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The transition from the 3-4 to the nickel / dime defense that has the DB's playing well off the LOS has been a painful one.
Players like Aaron Smith, Casey Hampton, Joey Porter, Ike Taylor, Troy Polamalu, Deshea Townsend, Brett Keisel, James Farrior, Lamar Woodley ( He was good for a few years ) , and Ryan Clark are long gone.
I listed 10 players.
All that remains from the old guard, A.K.A. Bill Cowher players are James Harrison, and he's got little left. There you have it, our starting defense in 2008 minus Larry Foote.
Any one of these players would the exception of Foote be starting or playing a major role on the current defense. You could argue Heyward and Shazier belong in the above group, but Shazier is hurt again, and Heyward is also out.
What's left is a group of down 4 lineman that lacks a Nost Tackle, and outside of Heyward has little or no ability to rush the passer.
The OLB's are a complete mess. The worst group I've even seen as a Steeler fan. And the DB's are playing off by design, to mask weakness, and have yet to record one interception in six weeks of play.
How did it come to this?
Players like Aaron Smith, Casey Hampton, Joey Porter, Ike Taylor, Troy Polamalu, Deshea Townsend, Brett Keisel, James Farrior, Lamar Woodley ( He was good for a few years ) , and Ryan Clark are long gone.
I listed 10 players.
All that remains from the old guard, A.K.A. Bill Cowher players are James Harrison, and he's got little left. There you have it, our starting defense in 2008 minus Larry Foote.
Any one of these players would the exception of Foote be starting or playing a major role on the current defense. You could argue Heyward and Shazier belong in the above group, but Shazier is hurt again, and Heyward is also out.
What's left is a group of down 4 lineman that lacks a Nost Tackle, and outside of Heyward has little or no ability to rush the passer.
The OLB's are a complete mess. The worst group I've even seen as a Steeler fan. And the DB's are playing off by design, to mask weakness, and have yet to record one interception in six weeks of play.
How did it come to this?
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