What would you change in our Defense?

I'd say the 4-3 is more of a Steeler tradition than the 3-4. Perhaps we've used the 3-4 more, but the Steel Curtain teams used the 4-3...enough said.

 

Indeed it was

 

Interesting discussion...
I read the same article in the Tribune, before coming on here, and had the same reaction as the poster who first quoted it (Steeler5859, or whatever, sorry, I forget)...
If the OPPONENT can see it, why can`t we?!?
I dunno.
It`s almost like heresy to me, to suggest that the game has "passed LeBeau by"...
That old man has forgotten more about football, than most of these kids have ever learned, doesn`t seem appropriate, to me, because I think he is still sharp. I doubt he has forgotten much!
Stubborn?
Maybe, but I also remember hearing our players talk about all the new "wrinkles", he had in store for the defense the last 2 years.
Just because I don`t see them, as an average fan on Sundays, or he might have had to change them, because of injuries, doesn`t mean, that he is not still on the cutting edge of the game.
I`m sorry. I just have a hard time believing that if he was "worn out", or thought he was not helping the team, he wouldn`t acknowledge that himself, and give way to a better DC.
I DO have a problem with giving the recievers so much cushion at the line, but that seems to be his philosophy.
He stresses "keeping the play in front of you", and not giving up the big plays.
For the most part, it works.
When we miss tackles, and individuals get burned in coverage, I put that on the players, not the "scheme".
I can already hear certain posters saying, "OH, you mean it`s EXECUTION, not PLAYCALLING?!? If it was ARIANS, you would be calling for his head, but it`s O.K., for LEBEAU?!?"...
Well.... YEAH....
Bruce had his track record, over several teams, and plenty of different groups of players,..
And so has LeBeau... I think his record is LIGHT YEARS better than Bruce`s...
As it is, I dunno... There is a problem on defense.
We rarely gave up any runs, or leads late in the game, in the past.
Less than 5 years ago... I was HAPPY if we got a team in third and long, or we had the lead, and the other team had to score to win.
NOW either of those situations make me nervous.
Maybe because of rule changes?
Again, I don`t know. One thing I have noticed, and this has been while Dick has still been in charge of our defense, is that we no longer "gang tackle"...
Less than 5 years ago, on any given play, it seemed that if the 1st player missed a tackle, there was at least one more, if not 2, ready to back him up.
Now, it seems that more of our players are "by themselves"... as in, if they miss the tackle, their next closest "helper" is at LEAST 5-10 yards from the missed tackle.
I`m not sure if this has to do with more complex routes being run, more misdirection plays, more "specialization", in today`s game, or what.
Maybe our players just don`t have the "nose for the ball", or the "instincts" to see where the play is going?
Maybe they have all just been "coached" to worry about their own assignments, and not "try to do too much", lest they get burned by the one man they were supposed to be watching?
Again... I DON`T KNOW!
But, I wouldn`t want anyone besides LeBeau to be in charge of our D, until he says it`s time to quit. I believe he has the humility to know if he`s the problem, and the players love him!!!
As to some of the other comments... Troy is to small to be an ILB, Keisel is too big to be an ILB, Harrisson would probably be a good ILB...
I think we do have the potential to be a good 4-3 team... I kinda expected it when Tomlin took over, and I could see it happening after LeBeau leaves.
Bottom line, all I would change in our Defense, is putting the corners closer to the recvrs at the L.O.S, and finding a way to get more pressure on the qb. Maybe go back to some stunts from the linemen, where they "twist", or "slant", to generate pressure from the line. Harder to do from a 3-4, than a 4-3.
I would say blitz the ILB`s a bit more, but we`ve done that before, and the quicker passers, pick us apart before we get to them.

 

That we are having this discussion is positive. As I have stated numerious times
in other threads, before the season even started, blah,blah,blah. HOW DO YOU
GENERATE A PASS RUSH. This is the single most important factor in football TODAY,
With the rule changes favoring the offenses its a challenge ALL coordinators and head coaches
must deal with. Why are NY Giants Superbowl champs?

 

the biggest thing i would change in our defense is that i would take the leash off the d-linemen.......... it isn't enough to have them just occupy blockers........ our defense was most dominant during the times that people like keith willis was getting double digit sacks and ray seals or aaron smith were getting 7-9 per. yr., giving opposing offenses more than just the lbers to scheme against..... it simply made our defense that much more dangerous.......... let the entire front 7 loose and watch the domination!!!!!!!