The Steelers 2019 defense

Man if they had this opportunistic defense along with the killer B's on offense, the Steelers have caused 12 turnovers and got 19 sacks. But they have only scored something like 25 points, off all of those turnovers, settling for too many FGs.

 

The issue has not been the defense entirely. The talent is there to succeed. The issue has been with the inconsistent play calling by Keith Butler and the prolonged usage of the defense in the past five games. Below provides a better context of why the defense has been so fatigued as this is best explained via the opposition's Offensive Snap Counts;




New England Offensive Snap Totals: 70


Seattle Offensive Snap Totals: 79


San Francisco Snap Totals: 79


Cincinnati Snap Totals: 69


Baltimore Snap Totals: 80




Overall, Pittsburgh's defense is averaging 75.4 snaps per contest. That is WAY TOO MANY snaps. Part of the issue is the defenses ability to stop some drives. The biggest apsect though is the offenses inability to sustain their own drives.



Having ANY defense out this long is asking for some SERIOUS trouble. Before any of this gets resolved, it starts with the offense. For that matter, it starts with Randy Fitchner.

 

2014-2017 offense with this defense would do damage. But such is the life of the nfl, broad brushes with blades of ass and obviously we chew on it

 

I think your analysis is good in that we are yielding TOP to the other teams and I believe the blame is equally shared by the teams offense and defense. Our third down conversion % is near bottom of the league and that is on the OC for stupid game plans and calls. The defense is as disturbing in how we are defending 3rd downs with our LBs and the inability to defend the run. Maybe its me, but I keep thinking I see wide open receivers underneath our LBs who are back 13-15 yards and the ball is being caught well before them. It reminds me of the bend/ don't break crap that teams run in 2 minute drills. The coaching philosophies on both sides of the ball is what is to blame as I see it. 3rd and 1 and we run the worst plays to get 30 inches. We make our backs run 5 yards to get 1 and the defense knows that we are not sneaking the qb. It doesn't take a genius to know how to stop a back running wide and thus our conversion % is what it is. I believe we have had the talent to be doing much better but our players are not being put into positions to succeed. Not a big revelation as its been going on for a long time.