamalu and Shazier stay healthy when they get back.

 

When, if ever, do you see Cortez getting back into the action?

 

Not before next year at the earliest. Tomlin doesnt trust him (for good reason) and it will take time to change his mind.

 

I wouldn't be surprised to see him matched up on Jimmy Graham exclusively against the Saints. He shut down Gronkowski 2 years ago playing that role.

 

If we keep seeing guys just snatching passes over Blake it might be sooner than later.

 

is Thomas coming back? haven't heard from him in a while. I don't even remember what happened.

 

I'm very excited to get our guys healthy but what does this mean for James Harrison? He's one of my all time favorites and I hope he stays.

 

Harrison isn't going anywhere

 

Sorry but I don't see this defense turning around this year. Even with getting people back, they are not good on the line or the secondary. They have given up more points than any team in the AFC except the Jaguars, Jets and Raiders. The offense is going to need to score a ton of points for this team to make a run.

 

I think it will help and we need it. Say what you want about Ike but he's our best. Our D is better when he's out there and we can slide Gay to nickle. Keep TP playing as a true Safety, not cheat, and give our front a shot with Shazam and JJ.

I agree w/ the previous poster, we have problems but I like the infusion and what's more, when it's happening.

 

There are some definites her... Deebo isn't going anywhere ( at least during the season) he has said so, and the F.O. has agreed. While some of us may not have been to"up with Ike" he is respected and feared by some opposing players, and he does defend well, we all wish he would make a darned interception a bit more. And lastly, getting those guys back on the field can't hurt.

 

What gives you any reason that the 3 players mentioned have been better this year than players currently seeing the field now? I think you will continue to see bad defense being played.

 

The key player is Ike ....He is by far our best CB , he can't catch and he is the king of the PI ,but with that said he is the only CB on the Team who can handle a #1 WR most of the game without help ...This gives us more options on our coverage on the rest of the field and gives us more blitz options.....

We don't have a true shut down CB we don't have a true lock down CB ,Ike is our Battle CB he has the ability to Battle ....The rest of our CB'S are a train wreck waiting to happen...

 

The savior of the Defense? Ike "Toast" Taylor? And to say that the Corners that are out there are train wrecks waiting to happen? I feel they have played quite well sans the Titans game.

And wouldn't it be nice to have Cortez pull the pacifier out of his mouth and contribute. Obviously this has not happened

Mike "Tweets" Mitchell has his twitter privilege taken away. Now go sit in the corner and watch game film and get better in coverage. If his coverage skills were as good as his tweets, they would be sitting pretty.

This Defense is the weak link. The Offense will have to carry the load, and when they are off, it's a loss. Just reality.

 

I would only disagree with Gay. He's pretty much 50/50 because he taketh and he giveth away, but I like the fight in him. If he can get to the point where he can get an INT and/or pick 6 without subsequently getting torched for a touchdown then he'll be a valuable asset in the secondary.

 

Yep Toast is the savior...Ike the Toast Taylor would have at least became Ike the arm bar Taylor on that Washington Bomb ...Hell I thought Gay had left the field with Blount ..Ike also can get up on jump balls he is our only #1 CB type...Don't get me wrong he is not a true #1 ,but is better than any other that we have..

Our DB'S have been horrid we have been blitzing like crazy and Teams have been getting the ball out a lot faster and yet everyone is still open ... Ike will make a big difference , but we still need about 3 more DB'S to knock the other non starters off the field...

 

I used to hate Gay, but he's played real well this season. That td in the titans game was on the safety. He saw something on film that could have been a second int but the safety help wasn't there.

 

Sorry can't blame Mitchell on that one ...We where in a Quarters Defense meaning everyone has one forth of the field nothing behind you ...Gay left 50 yards behind him in his quarter of the field .

 

Ugh...what does that say about our D? Ike is the best we have at CB? The thing is, that is probably 100% correct - just doesn't make me feel any better at all.

 

I don't see the defense getting much better. If the offense is clicking, we can win with this defense. I don't see them becoming a "Great Defense" at any point this year.

This defense has a lot of new parts, and the guys that have been gone awhile will not make it better.

 

Look at their losses, only against TB did the offense score more than one touchdown. In fact, both touchdowns scored in the three losses to the Rats, Browns, and Jets were at the end of the game in garbage time. It is tougher for the defense when the opposing offense if playing with the lead. Unless, of course, they have a 10 point lead in the first quarter...eh there goes that theory....but wait there's more...that 10 point lead didn't come from the offense. Once the offense decided to score a touchdown, the defense did it's job. Against TB, the offense couldn't get a 1st down and the defense couldn't stop an 87 year old invalid from going out the front door carrying a 60 inch flat screen TV.

 

And they are the only team in the AFC to have played 11 games, while the others have played 10. go by points per game and they are mid-pack. This also counts the returns for TD on special teams (Rats game) and points given up by our offense.

 

What is going on with Sharknado? Is he looking to return to action soon?