Evolution of a new defense

By design or by accident, it seems Lebeau has designed a new form of defense. He will always be known for Blitzburgh and the zone blitz, but the last two seasons he has come up with something new. Having the #1 ranked defense last year and now this year again, but with so few turnovers is a fascinating wrinkle. At first I thought the no turnovers thing was a fluke, but the drought has lasted so long I am beginning to think it is an effect of the scheme, intended or otherwise. We can blame the players for having stone hands, but I wonder if it something more. The D often holds good teams to under 20 points, most QBs look confused, and the running games are minimized. The D doesn't look mean or spectacular for the most part, but typically get the job done. Except for those fourth quarter gaffs, I have confidence in the D to keep the score low, but no longer expect tornovers. Not enough of a analyst to figure out why, but the D being ranked consistently this high with the low number of turnovers must be a record, and I no longer think it is accidental.

Now if only the offense was ranked so high.

 

You can keep it, I prefer getting after the QB (BLITZBURGH BABY) watch the fans
get excited again.

 

Well i just want to win so i don't care what kind of D we play as log as it keeps us in the game

 

Why argue with success?

This truely shows that the game has not passed LeBeau by. If he can still have the number 1 defense in the league without the pressure and the turnovers then don't you think every other defensive coordinator will be trying to mimick this in years to come as they have in years past?

I was in the same thought just last week of why there is no pressure on the QB's but I cannot argue with the success. The Offense is now falling short of their duties but that is mostly an injury issue.

 

If you think about it, the defense makes sense. Keep points off the board, don't give up the big play. If you keep the opposing point totals 20 points are under, your going to have chance to win the game. You start giving up 20 or more it gets harder.

I just really wish we could get some turnovers though, I think we 5 INT so far this year is all?

 

Cmon now lets be honest, You guys enjoy watching the
QB with 5 seconds or more time to throw? What do you think Brady, Peyton,
Rodgers, Brees will do to this defense? Pitch and catch its really that simple.

 

Until we meet Rodgers and Brees I don't care. We played Peyton already and that was with the old defense. Looking at this defense I am enjoying not seeing Ike PI, showing Lewis ability and letting the front guys do work with heyward instead of hood. When the offense get back to strength we win time of possession which limited opposing teams offense and if this defense only give up 20 or less points I see the team and fans winning. Go Steelers.

 

I worry about that too, but DL seems to confuse some of the beat QB's around. If we could ask any of them they would more than likely admit it.

I have never seen more plain 4 man rushes and dropping 7 into coverage from DL defense ever before. He certainly has changed this season. I think turnovers will come shortly in the way of INT's. They just have been dropping those opportunities.

 

what do you guys want from our D... they gave up 6 points .. 2 FG and those were great stops off turnovers? without the ST giving up 7 points and withought the 2 turnovers that our D stoppeed for 3 points each .. they have a shutout? anyone that blames the D in any way for the loss sunday night is a complete idiot..

HINES

 

It's hard to argue with their recent success in shutting down opposing teams' offenses, but the lack of sacks/turnovers is frustrating to me. 9 forced turnovers and 18 sacks in 10 games? That is pitiful. The Cardinals had 5 interceptions of Matt Ryan this past Sunday alone.

Playing solid defense and getting off the field on third downs in important, but sacks and turnovers are what energizes entire teams, and can often mean the difference in the game. Imagine if the offense could get set up inside the opponents redzone for a change. Or if on a third and 5 from the opponent's 25, the Steelers come up with a huge sack of the QB for a 10 yard loss. Instant field position.

 

i think turnovers are very very important but sacks totally overrated.. i dont care if we stop a team 4th and 1 or 4th and 8 after a sack... i just want them stopped ahd held to a FG or less and thats what our D did all game with the ravens.. held them to 2 FGs.. if the ST done give up 7 we win that game 10-6 .. if tomlin haley get their heads out of their a$$ and runt he ball on the goal line instead of pass 2 times we have 14 points and still win 13.. that loss was allllllllllllllllllllllllll on tomlin and the ST .. you cant ask a D to do anymore.. balt scored 55 the week before and scored 6 on our d and thats after 2 fumbles to set up the short field for them..

HINES

 

Yet they still lost. Alot of those Ints were very flukie and the issue with all out trying to force turnovers, you often give up a big play - risk and reward and the odds are often tilted against you when you gamble.

I'll take our D limiting the other team to minimal and accept the occasional turnover and sack, but hold the other team down seems to work for our D. Just need the ST to improve (alot) andour offense to score.

 

Me too...

 

we also need those turnovers to set our offense up for points. foote has gotten to light to be effective. yea he's making some tackles but not in the hole. he can't weigh 220. he gets consumed pretty easily. he's got his weight down so he can run, but it's hurt his stregnth game alot. we need another thumper that can run like a deer.

 

No one is blaming the D for Sundays loss I thought they played well,
exceptional. I prefer attacking defenses, sacks and turnovers in lieu
of what i saw, Do you guys like to watch JJ WATT, JPP, Clay Matthews.
Enough said.

 

Well...JJ Watt, JPP, and Clay Matthews are unique players. I don't think we currently have those type of pass rushers on the team. Harrison isn't what he used to be by his own admission, Woodley shows flashes but is inconsistent, Timmons is our best coverage linebacker and must perform that role for us. It goes without being said that our front 3 aren't expected to get after the qb.

So, with that being said, I think it's remarkable how well the defense is performing against the pass. We do not put heavy pressure on opposing quarterbacks and yet we still lead the league in pass defense. Ryan Clark recently said that, since he's been with the Steelers, the cornerback play has never been as good as it is right now. That in conjunction with DL's schemes has been very effective so far.

Now would I like to have a dominating pass rush? Absolutely. But we just don't have the pedigree necessary for that. So, the way we will have success against the good teams this year is by limiting the run (3ypc or less) and continuing to play the pass defense that we have. If we can do those things and have at least moderate success running the football, I think we can contend for another title--regardless of high sack or turnover numbers.

 

nope, i hate to see them on the field against us.

 

We never get huge leads that force other teams to abandon the run and just pass the ball. Usually those garbage yards bring down the D stats of some other teams. On the other hand, we're good enough to not allow teams to just move up and down on us. Minus the ST and turnovers, the Ravens never drove the field on us.

 

i thought k.lewis was a bust , glad i was wrong

 

like i talked about before, we had alot of role players and needed someone to show they are a playmaker. well lewis is starting to show that. timmons is stepping up. ziggy has looked better too. keisel has too. harrison,woodley. a guy i was on for a couple of years though for lack of play and always injured has played pretty well. will allen. he's kind of held down the fort allowing clark to fly all over the field. they needed the step up and guys have responded well.

 

Very good response, and all is true. But I still believe we can generate a better pass rush than what we have.Granted Silverback is just getting into playing shape. But what about Woodley, Timmons, (BIG MONEY EXPECTED TO MAKE BIG PLAYS) foote, cb blitzes, safety blitzes? These can all provide avenues to shake up the QB and have him get rid of it quicker than he wants, which will provide oppurtunities for TURNOVERS. Again there is more than one way to skin a cat, I just prefer PRESSURE AT ALL TIMES.

 

You want pressure at high risk. When sending the safety or corner is picked up on by the QB, it often leads to a big play and score. Kind of like when Mundy came up in the Denver game on the first play of OT, allowing the big play.

 

i'd like to see them practice stripping the football more then they do. they don't have to be picks.

 

Higher the risk, higher the reward, Cmon don't you have any faith in our defenders?
Dick Lebeau in teaching how to handle this situation?