Kudos to the D

[Litos]

Last game they actually got matty ice under pressure, made a pick 6 and held a pass happy O to 20 points (and I don't care if Julio Jones wasn't there). the running game from Atlanta was a non factor until late in the game when Jackson found some running lanes on prevent D.
I saw tuitt active, Heyward all around the place, Vince Williams and Sean Spence made some nice plays, there even was a Shazier stop on a 3rd and long.
The Defensive Backs kept close to their assignments and even Mitchell was in the correct place through most of the game.

The team only needs above average play from the D to be a serious contender

 

[south dakota STEEL]

Need Harrison back for playoffs...he will give all.

Yep. I'm ready for the bashing...

 

[slashsteel]

Would have been more impressed if Jones would have played....................

But a win is a win is a.............

 

[steelerscotty]

Timmons made a huge play to help force the 1st Falcons FG. We was blitzing and when the pass came out he came all the way back to make the tackle on the reciever, stopping him short of the 1st down.

 

[Litos]

Timmons made a huge play to help force the 1st Falcons FG. We was blitzing and when the pass came out he came all the way back to make the tackle on the reciever, stopping him short of the 1st down.

I didn't mention him cause he always does a couple of those per game. Though he did badly miss an open field tackle, but I won't call him a bust for that (like many people around here do)

 

[Atlsteelers]

Timmons & Heyward are the MVP of this defense and Both have been playing at a high level for the last 2 years. Timmons is playing multiple positions in each game and still making plays.

 

[Litos]

Timmons & Heyward are the MVP of this defense and Both have been playing at a high level for the last 2 years. Timmons is playing multiple positions in each game and still making plays.

Gay has a different opinion on that

 

[Wingman]

Timmons is a solid player and has managed to be very durable, that is I think his biggest asset. He is not a great inside backer he misses lots of plays by taking himself out of them many times. With that being said I would not call him a bust just a good player.

 

[Drink IRON City]

Gay has a different opinion on that

Would that be a gay opinion????? LOL Couldn't resist. There is arguement in a few ways, for all three mentioned players. I do think Timmons is the MVP. Like it or not.



Salute the nation

 

[Shane Falco]

Gay has a different opinion on that

It just seems like Gay is having a coming out party

 

[black and gold apex]

The defense will have to show up these next two weeks,. We need to get off the field earlier on defense and keep our offense from having such crappy field position.

 

[awboatguy]

Gay has a different opinion on that

Agreed. 4 INTS and three of those pick 6s.

 

[awboatguy]

It just seems like Gay is having a coming out party

Gay is coming out! IDK. I find that funny.

 

[obxsteeler]

I didn't mention him cause he always does a couple of those per game. Though he did badly miss an open field tackle, but I won't call him a bust for that (like many people around here do)

I always thought our 2 best ILB's since we went 3-4 were Kirkland and Farrior. Based on their career stats and Timmon's 6 years as a starter he ranks ahead of both in tackles,sacks,passes defensed,forced fumbles,and ints. Many people aren't very good evaluators.

 

[Drink IRON City]

I always thought our 2 best ILB's since we went 3-4 were Kirkland and Farrior. Based on their career stats and Timmon's 6 years as a starter he ranks ahead of both in tackles,sacks,passes defensed,forced fumbles,and ints. Many people aren't very good evaluators.

Many here see the 1st year injury, then the second year position change. Both low production years, thus the "bust" tag. He has been pretty solid and asked to do a lot more than just his position.


Salute the nation

 

[topseed]

Not to interrupt the lovefest here, but I can't get excited about the defense allowing Atlanta to gain over 400 yards, and average 7.1 yards per play (20% over their season average) without their best player.

The Falcons scored with over ten minutes left to make it a seven-point game, and only had one three-and-out possession after that. There was no "prevent D" at all in this game, so I'm not sure what you were watching.

 

[SteelBuckeye]

One of the Falcons' scores was greatly aided by the refs. I saw Willie Gays pick six, Williams timely 3rd down tackle, Sean Spence attacking the hole and making a key stuff and the defense playing at least average defense for this day and age against an offense that is still explosive. It wasn't a GREAT day for them, but it was a GOOD day. Which is about all that you can expect from the 19th ranked defense in the league. They made stops when they absolutely had to. It would be nice if they consistently made stops throughout the game, but I think everyone here knows that this is not a defense that is capable of that.

 

[ark steel]

One of the Falcons' scores was greatly aided by the refs. I saw Willie Gays pick six, Williams timely 3rd down tackle, Sean Spence attacking the hole and making a key stuff and the defense playing at least average defense for this day and age against an offense that is still explosive. It wasn't a GREAT day for them, but it was a GOOD day. Which is about all that you can expect from the 19th ranked defense in the league. They made stops when they absolutely had to. It would be nice if they consistently made stops throughout the game, but I think everyone here knows that this is not a defense that is capable of that.

It is telling that many of us expected worse, even with Jones out. Overall, we kept a team who usually scores pretty well to less than 3 TD's. We only won by 7, but we were within scoring range when we just ran out the clock. The Falcons were able to score more points against AZ and GB. On a pts/game basis AZ is way better than us and GB is marginally better. Jones had a lot of yards and a TD in both of those games, though. You would expect him to be able to have gotten those 7 points. Douglas was able to have a pretty good game, similar to what he had vs. AZ.

With Gay/McCain/Blake, who are started the season as our 3/4/5 CB's, we ain't doing too terribly.

 

[Drink IRON City]

You see, thats the thing. A lot here expect the defense of the 90s, the league made sure that isn't happening. Your NOT going to get a shut down "D" performance out of our defense. They did show that we can get some "stops", which is what we need to get the ball to our "O" . I thinl ouir guys played a fairly good game, despite the 400yrds. I'll take this all day as long as they get stops and can hold the scoring down.



Salute the nation

 

[Steelerfan]

You see, thats the thing. A lot here expect the defense of the 90s, the league made sure that isn't happening. Your NOT going to get a shut down "D" performance out of our defense. They did show that we can get some "stops", which is what we need to get the ball to our "O" . I thinl ouir guys played a fairly good game, despite the 400yrds. I'll take this all day as long as they get stops and can hold the scoring down.



Salute the nation

You need more quotation marks in your posts, LOL.

 

[Litos]

Not to interrupt the lovefest here, but I can't get excited about the defense allowing Atlanta to gain over 400 yards, and average 7.1 yards per play (20% over their season average) without their best player.

The Falcons scored with over ten minutes left to make it a seven-point game, and only had one three-and-out possession after that. There was no "prevent D" at all in this game, so I'm not sure what you were watching.

I said in the OP that all we need is above average and that's what they did, 400 yards? that's pretty normal on today's NFL and as ark said, less than 3 TDs is a good day day for the D.

So lovefest? not even close, real expectations considering the talent on roster? that's what we are talking about here

 

[Stryker]

We didn't let up any 50yd bombs, so that's a plus!

 

[Wingman]

I always thought our 2 best ILB's since we went 3-4 were Kirkland and Farrior. Based on their career stats and Timmon's 6 years as a starter he ranks ahead of both in tackles,sacks,passes defensed,forced fumbles,and ints. Many people aren't very good evaluators.

I think another thing that plays into stats as a team player are the stats of those around him. The biggest issue with the tackle stats is it does not take into account where they occur. There are also no stats that show the wiffs and misses that give up long gains when he shoots the wrong gap and is the only person in the area he runs to.

Stats are not everything. Timmons is not a bad player. I would not pick him over Kirkland or Farrior, I have watched them all play. Steelers have had some very good linebackers over the years. One other thing that adds to the number of tackles a defense makes is how long they are on the field. A defense that puts up lots of 3 and outs will not have as many tackles or sacks or other stats as one that lets offenses convert and get another series of downs and keep moving down the field. Think of it three plays and punt you only get 3 tackles at best. Let the team go 80 yards in 16 plays and score you get 15 tackles. 15 tackles is a better stat but not a better defense.

 

[obxsteeler]

I think another thing that plays into stats as a team player are the stats of those around him. The biggest issue with the tackle stats is it does not take into account where they occur. There are also no stats that show the wiffs and misses that give up long gains when he shoots the wrong gap and is the only person in the area he runs to.

Stats are not everything. Timmons is not a bad player. I would not pick him over Kirkland or Farrior, I have watched them all play. Steelers have had some very good linebackers over the years. One other thing that adds to the number of tackles a defense makes is how long they are on the field. A defense that puts up lots of 3 and outs will not have as many tackles or sacks or other stats as one that lets offenses convert and get another series of downs and keep moving down the field. Think of it three plays and punt you only get 3 tackles at best. Let the team go 80 yards in 16 plays and score you get 15 tackles. 15 tackles is a better stat but not a better defense.

I watched them all-in person from 72 till 96 and from then till now on TV. The stats I looked at included sacks, passes defensed, ints, and forced fumbles. So if we write all those off we have my impression vs yours and I think he's far better than "not bad".

 

[Wingman]

I watched them all-in person from 72 till 96 and from then till now on TV. The stats I looked at included sacks, passes defensed, ints, and forced fumbles. So if we write all those off we have my impression vs yours and I think he's far better than "not bad".

My point was there is nothing wrong with Timmons I just don't consider him great or someone that offenses game plan around. I think his best quality is he is almost always there on the field and rarely hurt. Tell me how many times he has been an all pro vs the others. How many times was he chosen as the best in the game at his position. I would love to see an upgrade over Timmons but that is after a lot of other things get upgraded. I also did not recommend writing those stats off just not treating them as a greater factor than they are. And if you wish to think that Timmons is our best ever linebacker in the middle go ahead.