Versatility at Linebacker Will Improve 2015 Defense

[21STEELERS21]

Steelers will go into 2015 with 7 linebackers looking for considerable playing time, plus another OLB likely selected in
the first 3 rounds of draft. That's considerable depth and I look to see them get rather creative with the blends and
matchups looking to get more sacks from the ILB's.

Look for Shazier and Timmons to get some shots at rushing from the outside and Harrison some shots at testing out
right tackles who haven't got the chance to meet him.

In deference to Lebeau's seniority, I believe Tomlin has been more hands off the defense than he would have liked to be.
I think it will be more of a partnership now, and creativity with the linebackers, could change our defensive results rather
quickly.

 

[SteelerSask2]

I've been wondering if part of the problem with Jarvis Jones isn't that he was a college outside linebacker. Traditionally we have converted smaller 4-3 defensive ends to OLB and they needed a year or two of development. It was a template that usually worked rather well. Now this guy was big and strong enough in college, but not in the pros.

 

[Vader]

Steelers will go into 2015 with 7 linebackers looking for considerable playing time, plus another OLB likely selected in
the first 3 rounds of draft. That's considerable depth and I look to see them get rather creative with the blends and
matchups looking to get more sacks from the ILB's.

Look for Shazier and Timmons to get some shots at rushing from the outside and Harrison some shots at testing out
right tackles who haven't got the chance to meet him.

In deference to Lebeau's seniority, I believe Tomlin has been more hands off the defense than he would have liked to be.
I think it will be more of a partnership now, and creativity with the linebackers, could change our defensive results rather
quickly.

Where are you getting this? Timmons played some OLB and was terrible at it. Shazier is too small to put on the outside. You really think Tomlin (who was a DC for all of one year) having his hands on the defense is better than a HOF DC like LeBeau? There is also no depth at OLB. Jones has shown nothing and there is no one behind Moats or Harrison.

 

[SteelBuckeye]

I'd like to know ... what is the "requisite" number of years to have served as a Defensive Coordinator before you are qualified to be a HC? Five? Ten? And, if you have to have served as a Defensive Coordinator for longer than a year to know anything about defense, then can we expect Butler to suck at it this year?

 

[SteelerFan448]

Where are you getting this? Timmons played some OLB and was terrible at it. Shazier is too small to put on the outside. You really think Tomlin (who was a DC for all of one year) having his hands on the defense is better than a HOF DC like LeBeau? There is also no depth at OLB. Jones has shown nothing and there is no one behind Moats or Harrison.

I was wondering the same thing. Rather than get minimal production from the outside linebackers, they'll get zero production? Doesn't make sense.

I'm beginning to hate the idea of "versatility" on this team. To me, that means you aren't good enough to do one job well, so they have to move you around. Give me a dominant player in one area rather than one who is decent in several areas.

 

[Drink IRON City]

The O'l term "to many irons in the fire", directly points to this. Knowing to many positions, negates instinctive performance.



Salute the nation

 

[SteelerFan448]

The O'l term "to many irons in the fire", directly points to this. Knowing to many positions, negates instinctive performance.



Salute the nation

Remember the training camp they were training Kelvin Beachum at every position on the line?

 

[SteelBuckeye]

Speaking of Beachum ... did they re-sign Villanueva to a futures contract?

 

[Wingman]

I'd like to know ... what is the "requisite" number of years to have served as a Defensive Coordinator before you are qualified to be a HC? Five? Ten? And, if you have to have served as a Defensive Coordinator for longer than a year to know anything about defense, then can we expect Butler to suck at it this year?

As I understand it the Vikes Defense was not that good under Tomlin and was worse than it was the year before and the year after. I have tried to do a search for that factoid and it is harder to find than an honest or intelligent politician. Maybe one of you folks that do lots of searches have a better way of finding it than I do. It was talked about on here for some time and one ranking I saw showed it tied for last against the pass.

Bill was a dc for three years. Chuck was a coach for several years and I believe a DC for the championship colts prior to arriving here. One big difference between MT and Chuck and Bill was the fact that both of those guys played in the nfl in addition to coaching. I would not be surprised if that did not have some benefit for them. Another coach who I have admired was Tony Dungee who was also a player before he was a coach, and I believe the same could be said for many others. I really do suspect that the additional time performing the job as a player helps some of these guys with their coaching careers, and I do not consider playing in college a suitable equivalent.

I do not know that there would be a minimum number maybe we will see?

 

[jitter77]

I think backups should be versatile, but starters should pretty much have a set spot. I don't see versatility at olb i see almost nothing. Harrison is the only one with starter material and who knows what's left in the tank. Butler is going to need to work some voodoo

 

[STEELERS R GR8]

I think backups should be versatile, but starters should pretty much have a set spot. I don't see versatility at olb i see almost nothing. Harrison is the only one with starter material and who knows what's left in the tank. Butler is going to need to work some voodoo

I totally agree that is what makes back ups so valuable.......versatility, what makes starters valuable.....skill, success at their position. Harrison was solid last year but can he give us a full season at his age? I am really hoping youth steps up here, maybe Zumwalt steps up in year two and we hit is big in this years draft on a stud.

 

[In Ben We Trust]

The problem as has been mentioned by most is that while they have depth, none of them are that good. It's a damn good thing we have a talented offense or else this team would be a train wreck.

 

[Drink IRON City]

The problem as has been mentioned by most is that while they have depth, none of them are that good. It's a damn good thing we have a talented offense or else this team would be a train wreck.

It's not just the players who are a train wreck!!!!! The head coach and GM need to be included into this "TRAIN WRECK".



Salute the nation

 

[Wingman]

How can that be with at least one of them not having any losing seasons? You act like you expect performance and wins in the play offs for cry'in out loud.

 

[ianv2012]

As I understand it the Vikes Defense was not that good under Tomlin and was worse than it was the year before and the year after. I have tried to do a search for that factoid and it is harder to find than an honest or intelligent politician. Maybe one of you folks that do lots of searches have a better way of finding it than I do. It was talked about on here for some time and one ranking I saw showed it tied for last against the pass.

Bill was a dc for three years. Chuck was a coach for several years and I believe a DC for the championship colts prior to arriving here. One big difference between MT and Chuck and Bill was the fact that both of those guys played in the nfl in addition to coaching. I would not be surprised if that did not have some benefit for them. Another coach who I have admired was Tony Dungee who was also a player before he was a coach, and I believe the same could be said for many others. I really do suspect that the additional time performing the job as a player helps some of these guys with their coaching careers, and I do not consider playing in college a suitable equivalent.

I do not know that there would be a minimum number maybe we will see?

In 2005 Ted Cottrell was the D-Coordinator
Vikings were 21st in Total Defense, 23rd in Points Allowed (22nd against the pass and 24th in passing TDs allowed as well as 2nd in INTs, 19th against the run and 18th in rushing TDs allowed)

2005 stats: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/min/2005.htm

In 2006 Mike Tomlin was the D-Coordinator
Vikings were 8th in Total Defense, 5th in Points Allowed (31st against the pass and 4th in passing TDs allowed as well as 5th in INTs, 1st against the run and 4th in rushing TDs allowed)

2006 stats: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/min/2006.htm

In 2007 Leslie Frazier was the D-Coordinator
Vikings were 20th in Total Defense, 8th in Points Allowed (32nd against the pass and 15th in passing TDs allowed as well as 20th in INTs, 1st against the run and 3rd in rushing TDs allowed)

2007 stats: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/min/2007.htm

 

[Wingman]

In 2005 Ted Cottrell was the D-Coordinator
Vikings were 21st in Total Defense, 23rd in Points Allowed (22nd against the pass and 24th in passing TDs allowed as well as 2nd in INTs, 19th against the run and 18th in rushing TDs allowed)

2005 stats: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/min/2005.htm

In 2006 Mike Tomlin was the D-Coordinator
Vikings were 8th in Total Defense, 5th in Points Allowed (31st against the pass and 4th in passing TDs allowed as well as 5th in INTs, 1st against the run and 4th in rushing TDs allowed)

2006 stats: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/min/2006.htm

In 2007 Leslie Frazier was the D-Coordinator
Vikings were 20th in Total Defense, 8th in Points Allowed (32nd against the pass and 15th in passing TDs allowed as well as 20th in INTs, 1st against the run and 3rd in rushing TDs allowed)

2007 stats: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/min/2007.htm

Well it looks like the opposite of what was so often stated on here as I am reading being 8th in total defense is better than 20th and 21st so it would seem that MK has no excuse for the defense being so bad unless it is all the fault of the other coaches.

 

[SteelBuckeye]

Well it looks like the opposite of what was so often stated on here as I am reading being 8th in total defense is better than 20th and 21st so it would seem that MK has no excuse for the defense being so bad unless it is all the fault of the other coaches.

It ain't a race if you don't have the ponies. It's the talent that was brought in.

 

[Confluence]

I would trade 4 clear starters (Deebo, Woodley, Farrior and Timmons) for 7 guys who can each play everywhere.

Just like signalling weakness at QB and RB, if you don't have a clear starter, you don't have a clear starter.......
perhaps with a bit of simplification, we could have Jones, Timmons, Shazier and Harrison start and the others could be excellent backups....

 

[Wingman]

I would trade 4 clear starters (Deebo, Woodley, Farrior and Timmons) for 7 guys who can each play everywhere.

Just like signalling weakness at QB and RB, if you don't have a clear starter, you don't have a clear starter.......
perhaps with a bit of simplification, we could have Jones, Timmons, Shazier and Harrison start and the others could be excellent backups....

Is this related to the first day of April? as we don't have Woodley to trade or Farrior, and if we trade Deebo, how in the hell do we have Harrison start? just not real clear on this one.

 

[21STEELERS21]

Seems to me, it's much easier for an offensive lineman if he can watch tape and learn the tendencies of one guy he
will be consistently blocking each and every play, rather than not knowing who he will be facing.

As I recall, some of the effectiveness of the Steel Curtain was the games and shifting the 4 DL's played in shifting positions
along the line.

I think something similar can be done at linebacker.

Would Harrison be more effective against a LT that has gone up against him a few times or a RT that has never seen him?

 

[deljzc]

Steelers will go into 2015 with 7 linebackers looking for considerable playing time, plus another OLB likely selected in
the first 3 rounds of draft. That's considerable depth and I look to see them get rather creative with the blends and
matchups looking to get more sacks from the ILB's.

Look for Shazier and Timmons to get some shots at rushing from the outside and Harrison some shots at testing out
right tackles who haven't got the chance to meet him.

In deference to Lebeau's seniority, I believe Tomlin has been more hands off the defense than he would have liked to be.
I think it will be more of a partnership now, and creativity with the linebackers, could change our defensive results rather
quickly.

Not sure I agree with this.

The team has oddly decided to invest in the talent on the inside and I suspect they will do plenty to try and utilize that to get pressure on the QB. But that becomes very hard if our outside guys can be blocked one-on-one.

The problem I see if I'm not sure we have anyone in the front-7 that can't be pass blocked one-on-one. And I'm not even sure we have OLB's that can't be blocked by TE's and RB's. Harrison can be effective but can his body hold up? Can teams scheme pass plays to his side when he is in the game and exploit his growing lack of foot speed?

It's going to be tough to get pressure and I'm afraid as base 4-man rushes (doesn't matter who) lack results, the team will up the 5-man and 6-man blitzes and expose a thin secondary.

That's normally the progression of teams that don't have a true pass rushing threat that demands double teams every time they line up wide.

 

[bermudasteel]

Where are you getting this? Timmons played some OLB and was terrible at it. Shazier is too small to put on the outside. You really think Tomlin (who was a DC for all of one year) having his hands on the defense is better than a HOF DC like LeBeau? There is also no depth at OLB. Jones has shown nothing and there is no one behind Moats or Harrison.

I agree w/ Vader. This seems like pixie dust and fairytales...

 

[steelhurt]

This team has done to the edge rusher and the CB positions the same as what happened to the OL. Ignored the positions until they became desperate at OLB. They got lulled to sleep with Woodley but as we all know couldn't stay healthy and got fatter. They knew James wasn't getting any younger but thought he was going to be the force he was in the past. He's not and sadly he's our best edge rusher so far. So what do we do? Reach out in desperation and run to the podium to draft the undersized, slow and weak Jarvis Jones. So now we have to hope and pray Jarvis Jones suddenly emerges in year no. three and hope James has enough gas left in the tank to go 16 games and Moats can be a big contributor whether its as a back-up or spot starter. Other than that we have a CFL guy Lemmon who may or may not make the 53 man roster, who the hell knows but his track record in the NFL isn't good so far. Too many unknowns there. We did nothing in F/A so now the onus falls on the draft and at 22 all of the stud edge rushers will be gone. What to do? Where's this rush from the outside coming from that they promised would be improved? You say from the inside with all these versatile athletes. Not hardly! Oh, I forgot that we still need a CB and maybe even two CB's as potential starters. Yikes! I'm depressed again!

 

[F83]

It looks if we want a ready to start OLB like Beasely, Dupree, Ray we will have to trade up Dupree is looking a top 15 pick now and could be going to the Saints as they need proper 34 rushers, unless they take NT/De Malcolm Brown. Options aside from trading up are stay and take Eli Harold or eithier CB Kevin Jhonson or Marcus Peters and take OLB Golden in the 2nd or Za'Darius Smith in the 3rd.

 

[slashsteel]

looks like the Steelers added yet another LBer to the mix

Steelers sign LB Shayon Green

Posted by Mike Wilkening on April 2, 2015, 10:20 PM EDT
Shayon Green, Logan Thomas
AP
The Steelers have added yet another linebacker to their roster, signing Miami (Fla.) product Shayon Green on Thursday, per the NFL’s personnel notice.

Green (6-1, 255) recorded 143 tackles and three sacks with the Hurricanes from 2010 through 2013, overcoming a pair of ACL tears in the same knee to become a 25-game starter. He went undrafted in 2014 and was not in the NFL. Green took part in Miami’s Pro Day on Wednesday, according to the Palm Beach Post.

Green played both middle linebacker and defensive end at Miami, which could allow him to get a look at inside and outside linebacker in Pittsburgh’s 3-4 scheme. His signing gives the Steelers 13 linebackers.