http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/6765469-74/yards-defense-steelers#axzz3DOSfJWFQ
Steelers not receiving big returns on their offseason investments
By Alan Robinson
Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014, 7:57 p.m.
The Steelers spent approximately $137 million during the offseason adding free agents, locking up their rookie class and re-signing veterans such as Marcus Gilbert and Cortez Allen to multi-year contracts.
What do they have to show for it after two games? A 1-1 record, an ongoing inability to stop the run, more protection issues for Ben Roethlisberger and a big step backward from the 6-2 finish of last season.
It's too early for Art Rooney II, Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin to say this is money poorly spent. There's too much of the season remaining and, as the 2013 season proved, early impressions aren't always final impressions.
But what must be worrying the Steelers is all those players who were brought in to make them younger, make them faster, make them harder to defend and make them better aren't doing it yet on either side of the ball.
Based on Pro Football Focus' grades, not one player added or re-signed is enjoying a plus-grade seasons, except for kicker Shaun Suisham.
And several of those brought in are playing much worse than the players they're replacing.
“We can say we're young,” cornerback Ike Taylor said. “At the end of the day, we're all out there on the field. We've got to make it happen.”
Offense
RT Marcus Gilbert — Signed a $30 million contract partly so the Steelers could retain this line for the foreseeable future. But he has already allowed four sacks and two QB hurries — yet he's still grading out higher than four others on offense (WR Justin Brown, TE Heath Miller, RG David DeCastro and LG Ramon Foster).
RB LeGarrette Blount, WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR Lance Moore, RB Dri Archer — Moore (groin) missed both games and Archer (ankle) missed one. Blount and Heyward-Bey haven't played enough — 30 snaps between them — to make much of a difference.
The offense has gained 804 yards, well up from the 472 yards through two games last season, yet has produced only three field goals in the last six quarters.
Defense
NT-DE Cam Thomas — Brought in to push NT Steve McLendon and provide depth at a thin position, he is easily the low-graded player on defense. Thomas and DE Cam Heyward are grading out well below average against the run.
S Mike Mitchell — Ryan Clark's replacement is expected to create turnovers, but he isn't doing that yet. And like everyone else in the starting secondary, he's earning minus grades all around.
CB Cortez Allen — Signed a $24.6 million contract on the eve of the opener, but he's not playing up to the level of that deal yet. He missed four tackles against the Ravens and, on Baltimore's go-ahead opening drive, drew a 23-yard pass interference penalty and a 15-yard face mask penalty.
LB Ryan Shazier — The first-round draft pick is the key addition on defense and, while he's showing the anticipated ability to roam from sideline to sideline, he's struggling in pass defense and while engaging offensive linemen. He has already allowed nine completions for 92 yards.
“We've got to tackle better. Make corrections,” said inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons. “We've been here before. We're a team that responds quickly.”
LB Arthur Moats — Moats isn't playing enough yet inside or outside (only 12 plays) to contribute.
DE Stephon Tuitt — Expected to inject a speed element into the defensive line, he's played too little (24 snaps) to make any impact. By comparison, re-signed DE Brett Keisel has played 93 snaps, despite grading out poorly against the run.
Then again, nearly everyone on defense is.
The Steelers' run defense has allowed 340 yards rushing, 236 yards more than it had through two games in 2010.
“But we're going to get better,” Heyward said. “We've got a long week (before playing Carolina on Sunday) to really look ourselves in the mirror and really get better.”
And it's not as if all that rushing yards allowed is reducing opponents' passing yards; the Browns and Ravens threw for 372 yards, only 25 yards fewer than the Titans and Bengals gained during last season's 0-2 start.
“But let's just say there is no reason to panic,” Taylor said.
Alan Robinson is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at arobinson@tribweb.com or via Twitter @arobinson_trib.
Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/6765469-74/yards-defense-yet#ixzz3DRZtH8JD
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Steelers not receiving big returns on their offseason investments
By Alan Robinson
Sunday, Sept. 14, 2014, 7:57 p.m.
The Steelers spent approximately $137 million during the offseason adding free agents, locking up their rookie class and re-signing veterans such as Marcus Gilbert and Cortez Allen to multi-year contracts.
What do they have to show for it after two games? A 1-1 record, an ongoing inability to stop the run, more protection issues for Ben Roethlisberger and a big step backward from the 6-2 finish of last season.
It's too early for Art Rooney II, Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin to say this is money poorly spent. There's too much of the season remaining and, as the 2013 season proved, early impressions aren't always final impressions.
But what must be worrying the Steelers is all those players who were brought in to make them younger, make them faster, make them harder to defend and make them better aren't doing it yet on either side of the ball.
Based on Pro Football Focus' grades, not one player added or re-signed is enjoying a plus-grade seasons, except for kicker Shaun Suisham.
And several of those brought in are playing much worse than the players they're replacing.
“We can say we're young,” cornerback Ike Taylor said. “At the end of the day, we're all out there on the field. We've got to make it happen.”
Offense
RT Marcus Gilbert — Signed a $30 million contract partly so the Steelers could retain this line for the foreseeable future. But he has already allowed four sacks and two QB hurries — yet he's still grading out higher than four others on offense (WR Justin Brown, TE Heath Miller, RG David DeCastro and LG Ramon Foster).
RB LeGarrette Blount, WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR Lance Moore, RB Dri Archer — Moore (groin) missed both games and Archer (ankle) missed one. Blount and Heyward-Bey haven't played enough — 30 snaps between them — to make much of a difference.
The offense has gained 804 yards, well up from the 472 yards through two games last season, yet has produced only three field goals in the last six quarters.
Defense
NT-DE Cam Thomas — Brought in to push NT Steve McLendon and provide depth at a thin position, he is easily the low-graded player on defense. Thomas and DE Cam Heyward are grading out well below average against the run.
S Mike Mitchell — Ryan Clark's replacement is expected to create turnovers, but he isn't doing that yet. And like everyone else in the starting secondary, he's earning minus grades all around.
CB Cortez Allen — Signed a $24.6 million contract on the eve of the opener, but he's not playing up to the level of that deal yet. He missed four tackles against the Ravens and, on Baltimore's go-ahead opening drive, drew a 23-yard pass interference penalty and a 15-yard face mask penalty.
LB Ryan Shazier — The first-round draft pick is the key addition on defense and, while he's showing the anticipated ability to roam from sideline to sideline, he's struggling in pass defense and while engaging offensive linemen. He has already allowed nine completions for 92 yards.
“We've got to tackle better. Make corrections,” said inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons. “We've been here before. We're a team that responds quickly.”
LB Arthur Moats — Moats isn't playing enough yet inside or outside (only 12 plays) to contribute.
DE Stephon Tuitt — Expected to inject a speed element into the defensive line, he's played too little (24 snaps) to make any impact. By comparison, re-signed DE Brett Keisel has played 93 snaps, despite grading out poorly against the run.
Then again, nearly everyone on defense is.
The Steelers' run defense has allowed 340 yards rushing, 236 yards more than it had through two games in 2010.
“But we're going to get better,” Heyward said. “We've got a long week (before playing Carolina on Sunday) to really look ourselves in the mirror and really get better.”
And it's not as if all that rushing yards allowed is reducing opponents' passing yards; the Browns and Ravens threw for 372 yards, only 25 yards fewer than the Titans and Bengals gained during last season's 0-2 start.
“But let's just say there is no reason to panic,” Taylor said.
Alan Robinson is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at arobinson@tribweb.com or via Twitter @arobinson_trib.
Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/6765469-74/yards-defense-yet#ixzz3DRZtH8JD
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