Looking at the rest of the season

[black and gold apex]

Reality fans, this defense will not win any games for us. Ben out, flip the coin what the record will be but the next few games would not be easy with Ben and this defense. The defense since training camp is suspect and we now have seen how bad they really are. when we score a lot it does not seem as bad but every time they are on the field with the bend don't break BS we roll the dice, field goal, TD or very bad field position. The close games as we saw in Miami will bite us in the butt with hoping the D can get off the field. To many big yards on first down, can't stop on third down no matter 3-19 or 3-2. It sucks to watch, and hoping they make a play.

 

[Bigappleyinzer]

Reality fans, this defense will not win any games for us. Ben out, flip the coin what the record will be but the next few games would not be easy with Ben and this defense. The defense since training camp is suspect and we now have seen how bad they really are. when we score a lot it does not seem as bad but every time they are on the field with the bend don't break BS we roll the dice, field goal, TD or very bad field position. The close games as we saw in Miami will bite us in the butt with hoping the D can get off the field. To many big yards on first down, can't stop on third down no matter 3-19 or 3-2. It sucks to watch, and hoping they make a play.

We need to stop blaming the defense. The defense largely kept us in the game for the first 3 quarters. Remember all of the RZ stops?

You cant expect this defense, with a bunch of rookies and backups, to sustain that level of play when :

1.) The Time of Possession is so tilted
2.) Your QB is turning the ball over and giving them a short field

If we run the ball, this defense could have won that game. Hell, if we run the ball well on Sunday we could beat the Pats too!

 

[Stryker]

Our defense is VERY different with and without Heyward.

 

[warriors42]

I actually think we win Sunday. I see 12-4 first seed and a SB victory. I have faith especially at home.

 

[chipped ham]

We need to stop blaming the defense. The defense largely kept us in the game for the first 3 quarters. Remember all of the RZ stops?

You cant expect this defense, with a bunch of rookies and backups, to sustain that level of play when :

1.) The Time of Possession is so tilted
2.) Your QB is turning the ball over and giving them a short field

If we run the ball, this defense could have won that game. Hell, if we run the ball well on Sunday we could beat the Pats too!

I couldn't agree with this more. Yeah, eventually they did break and it got sloppy, but that's gonna happen when everyone gets hurt and half your defense looks like a preseason squad. The offense did absolutely nothing and hasn't in the two losses this year averaging a whopping 9 points/game.

 

[skline00]

I think POP is spot on in his analysis. We need to take off our Stiller blinders for just a second and look at what we have right now on this team.

We have a young, inexperienced Defense with a few exceptions. The linebacking corp (backbone of Steeler teams for years) has been decimated by injuries, etc. That being said, when the "high and mighty" unstoppable Offense is putting up how many points against Philly (saw that coming) and now Miami (unfortunately a trap game that we were woefully unprepared for), what do you expect?

Drop the hate for the Patriots and Bellichek for just a second (hard to do). Do you really think he will allow his club to come into Pittsburgh, even with Landy Jones as QB, unprepared?

Unfortunately not.

Sorry for sounding so pessimistic but we need a reality check.

 

[papillon]

Unless the defense finds a way to start stopping NFL offenses (and, that includes the bending) they are spending too much time on the field, with or without Ben, IMO, each game is going to be close, the offense while potentially high powered already has had two stinker games out of 6 at that rate the Steelers can expect 3 more of them. The defense isn't winning a game for the Steelers they just aren't that good right now. Dupree won't be back (not sure he'd make a difference regardless), if he is it won't be until very late in the season, Cam is out another game at least, Shazier may be back but who knows for how long before he re-aggravates or sustains new injury, the secondary still can't tackle or catch, its not a good recipe for defense. 10-6 may be ambitious.

Papillon