Interesting stats from this season

[insaniti]

Our beloved Steelers finished undefeated in games we allowed less than 24 points (8-0-1).

Also lead the league in most wins by one score, with 8.

If we can manage to keep this game close on Sunday, I like our chances...

 

[PolamaluFanForever43]

Our beloved Steelers finished undefeated in games we allowed less than 24 points (8-0-1).

That tells you all you need to know about our offense.

 

[FSF]

Fact is, we were built to win close games and close games only. We never expected to have a dynamic offense (making the comebacks vs. Vikings and Chargers all the more amazing).

No one will convince me otherwise that if our Defense was healthy with Tuitt/Alualu + Watt every game and Haden every game (also Minkah) -- we would have won the Division outright. No one would have gashed our defense for 200+ rushing yard days and Ben would have guided us to the wins just like he did.

And they were just one defensive stop from 2 of the greatest comebacks in NFL history. That is something that would've been another unique feather in Ben's career cap.

 

[SteelerFan448]

Fact is, we were built to win close games and close games only. We never expected to have a dynamic offense (making the comebacks vs. Vikings and Chargers all the more amazing).

No one will convince me otherwise that if our Defense was healthy with Tuitt/Alualu + Watt every game and Haden every game (also Minkah) -- we would have won the Division outright. No one would have gashed our defense for 200+ rushing yard days and Ben would have guided us to the wins just like he did.

And they were just one defensive stop from 2 of the greatest comebacks in NFL history. That is something that would've been another unique feather in Ben's career cap.

I have little doubt that would've happened as well. A little more investment in the offensive line and the offense could've produced a bit more as well.

 

[slashsteel]

I have little doubt that would've happened as well. A little more investment in the offensive line and the offense could've produced a bit more as well.

Problem is this team always seems to have their fair share of injuries. But yeah both lines need restocked. Hoping they do some of it in free agency.

 

[SteelBuckeye]

Problem is this team always seems to have their fair share of injuries. But yeah both lines need restocked. Hoping they do some of it in free agency.

I've been thinking about this DL restocking. Lolley over at DK mentioned something interesting. In August, the Steelers pushed most of Tuitt's salary from this onto next year. As if they knew he wasn't coming back this year, but would be back next year. If they resign Adams, you have Heyward, Tuitt, Loudermilk, Wormley and Adams. That's not counting that AluAlu may be back. With Loudermilk coming on the way he did and Adams being a pleasant surprise, maybe they draft a DT/DE in the early part of the draft and focus on OL in FA and draft.

 

[slashsteel]

I've been thinking about this DL restocking. Lolley over at DK mentioned something interesting. In August, the Steelers pushed most of Tuitt's salary from this onto next year. As if they knew he wasn't coming back this year, but would be back next year. If they resign Adams, you have Heyward, Tuitt, Loudermilk, Wormley and Adams. That's not counting that AluAlu may be back. With Loudermilk coming on the way he did and Adams being a pleasant surprise, maybe they draft a DT/DE in the early part of the draft and focus on OL in FA and draft.

Wild card is what do you get from two players who were out a long period of time? I know there is a possibility of reward. Just not sure it outweighs the risks. Might be different if the run D wasn't a train wreck.

 

[SteelerInLebanon]

Wild card is what do you get from two players who were out a long period of time? I know there is a possibility of reward. Just not sure it outweighs the risks. Might be different if the run D wasn't a train wreck.

Is it more or less of a wildcard than a free agent or draft pick? They all have risks and rewards along with the unknowns.

 

[slashsteel]

Is it more or less of a wildcard than a free agent or draft pick? They all have risks and rewards along with the unknowns.

Depends on the free agent. If they aren't coming off injury or significant history of , bad performance, or period of time out I would think that is a little better odds than one DE with injury and mindset issues and a NT that looks like he is close to the end.

 

[insaniti]

Alualu will be back, and he'll be just fine. He didn't shred his knee, he fractured his ankle. It's Tuitt that is the major question, will his desire to play be there when/if he returns? I really liked what I've seen from Loudermilk, and Adams has been more than a pleasant surprise. He was in the the backfield with the center a lot on Sunday, we just didn't have anyone else filling their gaps to make it worth while. That is the major issue with the run D. No one is maintaining gap integrity

 

[slashsteel]

Alualu will be back, and he'll be just fine. He didn't shred his knee, he fractured his ankle. It's Tuitt that is the major question, will his desire to play be there when/if he returns? I really liked what I've seen from Loudermilk, and Adams has been more than a pleasant surprise. He was in the the backfield with the center a lot on Sunday, we just didn't have anyone else filling their gaps to make it worth while. That is the major issue with the run D. No one is maintaining gap integrity

He is 34. Not unreasonable to think those injuries will start piling up soon. Or a drop off in play due to time missed, plus injury/age. I think somehow some way another run stopping NT needs added.

 

[FatsHolmes]

Fact is, we were built to win close games and close games only. We never expected to have a dynamic offense (making the comebacks vs. Vikings and Chargers all the more amazing).

No one will convince me otherwise that if our Defense was healthy with Tuitt/Alualu + Watt every game and Haden every game (also Minkah) -- we would have won the Division outright. No one would have gashed our defense for 200+ rushing yard days and Ben would have guided us to the wins just like he did.

And they were just one defensive stop from 2 of the greatest comebacks in NFL history. That is something that would've been another unique feather in Ben's career cap.

Lolley had an interesting bit about the run game from here :

Does rushing defense still matter in today's NFL?

I'm beginning to wonder. The Steelers' run defense was, well, atrocious pretty much from Week 6 on. The Seahawks had 144 yards on the ground in that game as the Steelers spent the day in a two-deep zone, daring Seattle to run it and making sure the ball didn't get thrown deep.

From that game on, the Steelers allowed 1,981 rushing yards in their final 12 games. That's an average of 165 yards rushing per game. And they gave up four games of 200 or more yards on the ground, including a season-high 249 to the Ravens on Sunday.

Despite that, they went 7-4-1 in those 12 games. And then went 2-1-1 in the games in which they allowed over 200 yards rushing.

The key is red-zone defense. The Steelers finished fifth in the NFL in red-zone defense, allowing a touchdown 50.8 percent of the time.

 

[FSF]

I have little doubt that would've happened as well. A little more investment in the offensive line and the offense could've produced a bit more as well.

Lolley had an interesting bit about the run game from here :

Lolley's take is pretty f'n dumb. We got crushed by the Vikings and Chargers for most of the game because we gave up gaping holes. The Bengals killed us twice. We don't have all these close finishes if we shut down the run and got back to generating the turnovers like we did in 2019/2020.

Rush defense is extremely important. Don't let the fact that the teams that we beat couldn't pass for **** distort that we'd have done a lot better if our defense was on the sideline instead of giving up the most points it has given up since 2018 (when we had a dynamic offense that could keep up with anyone in the NFL).

Fact is, the game is and will always be won at the line of scrimmage with the dirty work no one ever truly appreciates, but done by the men who are the most physical and tough there are so the pretty boys can make the highlight plays.

Ask Lolley this basic question, would you rather have Minkah Fitzpatrick playing passing lanes for INTs or making double digit tackles on RBs?

 

[FatsHolmes]

Lolley's take is pretty f'n dumb. We got crushed by the Vikings and Chargers for most of the game because we gave up gaping holes. The Bengals killed us twice. We don't have all these close finishes if we shut down the run and got back to generating the turnovers like we did in 2019/2020.

Rush defense is extremely important. Don't let the fact that the teams that we beat couldn't pass for **** distort that we'd have done a lot better if our defense was on the sideline instead of giving up the most points it has given up since 2018 (when we had a dynamic offense that could keep up with anyone in the NFL).

Fact is, the game is and will always be won at the line of scrimmage with the dirty work no one ever truly appreciates, but done by the men who are the most physical and tough there are so the pretty boys can make the highlight plays.

Ask Lolley this basic question, would you rather have Minkah Fitzpatrick playing passing lanes for INTs or making double digit tackles on RBs?

And yet, they went 7-4-1 while giving up 165 yards rushing per game.
And they went 2-1 in games they gave up over 200.

Sure, there were some really ugly ones, but those are both easily playoff-level records if extended to 16 games.

What's the goal, winning games or having Minkah Fitzpatrick in passing lanes for INTs?

 

[FSF]

Wild card is what do you get from two players who were out a long period of time? I know there is a possibility of reward. Just not sure it outweighs the risks. Might be different if the run D wasn't a train wreck.

The more I research the available data, the more I'm convinced the organization and Tuitt mutually agreed for him to sit out the year.

We have no solid answers so it is conjecture, but he's still only 28 years old and it will be like adding a top ten pick to the defense next year. He is that good.

Alualu, he's going to be 35 but so what? Although he was playing far more of a full time role this season till he got hurt, he was a part time player last year to begin with and was a very good one at that. No reason to believe he won't be again in that capacity.

 

[FSF]

And yet, they went 7-4-1 while giving up 165 yards rushing per game.
And they went 2-1 in games they gave up over 200.

Sure, there were some really ugly ones, but those are both easily playoff-level records if extended to 16 games.

What's the goal, winning games or having Minkah Fitzpatrick in passing lanes for INTs?

I'm guessing that you're not fully comprehending what the benefit of getting turnovers is. In 2020, the offense was hardly a juggernaut but it was putting up 30 points a game through the first 11 weeks because of turnovers. What happened when the injuries hit... they stopped getting those turnovers. And we dropped to 19 points per game over the final 5 weeks.

Fitzpatrick is easily our best pass defender and most capable of generating big plays via interceptions. In his first two seasons, he produced 9 INTs, 2 FFs and 3 FRs that resulted in 3 total TDs (2 pick 6s). He had 57 and 79 tackles respectively. This year: 124 tackles with 0 TDs and 2 INTs this year (granted he was robbed of a blocked FG for TD but only further proves my point because that might have outright changed the outcome of that game). When do you think he was at his best?

Imagine if the Ravens decided Ed Reed should essentially play LB and make tackles instead of FS and generating big plays, how do you think that would have worked out for them? Rod Woodson extended his career by by converting to FS and snagging 24 INTs and getting 4 pick-6s -- and his tackles were mostly in the 50-55 range.

Fitzpatrick is that kind of player and should be playing the ball hawking FS role, not focused on stopping the run because the guys in front of him aren't getting it done. If you're thinking differently, that just seems insane to me.

 

[FatsHolmes]

I'm guessing that you're not fully comprehending what the benefit of getting turnovers is. In 2020, the offense was hardly a juggernaut but it was putting up 30 points a game through the first 11 weeks because of turnovers. What happened when the injuries hit... they stopped getting those turnovers. And we dropped to 19 points per game over the final 5 weeks.

Fitzpatrick is easily our best pass defender and most capable of generating big plays via interceptions. In his first two seasons, he produced 9 INTs, 2 FFs and 3 FRs that resulted in 3 total TDs (2 pick 6s). He had 57 and 79 tackles respectively. This year: 124 tackles with 0 TDs and 2 INTs this year (granted he was robbed of a blocked FG for TD but only further proves my point because that might have outright changed the outcome of that game). When do you think he was at his best?

Imagine if the Ravens decided Ed Reed should essentially play LB and make tackles instead of FS and generating big plays, how do you think that would have worked out for them? Rod Woodson extended his career by by converting to FS and snagging 24 INTs and getting 4 pick-6s -- and his tackles were mostly in the 50-55 range.

Fitzpatrick is that kind of player and should be playing the ball hawking FS role, not focused on stopping the run because the guys in front of him aren't getting it done. If you're thinking differently, that just seems insane to me.

I get the benefits.

I'm looking at results. I'm sorry, but won-loss record is more important than turnovers. You don't get into the playoffs based on your turnover ratio. You get in based on won-loss record.

The Colts gave up 1854 (109 ypg) rush yards this season with a +14 turnover ratio.
The Steelers gave up 2483 (146 ypg) rush yards this season with a +2 turnover ratio.

One team is sitting and the other is playing.

 

[Confluence]

I get the benefits.

I'm looking at results. I'm sorry, but won-loss record is more important than turnovers. You don't get into the playoffs based on your turnover ratio. You get in based on won-loss record.

The Colts gave up 1854 (109 ypg) rush yards this season with a +14 turnover ratio.
The Steelers gave up 2483 (146 ypg) rush yards this season with a +2 turnover ratio.

One team is sitting and the other is playing.

Ben >>>>> Carson

 

[FatsHolmes]

Ben >>>>> Carson

Yes! There are more important things than rush defense. That is my (and Dale's) point.

 

[Drink IRON City]

I've been thinking about this DL restocking. Lolley over at DK mentioned something interesting. In August, the Steelers pushed most of Tuitt's salary from this onto next year. As if they knew he wasn't coming back this year, but would be back next year. If they resign Adams, you have Heyward, Tuitt, Loudermilk, Wormley and Adams. That's not counting that AluAlu may be back. With Loudermilk coming on the way he did and Adams being a pleasant surprise, maybe they draft a DT/DE in the early part of the draft and focus on OL in FA and draft.

That's a great scenerio but they had better address that OL and I mean bonafide starter or two. 1st or 2nd rnd draft top dog and high end FA.

I havent heard any statis on Alualu at all, you hear anything on how he is healing up ?


Salute the nation

Lolley's take is pretty f'n dumb. We got crushed by the Vikings and Chargers for most of the game because we gave up gaping holes. The Bengals killed us twice. We don't have all these close finishes if we shut down the run and got back to generating the turnovers like we did in 2019/2020.

Rush defense is extremely important. Don't let the fact that the teams that we beat couldn't pass for **** distort that we'd have done a lot better if our defense was on the sideline instead of giving up the most points it has given up since 2018 (when we had a dynamic offense that could keep up with anyone in the NFL).

Fact is, the game is and will always be won at the line of scrimmage with the dirty work no one ever truly appreciates, but done by the men who are the most physical and tough there are so the pretty boys can make the highlight plays.

Ask Lolley this basic question, would you rather have Minkah Fitzpatrick playing passing lanes for INTs or making double digit tackles on RBs?

ECELLENT post FSF



Salute the nation

 

[CoolieMan]

saw somewhere on the twitter feed that the Steelers were 9-0 when TJ plays at least 60% of the defensive snaps.....

I think that shows how valuable he is to the team

 

[Litos]

The rushing issue is a consequence of two thirds of your starters going down. Next season I'm all for bringing alualu but on a cheap contract for rotational purposes only, don't count on him to start. So draft a big badass on the 2nd or 3rd to start with Heyward and tuitt , with Adams, loudermilk, alualu and wormley rotating. Thats a pretty solid DLine. One of them would have to be inactive probably.

 

[wig]

In August, the Steelers pushed most of Tuitt's salary from this onto next year. As if they knew he wasn't coming back this year, but would be back next year.

My concern is that Tuitt will have been away from football for the better part of 2 years when he comes back to play. I don't see him ever being the same player after taking that much time off.

 

[slashsteel]

The more I research the available data, the more I'm convinced the organization and Tuitt mutually agreed for him to sit out the year.

We have no solid answers so it is conjecture, but he's still only 28 years old and it will be like adding a top ten pick to the defense next year. He is that good.

Alualu, he's going to be 35 but so what? Although he was playing far more of a full time role this season till he got hurt, he was a part time player last year to begin with and was a very good one at that. No reason to believe he won't be again in that capacity.

I hope for our run Ds sake you are right. But if they are going to stay the course they will still need better depth just in case both are out again. Or one doesn't come in with the same level of play.

 

[FSF]

saw somewhere on the twitter feed that the Steelers were 9-0 when TJ plays at least 60% of the defensive snaps.....

I think that shows how valuable he is to the team

9-2 actually -- losses to Packers and Bengals (one suffering from Groin injury the other he tested positive for Covid next day)