Why is anyone surprised?

I’m not the least bit surprised by the outcome of the game. It is fairly representative of the way the whole season has gone and actually pretty similar to the way this team has played the last three seasons.

What I am surprised about is why don’t more NFL teams build around the run game. There really aren’t too many teams in the NFL built to stop the run consistently anymore. I know everyone wants to blame Trubiscky for this loss because of the three interceptions but I honestly didn’t have a problem with it. The guy was being aggressive which he was faulted for not being aggressive enough early in the season. I get it had he not thrown those interceptions maybe we win but if he is playing more conservative then maybe he doesn’t make half of those down the field throws. Perhaps we don’t even score without him being aggressive.

There are many fingers to point one of which is the special teams and field goal block but then again not many teams have a 6’8” guy on their field goal defense. To me the real blame is the defense. Time and time again we can’t stop offenses when we need too nd we struggle to play for 60 minutes. The Defensive line outside of Cam is very average, The MLB’s are terrible against run and the defense as a whole does not play schematically sound football. I saw Edmonds get sucked in on an outside run where he was responsible for outside contain. My Kid learned that in 4th grade.

IN this game without the threat of a true passing team or even RPO once the third string QB come in we still struggled to stop the run. Our MLB’s should be meeting the RB in the gap instead they are being sealed off five yards beyond the line of scrimmage. The Steelers have to commit to change either schematically or personnel wise or both in the offseason to fix the MLB and DL against the run.

This game confirmed to me our defense needs way more offseason work than our offense does at this point.

The Steelers identity has changed. The defenses first priority used to always be to stop the run. I understand the league is pass happy now and a dynamic QB and WR’s can be difference makers but can’t you build a defense to handle the pass and the run?

 

16 points

 

We were given a slimmer of hope.

Should have known better.

 

It's December. We're all waiting for them to Unleash Hell.

 

What kills me is the so-called realist fans. They tell us bad we are every chance they get, but for some reason they seem to be the most upset when what they predicted happens.

 

16 points didn't matter. It was enough. The defense needed to make a stop when everyone in the world knew that the Ravens would be running the ball. Third string QB and they needed to stop the run. They did not. That's failure. It was a low scoring game and our D needed to step and make one stop. They didn't.

 

Don't you know? Since FF, nobody, and I mean nobody, runs the football anymore! It's a passing league now. Teams are stupid for drafting a #1 RB! Etc, etc.

 

Which #1 rb did the ravens use?

 

We lost this game because of 3 interceptions and to some degree a blocked fg. You can sit there and blame the defense to your heart’s content, but that doesn’t make it true

 

Tough to know if it is scheme or talent or both. Runners routinely get 5-6 yards, and receivers are too open on many plays. Often looks like our defenders don’t quite know their assignments. Maybe our players are dumb. Maybe our coaches are dumb. Maybe just a dumb year.

 

There are 31 other teams........

 

This loss may be due to those interceptions, but our defense has been flawed for a while. Often they can’t seem to step up and seal the game.

 

16 points

 

O ok

 

Two drives at the end of the game and they could not stop them. That’s what you need from your D when your QB is hurt and the offense is struggling. And no takeaways. They just don’t have “it”.

 

I'm not really blaming the defense. It was a team loss. However the defense had a chance to stop a team down to their 3rd string QB. They KNEW the were going to run an failed to stop a completely 1 dimensional team. As I said that is a failure. The team the coaching staff all of it sucked. The situation of the game dictated our defense needed to stop the run We couldn't do it

 

The Standard... N that...

 

I have seen this happen year after year, with diff players... so I'm going with scheme/ coaches... There seems to be 1 common denominator over the years

 

Which do you think the defense is more proud of, giving up 16 points, or being rushed on for 215 yrds ?

 

I recall the Lebeau years it was believed it took new players a few years to grasp his scheme. Whatever our current scheme is, our players either aren’t grasping it or can’t execute it. Or the scheme is just bad.

 

I agree with the OP. The defense thoroughly and absolutely sucks. We need #1 shutdown CB, Dline and ILB.....and a better SS.

A defense that can't stop a 2nd and 3rd string QB is not a good defense. Dobbins owned the Steelers today.

 

Deebo mentioned that on the footballing podcast with Ben. Said only one who started as a rookie and played well was kendrell bell who farrior told what to do every play.