Great time Ron, thanks for joining me! The SSR is running good, and I made it home today by 330.
Wow this place is quiet
- Thread starter CoolieMan
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Great time Ron, thanks for joining me! The SSR is running good, and I made it home today by 330.
Wait a minute, which one is the secret, Tomlin-loving aviator Cool Shades mofo?
Cope on the left, me on the right.
It may have appeared that way, because Hilton was the only corner bringing it from the edge. But, upon further review, the Steelers blitzed their inside linebackers just as much, if not more. On several occasions, they brought Fort and a defensive back up the middle together, including the big sack that knocked Atlanta out of field goal range on their first drive.
Other notes on the defense after re-watching the game:
TJ Watt had a monster day, and created a lot of the pressure all by himself. He beat the right tackle and the back on his way to a huge 9-yard sack when the Falcons had a first down on the 13, and it was still a 6-point game. The sack/fumble/touchdown was an inside blitz, but it was Watt who made the play. Unlike Dupree, he doesn't get many garbage/coverage sacks; he beats his man and gets there on his own.
I also realized that they had TJ in coverage a bit more than I thought, probably 8-10 snaps. Not with much success, either. They like to bring a fourth rusher from elsewhere when they drop him back, but it rarely replaces the pressure he provides. I would prefer they allow Watt to do what he does best, and I like it even more when he rushes the passer in conjunction with the corner blitz.
Seems like suddenly there's a lot of guys here with a hard-on for LJ Fort. No one's talking about Tyler Matakevich. I thought he played better than Fort. Much better. He's a smart player, a solid tackler, and covered the tight end more effectively.
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So, without Hilton, they have to play to their weaknesses? They can't blitz a different cornerback?
C'mon, man.
I don't know if Fort was everywhere...but he was usually a step+ behind the tight end in coverage.
Yeah, sitting 40th in the league with only 17 combined tackles in 5 full games plus 10 minutes of overtime IS pretty ******.
I would not be afraid to say that this was their best game in a long time...I think. In anticipation of another stink fest I went to the workshop to watch the game. My wife heard some screaming in the 4th qtr and came out to check on me. She said it smelled like a cigar factory caught fire and they put it out with Jack Daniels.
Not that it's not as much fun Coolie, it just takes a while to recover.
There is a difference with Hilton and the other CBs on the blitz. Timing.
https://Invalid Link - Check SN Hom...vers-like-a-corner-blitzes-like-a-linebacker/
https://Invalid Link - Check SN Hom...vers-like-a-corner-blitzes-like-a-linebacker/
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Long time no see, Top - but I disagree.
Hilton brings the blitz with authority and often lands when he's sent in. Now, let's use your scenario of sending any other DB - check out post #84 for the facts. Dirty Red covering TE's is a NIGHTMARE - he's short and slow - he can tackle if he's in the right spot but tall and fast TE's will eat him alive EVERY DAY.
Bruh, facts ain't allowed in hur...
Good article. Hilton's presence on the field makes a pretty significant difference IMO.
I would agree that Hilton is seemingly more effective blitzing than other corners. But that's because they bring him frequently off the edge. No other CB did so in the Falcons game. He blitzed nine times, so of course he's more noticeable than anybody else, even though he only made an impact 3 times out of 9.
Showing highlights of when Hilton was pressuring successfully (a third of the time) is classic cherry-picking. Then, the best part of this biased article is the description of when these two each get picked up by the tackle: When Hilton gets blocked, "the Steelers still end up with the sack." When Sutton gets blocked, his "timing isn't quite there."
It says Sutton has blitzed seven times this year without a pressure. On at least one of those, he was blitzing up the middle against Atlanta, and his timing was just fine as he and Fort converged on Matt Ryan through the same lane.
Hey, "bruh," check this fact: The Steelers blitzed Hilton 9 times in the last game. Sutton's blitzed 7 times in 5 games.
Hilton might have slightly better timing, but he "lands" more often because of sheer volume. And despite this seemingly uncanny knack, "hur's" another fact: He's registered the same amount of sacks this season as any and all of the other cornerbacks -- ZERO.
Re-watch the game. The main guy getting eaten alive (by a pedestrian tight end) is LJ Fort. Matakevich gave up three receptions...one to the TE for three yards, and two when they asked him to try and cover a wide receiver for some reason.
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I don't have a dog in the fight - just sharing my opinion and I can see that ours differ...no problem...
Well, you're the guy who told me to check out post #84 for the facts...now that all the facts don't fully support your argument, you're just sharing your opinion. Got it.
The dog we both have in this fight is the Steelers defense, and they need to blitz more to be successful, whether it's Hilton or somebody else.
Fort did make a lot of plays in a short amount of time. I tell you he is the most athletic out of Vince and Dirty Red in comparison. I also think he hasn't had a lot of playing time, so he can adjust on his fails. Unlike Dirty red and Vince who won't be able to adjust being a step slow.
People point to Hilton as a reason the D played better last week. But it is arguably their best performance of the year. And what one difference is there in comparison? Fort played more.
Until that rook is ready, I prefer to roll with a large dose of Fort.
I like Fort, but damn Hilton makes plays. He's a game changer. Fort is a guy, and I agree, more athletic than Big red and Vince, but if Fort was playing against the Ravens, without Hilton, it would have made little difference.
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We scored 14 points. We might have lost by less, but im not sure anyone would have made a difference 8n the result.
Our underperforming D gavt the rats their first red zone failure of the year.
Imo Hilton gets more opportunities because he is more effective. No sacks but he is harrassing QBs moving them off their spots into sacks for other guys or just being a nuisance to QBs. Other CBs dont get close to the pressure he provides.
Top will not see the logic in this comment - so I'll say it - BINGO!!!
Here's my thoughts on it. You run the numbers with Hilton and Haden playing together, and this is a different team:
https://www.steelernation.com/the-dominating-duo-on-defense/
Out of pure frustration, I'm going to attempt to dispel the LJ Fort myth. Or at least try and soften the hard-on so many of you have for the guy.
First of all, Matakevich played on the vast majority of first and second downs. Fort was on the field for exactly 11 snaps in the first half:
1) Allowed a 14-yard completion to Hooper on 3rd-and-6, missing a tackle near the marker in the process.
2) 10-yard reception.
3) Sacked Ryan for a 7-yard loss. Was unblocked and Sutton was right behind him.
4) Allowed a 10-yard completion to Hooper on 3rd-and-10.
5) Hands to the face #1 by Bud.
6) 7-yard reception.
7) 7-yard sack by Heyward.
8) Allowed a 9-yard completion to Freeman on 3rd-and-11.
9) 5-yard reception.
10) Got credit for tackle, ran Hall out of bounds after a 17 yard gain.
11) Tackled Hooper after a 24-yard reception.
In the second half, he played 16 snaps. Made a nice tackle for a 1-yard gain, and jumped on a fumble in the end zone after he was nowhere near the play.
Doesn't seem much more athletic (if at all) than the other two guys you mentioned. Splash play #1, Fort was unblocked. Splash play #2, he came late on a blitz, was easily blocked (and had actually stopped), and the only reason he covered the ball is because Bud Dupree (also easily blocked and nowhere near the quarterback, as usual) couldn't pick it up on the goal line.
Whoop-de-do.
I've already stated that Hilton's timing is slightly better. Without a doubt the Steelers should utilize him when he's healthy. My point is that they shouldn't abandon the strategy if/when he isn't. It shouldn't be exclusive to one cornerback, no matter how effective he is.
Berm evidently has difficulty with this relatively simple concept.
https://Invalid Link - Check SN Hom...rts-performance-could-lead-more-playing-time/
On third down all it matters is they didn't get the first on the play you mentioned. I love how you tried to lessen the sack with the Sutton was behind him comment. I don't care if there was a missile behind him he made the play.
Sorry there is no Fort myth, it is he simply is our best option. Nobody claims he is a long term answer, right now he is the only Steelers answer at ILBer. Talk to Butler if you want a S there.
I think you are misinterpreting our hard on. It isn't a hard on for when Fort is on the field, it is a hard on when Vince Willams is off of it.
I am not going to break down every play. I pointed out flaws in two of your comments. And Depot talks on the plays he made.
So perhaps you should refocus your frustration elsewhere.
No worries you will have a chance to see some of your mentioned plays double in distance Sunday when Fort is out due to injury.
If that doesn't do it for yinz try valium I hear it works wonders.
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Nice breakdown Topseed. I do like that he is athletic enough to track down plays and help the secondary bring people down. Also a tackle after 9yds on a 3rd and 11 is a defensive win, but still you took the time to break down every play with him in there, so I appreciate your efforts!