The Defense

[mdk2]

This defense is 1 or 2 highest paid defenses in the league. Filled with high round talent yet they still underachieve greatly and have for a while. They get run through and run over weekly(even with TJ) and I’m sure the past 3 have been framed as “Teryl Austin’s defense.” Week 1 was Tomlin’s defense(only when they win of course). Bottom line is this is Tomlin’s defense and has been for a long time. It’s the same garbage schemes and just blame the players when it doesn’t work.

The lack of preparation for this game coming off of 10 days is embarrassing. Penalties all over the place and just no energy until Pickett had to take care of that.

Tomlin is being exposed as a fraud. He’s relied on Ben and other HOF players to carry him year after year and it has come to an end.

 

[jitter77]

The team can just not get in sync. The offense plays bad the defense plays good. The offense picks up and does well then the D falls apart. Unfortunately I had to work today so didnt catch much of the game, but when Pickett came in the team seemed to gain some energy. We get up by 10 w/ momentum then the defense just fell apart. I really think we need to try a 4-3. We have been getting run over a few years now. Need to try something different at least.

 

[Chicoman]

I really think the Steelers needs to bench Tyson Alualu in favor of Isiah Loudermilk and they also need to activate Mark Robinson (OLB) to give him a chance because our depth at OLB with Malik Reed & Jamir Jones combining for 2 tackles today and 0 pressures is just downright pathetic! Robinson can't be much worse from what I've seen since Watt went down in Week 1.

 

[SteelerFan448]

The top paid defense doesn't hold true without Watt. Also, they play their backups way too much. I don't even know who No. 48 is and he was on the field when the Jets were ready to score at the end of the game. Are these guys not conditioned well enough to play a full game or what?

 

[Skott]

Bad coaching

 

[6Rings]

Do you guys realize that the defense has been crap since Dick Lebeau and all of Cowhers players left or retired? The offense has not had a consistent identity since Cowher as well. Tomlin is a cancer that has spread throughout the organization. Taking it down to mediocrity.

 

[SteelerFan448]

Quit subbing so much. Way too many guys who are third stringers play in crucial situations. I just read an article about the Steelers using more defensive lineups than any other team in the league: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports...-austin-mike-tomlin-2022/stories/202209300041

When you have backups playing so often, the defense isn't going to play as well.

 

[Skott]

Why does the Steelers D continue to fall apart In the 4th?

I’ve read from
Multiple places how they are gassed..

How can pro athletes has so routinely

 

[mdk2]

That’s BS. Look no further than the coaching for the reason. Even if it is conditioning, that’s on the coaches too. More specially Mikey T.

 

[LeXX75]

Flores call the D not Tomlin

 

[slashsteel]

Quit subbing so much. Way too many guys who are third stringers play in crucial situations. I just read an article about the Steelers using more defensive lineups than any other team in the league: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports...-austin-mike-tomlin-2022/stories/202209300041

When you have backups playing so often, the defense isn't going to play as well.

Exactly. This is the biggest issue on D. Worm isn't a good run defender and Spillane looks lost in coverage. Or slow.whichever you prefer.

 

[SteelerSask2]

If you cannot see the difincey of Devin Bush you are simply blind. He does nothing in run and drops 7 yards and sits and covers no one in pass. I don't give a **** what Robinson is. It is physically impossible to be worse than Devin Bush. It's simply impossible. He is a complete waste of a jersey and helmet on game day..

 

[Fiji Mariner]

1) Go with more 3 DL sets-
Sub Wormley ONLY on obvious pass situations…more Leal and Loudermilk as the primary subs
2) Flip the ILB situation to be Spillane (or preferably Robinson) on 1st downs and run situations and Bush as the dime backer.
If Bush can’t cut it as dimebacker go Edmunds with Norwood (until Kazee active) at S
3) Find someone that actually wants to play OLB opposite Highsmith in Watt’s absence.
Activate the new guy Anehih (sp?), whatever it takes…somebody gotta step up
4) Let Flores call plays, MT no longer gets a mic on game days with his headset…just gets to listen to someone more competent and learn how it’s done
5) More man coverage and press the damn WRs on 3rd and long…bring some damn pressure too, aggressive mentality. If ya get burned so be it, Eliminate the passive soft zones that get picked apart
6) Get an identity, toughness and aggression you know not sitting back on the heels and living in the house of fears
7) Fire Canada so the offense can start doing their part and help just a tad with some TOP and scoring drives
8) If Tomlin keeps blinking, fire his *** too

 

[stillerfaninfl]

Go Pens!

 

[Sarge]

The Steelers actually won the TOP today, albeit by two seconds. Two long, late drives killed that defense. Not sure where everything went wrong, but I bet the play calling had plenty to do with it. Jets didn’t run the ball for **** until the last drive, and if you ask me, that stuff doesn’t just happen.

 

[jitter77]

Run the 4-3 w/ Jack as the MLB. No point in having Bush or Spillane out there. Let some other guys get a shot. What we have now isnt working. Definitely agree w/ being more aggressive on 3rd and long. Give up way too many easy completions. Also agree w/ letting Flores run the D. Tomlin couldnt strategize his way out of a wet paper bag.

 

[diver]

Run the 4-3 w/ Jack as the MLB. No point in having Bush or Spillane out there. Let some other guys get a shot. What we have now isnt working. Definitely agree w/ being more aggressive on 3rd and long. Give up way too many easy completions. Also agree w/ letting Flores run the D. Tomlin couldnt strategize his way out of a wet paper bag.

How do we know he isn't? Maybe Flores isn't that good, just like McDaniel, Patricia, Joe Judge, etc. We think that just by sniffing the same air Belechick does they will be good. Also, we believe the lies the Steelers tell. They just don't have that much talent.

 

[Fiji Mariner]

…Or they have some talent and the coaching is Piss poor

Seems like we have some talent

Obviously the coaching is piss poor so I’m gonna lean towards the more obvious thing

 

[madinsomniac]

3 changes…
The first is to play more with a true NT and use an extra safety in the place of a ilb… you still get the same effect, but the NT eats more blockers keeping the smaller safety cleaner

The second is to switch out coverages in long down and distance and 3rd downs and quit exclusively playing cover 2… too predictable

The last is Blitz more on 3rd down… especially with Watt out

 

[BLITZ]

I really think the Steelers needs to bench Tyson Alualu in favor of Isiah Loudermilk and they also need to activate Mark Robinson (OLB) to give him a chance because our depth at OLB with Malik Reed & Jamir Jones combining for 2 tackles today and 0 pressures is just downright pathetic! Robinson can't be much worse from what I've seen since Watt went down in Week 1.

I thought Robinson was an ILB

 

[SteelerSask2]

I'll tell you one other thing for certain. Any DC worth his salt has a defense in 4th and 7 or whatever that was that is give up a TD or end the game there. And odds are a lot better for end the game. Instead they rushed 4 and got bled.

 

[BLITZ]

They could be 4 and 0 if Watt didnt get hurt. last 3 games Steelers defense has been ran over in the 4th.

 

[Steelr4evr]

Can't really fix it other than creativity with the pass rush. If they're going to use a 34, then get a real NT. If not switch to a 43 because this **** is no longer working. It gets shredded.

I've never seen a team do so horrific on 3rd& long

 

[Steeltime]

I'll tell you one other thing for certain. Any DC worth his salt has a defense in 4th and 7 or whatever that was that is give up a TD or end the game there. And odds are a lot better for end the game. Instead they rushed 4 and got bled.

I hear 'ya. Steelers kept running the SAME exact look - 2 DL, 2 OLB rushing, Spillane strong side covering, Jack weak side dropping and covering, dime look with Maulet, 2 high safeties, CB's get short outside, safeties get deep middle, LB'ers get short middle.

The rush takes time to beat 5 and often 6 blockers. QB lets the WR run a crossing pattern. Since CB is defending the deep/outside first, he is behind the WR when in man. If zone, the WR is open over the middle. TE goes middle as well.

Receiver(s) open over the middle, easy throw, completion. Wash, rinse, repeat. Again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again ...

 

[Steeltime]

They could be 4 and 0 if Watt didnt get hurt.

Could be 0-4 without a blocked extra point.