Linebacker.....

When is the last time we drafted a traditional 3-4 player. It has to have been a while, and yet, we still run the 3-4. The 3-4 isn't fooling anyone at this point. It was magical in its heyday but ran its course about 5 years ago. I would rather see us run, well, almost anything else at this point. I'd take a 5-2 right now, and I bet half the board doesn't even know what I'm talking about without looking it up.

 

It's just one of many ways in which the Steelers sacrificed this season for the future, which is thinking I just don't understand. You've got a veteran team in position to compete for a championship and an aging quarterback. The approach should have been all about winning now, but the Steelers didn't play it that way.

Edmunds over Leonard was a mistake. There was at least some chance that Edmunds could have fallen to them in the second round. That wasn't going to happen with Darius. I'm not giving up on Edmunds, but right now Darius is the much better player in a position of desperate need.

 

If I'm not mistaken, Georgia ran a 3-4 and Jarvis Jones was a true ROLB. So I guess that made him a traditional 3-4 OLB. Not sure what kind of base D Wisconsin ran when Watt was there... but pretty sure Dupree was a DE at Kentucky.

 

Honest question. Could Edmunds lack of success this season be because he’s hampered by Butler’s defensive scheme?
Nobody is making plays on this defense right now.

 

That could be part of it, but with the desperate need at inside linebacker, Leonard still would have been a better choice.

 

Dupree was a stand-up end, but I think it was an odd-man front, so his role wasn't that different from what he does with the Steelers. The major change is that he is asked to drop in coverage more.

 

I was about to say they are not good. Red is great in special teams and may be a good breather back when we are up by multiple scores but he sure ain't starter caliber. Not in a 3-4. Chick has speed but not sure what he can offer that Ola can't

 

yes. I truly believe our defense would do well under someone who is willing to play their strength's and get off this retired way of defensive thinking.

 

I understand that...but there are intricate things I see that if they could get some more PT you'd see a huge positive difference.

The problem is like I said...they won't sit a first round pick until a contract is up and essentially let him walk.

That's egg on face and they're too proud for that ****.

One thing. ...
Next time those guys are in watch Eveb when the play is away from them watch how they swarm to the ball. They are salivating to make a play. Dupree and Williams. ..especially Dupree...if he doesn't get to the QB you don't see him. He has no tenacity whatsoever. Honestky he's an empty roster spot. Williams guesses all the time. Half the time he's wrong which puts him a mile away from the play.

That's one tiny example and I don't have time to go over the others...


Regardless those two guys need more reps and the defense just got better twice over.

 

I smell popcorn...

 

Not that they would have dug deeper in the pockets for an ILB but they were being held hostage by the rap giant.

They are weak at drafting defense. Time to spend some of that cap to a couple of better defensive free agents. Bargin basement ain't getting it done. They need a corner opposite Haden that's a stud. This will cost a few shekels. Of course an ILB and a playmaking free safety. Then their is OLB.

Edmonds I feel will only improve. Burnett? And Bostic is a nice player, I would take him over Williams, but he is not a stud.

 

This is under the assumption that Devin White showcases transcendent athletic ability; falling to us soon thereafter.

 

Oh my dear lord.
He'd be atrocious at the inside position.

That's a night and day position playing the 3-4. A 4-3 is closer but he was only drafted to rush the edge in a 3-4

 

Now you are making sense. Sadly, you are still under the delusion that Matakevich can be a starter in the NFL.

 

Yea Tyler is atrocious. Dude has heart and the drive just lacks the physical aspects

 

Burns is the exception to the rule, he's that bad.

 

Exactly. As I posted earlier, the lack of speed at inside linebacker is hurting this team, so how the hell does it make sense to turn to somebody who is even slower?

 

Matakevich would be all world if he was bigger, stronger and faster. God bless him, he plays hard, but he is a career special teamer. He'd be alright if the rest of the front seven were studs, but he can't help this defense.

 

And you are under the ASSUMPTION he can't.

If Matekavich is so ****ing bad then why is he even signed? Why is he wasting a roster spot?

In the NFL you are one play away from being called into action.

You thinking he can't play is as bad as people writing off Dobbs after a whopping 12 passes in an NFL career.

 

The lack of speed is not killing the position.

Moreover...you think everything is based on a stop watch?

Matekavich plays fast. Great instincts. What he needs is more reps.

The two clowns we have now have no idea how to play inside backer. One is half a pussy which is a gigantic no no...the other guesses where the play is going and even once getting there takes on the lead blocker like a sissy.

A lot of teams have good LB play without having Shazier speed. How? They are extremely sound fundamentally.

 

Matekavich would have to play better than he did vs. Cinci the night Shazier got hurt. Although I don't think he could do much worse.

 

Ever see shazier play like garbage? I have. His rookie year he was full of mistakes. The more reps he got the better he got.

Matekavich is no different. Nor is Chickillo in place of Dupree. He's not going to step in the first game and be the new Kevin Greene....but give him several games and you'll start seeing some production from that position...which we lack Big time. That position doesn't always have to sack to be effective. QB hurries are almost as effective. We get none from Dupree.

Shazier is quick...but on the light side to be a really good inside backer. His size wouldn't be much an issue playing outside backer in a 4-3. Playing on the inside he gets moved around way too easy. Plays on the perimeter he runs everything down. Straight at him he gets moved around the field.

That no matter...he's out.

What we have can work well.

We have the close to the best front 3 IN football. Tuitt and Hayward plus the rotation coming in for those guys it's a very good front 3.

That means the inside backers are playing clean. Yet we have ****ttt production from all our linebackers minus Watt.

Give the guys I mentioned some quality consistent reps and see the defense get significantly better.

 

You really think dirty red is the answer?

 

I agree with this. Other than Watt, who seems to “get it”, I don’t see many guys on our defense that have great instincts. Maybe Haden, too. I think that’s why we have a turnover problem.

Having our most athletic players on the field is great in theory, but it would be nice to compliment the freaks of nature with some heady guys that can sniff things out instead of being reactionary. Especially in the middle at the ILB and S positions.

 

i think it was a mistake to cut thomas. he should have been on the field getting some reps. we were lucky he re-signed to our PS. i believe a better bunch of coaches on defense would have made this move and got him playing time.