Why don't we Blitz anymore?

Last night the Bengals brought pressure all game long with different blitz packages and their defense shut down the Fins completely other than one blown play. Basically, they did what we used to do and were very effective at it. Yea, they have far better corners but I also noticed they played man to man bump and run coverage where we still play the ineffective 8-10 yard off cushion zone. I'm not saying the Fins are on the same level as the Eagles but so far this year I can't even count one on hand yet the amount of blitzes that we have used.

ONE SACK in the three games played thus far is not Steeler football! Never has been, never will be. That averages out to five sacks in a full season. Who the heck will we ever intimidate with that kind of pressure? The bend, don't break philosophy is based on our offense being able to put up a bunch of points. Obviously, we don't have the talent on offense to do that with Wheaton, Coates and DHB complementing Antonio Brown. LeVeon should bring more offense but also could be rusty his first couple of games.

I would rather lose by going down fighting and hitting the QB all game long than to get dinked and dunked upon ala the Brady script by playing soft zone coverage.

It's pretty bad when the Bengals look like the old steel curtain with their pass rush last night than our Steelers do on a weekly basis.

I want to see some fight from these guys and if Jarvis Jones can't rush a QB and beat his man then get him out of there and find someone who can.

I must say we're good at stopping the run but the pass rush is downright pathetic and will be the demise of this team all season long if it doesn't change soon.

 

Butler need to be like...

 

Bad coaching and a lack of LB/DB talent.

 

Atkins, Peko, Dunlap, Johnson, Hunt, Burffy, Maliluga (sp) and a very speedy Rey vs Heyward, Tuitt, Timmons, and Harrison. I think they have a slight edge on their front 7.

 

...and yet we still beat them. Just sayin'.

 

Yep.

First two games, the strategy worked ok. My guess is that they tried something similar on Wentz but:

- He gets rid of the ball quicker.
- Eagles ran some well executed misdirection that caused our pressure to misfire.
- Front 3-4 were sluggish which nullified extra blitzers efforts.
- We didn't close down their run game in the way we've done previously.

 

Bad coaching would be blitzing a lot with a lack of talent

 

That is because we own real estate in their heads lol.

 

we dont blitz because even if we send 5-6 they probably wont get there lol. Nobody fears our pass rushers.

 

Hard to fear when it's a three step drop and release the ball. I think it's interesting that Denver has been suffering some this year because they lost their dominant nose tackle who could collapse the middle and force tears to back the qb up and make it easier for the edge rushers to get to them. We need that pressure up front on these quick throes to make them move the qb back.

 

I always hated seeing Kirkland and Harrison dropping back into coverage.

 

I swear I saw JJ split out wide on a WR during the Washington game I believe it was.

 

I think it was a sideline route too and he was mad at himself for not recognizing it and getting over in time.

 

no talent

 

They blitzed a lot last year to the tune of 48 sacks just saying, with the same talent.

 

I think I read somewhere that Wentz didn't hardly throw the ball farther than 10yds past the LOS. Most of their yards were due to yac and that was mostly because of poor tackling.

 

most steelers fans were yacing during that one.

 

The Bengals play a 4/3 defense, and have one of the best DT in Atkins and 3 good DEs they don't have to blitz to get sacks. That's why it's a bad comparison to the Steelers.

 

How much is Butler still using from Lebeau's system?
I feel like the Defense needs a whole new philosophy.

 

Tomlin has been quoted multiple times talking about "not giving up the big play" so I honestly wonder if a lot of this is more per Tomlin's instructions as opposed to what is intended personally from Butler's scheme. If you look at how Philly played they just played "fundamental" football as Tomlin called it and honestly that's a great way to beat us. They ran well after the catch. They rushed well. They broke tackles and used a lot of screens. Nothing fancy. Cincy uses a much fancier scheme than them with all those 4 wide looks to one side of the field and what not.

 

You have all your blitzers going out in coverage. Lebeau had better talent but also better schemes. Peezy, Big O, and Leaky lakes may need to be replaced.
I don't know if its the coaches or what...
but, our lbers used to be the best in the league...our dline was great as well...
Safeties....great....weakness...cornerback play...Ike, who could not catch...Gay, best in slot... But, no one to compliment on the other side.

 

BINGO

 

Over reliance on the defensive line doing everything.


If Pittsburgh really is considering to have the defensive line not only shut down the run and get after the passer... then a 425 formation with a 43 setup (all 4 players with hands on the ground) needs to be implemented soon.



Otherwise... read Lambert's comment. Sums it up.