• Please be aware we've switched the forums to their own URL. (again) You'll find the new website address to be www.steelernationforum.com Thanks
  • Please clear your private messages. Your inbox is close to being full.

Biggest Needed Defensive Improvements

Steeler Nation

Steeler Nation

Administrator
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Apr 7, 2014
Messages
2,542
Reaction score
4,985
Points
93
Defense is the key to many Super Bowl winning teams and after the injury to Ryan Shazier last season the Steelers defense quickly became a middle to bottom tier unit. Poor tackling, poor judgement, and a propensity for giving up big plays down the stretch were a big reason for the downfall of the 2017 […]

More...
 
Meh, they were middle to bottom tier even before Shazier got hurt.
 
As I watched the replay of Thursday night's game I kept saying please don't let this be the defense we are going to field during the season. No QB pressure, no pass coverage, middle of the field wide open piss poor tackling. Who were those guys?
 
Forget about yards against stat this year....we will certainly be in the bottom ten or possibly five in that category...
Thats how physically weak our defense is....

This defense will only be successful if it can produce a couple of "splash" plays per game...and somehow keep opponents touchdowns against us somewhat limited...:uncomfortableness:

Our explosive offense will be our best defense this season..
 
run D needs to much better hopefully Hargrave got stronger to hold down vs physical interior OL like jags and Rats have as he was a turnstile vs. them. I am realling hoping McCullers shows something, if he can at least play 3/10 of what Marcus Stroud similar frame he should be used in pure run base sets as well as goal line.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MTC
A problem that 32 teams could face, but the Steelers definitely have their share of.

Missed tackles.

That is the biggest thing needing cleaned up IMO.
 
Jesus if we are pinning our hopes on the improvement of Daniel McCullers lets start talking about next years draft. How he made the team last year is beyond me. He has 16 tackles overa four year career. People improve year 1-2, maybe 2-3. Sorry after 4 you are what you are and he is a tub of goo. The better question is why wouldn't this defense be great. The loss of Shazier is big, but you should have two pro bowl quality players out of three on the Dline. Watt could be great, Dupree should be good. Williams is good. They have plenty of option next to him. The back end of the defense should be as good as we have seen Since Troy, Ike and Clark. Maybe not as talented, but much deeper and in today's NFL you need depth for the sub packages.
 
SteelerSask said:
Jesus if we are pinning our hopes on the improvement of Daniel McCullers lets start talking about next years draft. How he made the team last year is beyond me. He has 16 tackles overa four year career. People improve year 1-2, maybe 2-3. Sorry after 4 you are what you are and he is a tub of goo. The better question is why wouldn't this defense be great. The loss of Shazier is big, but you should have two pro bowl quality players out of three on the Dline. Watt could be great, Dupree should be good. Williams is good. They have plenty of option next to him. The back end of the defense should be as good as we have seen Since Troy, Ike and Clark. Maybe not as talented, but much deeper and in today's NFL you need depth for the sub packages.
Click to expand...



Scheme?
 
I share optimism for this "D". Could they be better............ Consider we ONLY saw them in the 1st PRE-SEASON game and some starters were NOT present and consider NO game plan installed either. Are they going to be world beaters... I doubt it but they don't need to be. All they need to be is better than last year and I think they have the means to be just that.




Salute the nation
 
They need to learn how to tackle. More pressure on the quarterback. Fix those two things and the defense will be top 10
 
Problem I have is every Eagle TE didnt seem to have anyone near them for most of the game. Same old same old. Miscommunication as always feel has stated? Maybe. Same thing has been going on though for 10 plus years.
 
Dupree rush the qb like Woodley in his prime
 
Drink IRON City said:
I share optimism for this "D". Could they be better............ Consider we ONLY saw them in the 1st PRE-SEASON game and some starters were NOT present and consider NO game plan installed either. Are they going to be world beaters... I doubt it but they don't need to be. All they need to be is better than last year and I think they have the means to be just that.




Salute the nation
Click to expand...

I'm optimistic too. I think the secondary looks improved.
The front 7 --- still so many question marks. But when Heyward and the like get some reps. I won't make a judgement yet.
 
It's just the first preseason game. Vanilla d. Lots of zone everyone getting a look. It will change. I'm really optimistic about our d backs. New coach lots of athletes, I think they may be our best feature in the defense.
 
slashsteel said:
A problem that 32 teams could face, but the Steelers definitely have their share of.

Missed tackles.

That is the biggest thing needing cleaned up IMO.
Click to expand...

Man and it's a shame because poor tackling has been a facet of the Tomlin era. Something needs to be done to fix this!
 
Tommy8Maddox said:
Man and it's a shame because poor tackling has been a facet of the Tomlin era. Something needs to be done to fix this!
Click to expand...
Yeah I agree my opinion on that is how about the players need to step up and start playing like a strategic unit, and stop people from pointing the finger at Mike Tomlin, it's not the coach it's the players that are given a chance of a lifetime and aren't taking it serious and not seizing the opportunity that has been put in front of them, this group of guys on the defense has to come together and show the world why they believe that they deserve to be in the NFL, because personally I haven't seen it, and here we are again talking about the same poor tackling and poor communication defense , I don't know about you but if I was part of this group that would not fly with me, time to man up and play like you really want to be in the position that Mr Tomlin put you in to succeed in your life and job, I would go above and beyond for this coach, and the organization that is willing to take care of me and my family, where is the validation ? This defense needs to show the team and it's fan base that it is taking their job serious and playing with fire in them, do they realize that everyone is pointing the finger at them and using them as the only reason they can't win a championship??? The sad part is that is true, now if that alone isn't enough to make this unit go out and prove all the media and Fan's wrong then this defense is just bad like the media and Fan's around the league are saying they are!!!!! I don't know about you but I wouldn't want to be remembered as the reason this team could not win a championship!!!!!! After all is said and done I am and always will be a Steelers fan , I really hope that at least one of the players see this post, because I believe if they do see it , it could hopefully put a reality check in to the defense because us Fan's see and hear a lot of things about a defense that is usually why the Steelers win championship s not the reason they usually fail to be champions !!! To the defense all I have to say is ' play like champions""!!!!!! Let's go Steelers!!!!! From a die hard fan make it happen!!!!!

Sent from my Z899VL using Steeler Nation mobile app
 
Bigfoot said:
Yeah I agree my opinion on that is how about the players need to step up and start playing like a strategic unit, and stop people from pointing the finger at Mike Tomlin, it's not the coach it's the players that are given a chance of a lifetime and aren't taking it serious and not seizing the opportunity that has been put in front of them, this group of guys on the defense has to come together and show the world why they believe that they deserve to be in the NFL, because personally I haven't seen it, and here we are again talking about the same poor tackling and poor communication defense , I don't know about you but if I was part of this group that would not fly with me, time to man up and play like you really want to be in the position that Mr Tomlin put you in to succeed in your life and job, I would go above and beyond for this coach, and the organization that is willing to take care of me and my family, where is the validation ? This defense needs to show the team and it's fan base that it is taking their job serious and playing with fire in them, do they realize that everyone is pointing the finger at them and using them as the only reason they can't win a championship??? The sad part is that is true, now if that alone isn't enough to make this unit go out and prove all the media and Fan's wrong then this defense is just bad like the media and Fan's around the league are saying they are!!!!! I don't know about you but I wouldn't want to be remembered as the reason this team could not win a championship!!!!!! After all is said and done I am and always will be a Steelers fan , I really hope that at least one of the players see this post, because I believe if they do see it , it could hopefully put a reality check in to the defense because us Fan's see and hear a lot of things about a defense that is usually why the Steelers win championship s not the reason they usually fail to be champions !!! To the defense all I have to say is ' play like champions""!!!!!! Let's go Steelers!!!!! From a die hard fan make it happen!!!!!

Sent from my Z899VL using Steeler Nation mobile app
Click to expand...

Love your passion man, I really do, but paragraphs are your friend.
I don't think it's an effort problem but rather a mix of talent and coaching.
 
Last edited:
Can't tackle was obvious against the Eagles. We had no pass rush so our poor secondary will really be in the spot light to see just how bad they are. To many times last year we gave up way more third and longs which caused the offense to have to go 90 yards to many times. This raised its ugly head already in first preseason. I was really wanting to see an improvement on defense . Hasn't been addressed and will be what hurts this team again.
 
black and gold apex said:
Can't tackle was obvious against the Eagles. We had no pass rush so our poor secondary will really be in the spot light to see just how bad they are. To many times last year we gave up way more third and longs which caused the offense to have to go 90 yards to many times. This raised its ugly head already in first preseason. I was really wanting to see an improvement on defense . Hasn't been addressed and will be what hurts this team again.
Click to expand...
If the secondary sucks they will be in trouble but the secondary wont suck. They have two 1's at corner. A Two and a good FA at safety. They have a 1 and a two for subpackages and a surprise FA for subpackages. They will be good or great.
 
Seriously guys, We're putting in a new Money backer D with a ton of DBs.

Heyward, Watt, Dupree didn't play. Was Tuitt on the field? We're not going to get much pressure without those guys...
 
The jerboni's that played Inside Backer for us in the game...is what I'm mainly concerned about...

Also..Edmund and Burnett's tackling was not as advertised.
 
SteelerSask said:
If the secondary sucks they will be in trouble but the secondary wont suck. They have two 1's at corner. A Two and a good FA at safety. They have a 1 and a two for subpackages and a surprise FA for subpackages. They will be good or great.
Click to expand...

Jarvis Jones was a 1st round pick and Jason Worilds was a 2nd round pick.
 
Burns, Haden, Burnett, Davis, Hilton, Edmunds, Sutton. I gotta be honest. I dont see too many Uncle Jarvis' or Jason Worilds in that crew. Plus I think they have an actual teacher as a positional coach. Im feelung pretty good about this unit.****
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top