• 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.

Fixing the Defense

SteveA

SteveA

Regular Member
Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2014
Messages
3,250
Reaction score
3,256
Points
113
So, the WHOLE FOOTBALL WORLD & this forum has been relentless in acknowledging the defense needs to be addressed.

We make a move & now everyone wants to tank & get a QB or Tua and toss the season.

I for one applaud the Front Office for making such a decisive move as we need playmakers.

Tua is gonna go #1, so forget about him. We drafted Mason for such a time as this...

I have heard it said one man cannot change a defense, but one man's mindset can influence the whole team. Hoping Fitz brings that.

Let's go Steeler Curtain, shut em down & let's get some wins. Frisco is going down
 
Last edited:
I’d be more inclined to think he was going to improve the defense if he were replacing at least Butler as a coach. Preferably, Tomlin and Butler.

I hope he proves me wrong and is a great player, I’m just not a huge fan nor was I when he came out of college. I personally, would not have given away a potentially high 1st rd pick.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I think everyone that doesn't like the trade is thinking that our #1 we just traded for a safety, might very well be a top 10 pick. I'm one of the ones that doesn't care for the trade. I wouldn't have been much in favor of it if Ben was healthy. I don't think he's that good, maybe he'll come here and prove me totally wrong, and I'm hoping that happens, but before we traded for him we had 7 first round picks on this defense, and 2 2nd rounders among the starters, and we are still getting gashed. It's the guy in charge that makes this trade no good for me. Tomlin can't run a defense, as we are seeing, so we are going to throw another 1st round pick on the the wall and hope Tomlin can make it stick? I'd rather keep that pick, see where we are after the season, and hopefully grab a stud WR to go along with JuJu.
 
Fixing the Defense :

1) Fire Butler
B) Fire Tomlin
IV) Hire Xs and Os Teacher type Coaches
 
As was pointed out on an ESPN article - Coach T and Butler now have 8 guys who were former 1st round picks.

They couldn't hold a team under 30 with 7 1st round picks, but I'm pretty dang sure they can shut teams out with 8 1st round picks...

(It aint the players.)
 
wig said:
As was pointed out on an ESPN article - Coach T and Butler now have 8 guys who were former 1st round picks.

They couldn't hold a team under 30 with 7 1st round picks, but I'm pretty dang sure they can shut teams out with 8 1st round picks...

(It aint the players.)
Click to expand...

If they do not change the concepts that other teams have been exploiting for so long then it will be for nothing.

I'd rather they go all out on exotic blitzing& man coverage than to sit back in that ******* zone getting picked apart.

For the love of god smash them on the crossing route and cover the te.

Tackling? Whomever started teaching that shoulder bump with the lamo arm tackle should be shot.

You could go back to the 70's defense and see textbook form tackling. Jack Lambert is the poster child for this simple,but seemingly lost art.

It can still be done.
 
  • Like
Reactions: FSF
The tackling (or lack thereof) shown against the Seahawks was embarrassing. So many different culprits too.
 
Steelr4evr said:
If they do not change the concepts that other teams have been exploiting for so long then it will be for nothing.

I'd rather they go all out on exotic blitzing& man coverage than to sit back in that ******* zone getting picked apart.

For the love of god smash them on the crossing route and cover the te.

Tackling? Whomever started teaching that shoulder bump with the lamo arm tackle should be shot.

You could go back to the 70's defense and see textbook form tackling. Jack Lambert is the poster child for this simple,but seemingly lost art.

It can still be done.
Click to expand...

"Same leg, same shoulder"-Chuck Noll

The 2DL scheme makes us an extremely soft defense, and it allows to many offensive bigs to get to the second level way to easy and it gives the QB a clean pocket to step up into, teams can easily double Cam or Tuitt.
 
Coryea said:
"Same leg, same shoulder"-Chuck Noll

The 2DL scheme makes us an extremely soft defense, and it allows to many offensive bigs to get to the second level way to easy and it gives the QB a clean pocket to step up into, teams can easily double Cam or Tuitt.
Click to expand...

Wait til they see what Hargrave does when he actually plays consistently. I could see patriots get him next year, he will wreak havoc in a 3 or 4 man front.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
mdk2 said:
Wait til they see what Hargrave does when he actually plays consistently. I could see patriots get him next year, he will wreak havoc in a 3 or 4 man front.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I saw them use all 3 twice Sunday, there could've been more, but one resulted in a sack, and the other was a run for 0 yards.
 
I'm glad for the Fitz pick-up but for those who think major change is coming................................... good luck with that. Until the constant is changed, this team will go nowhere.





Salute the nation
 
wig said:
As was pointed out on an ESPN article - Coach T and Butler now have 8 guys who were former 1st round picks.

They couldn't hold a team under 30 with 7 1st round picks, but I'm pretty dang sure they can shut teams out with 8 1st round picks...

(It aint the players.)
Click to expand...

Cannot agree more...

1. Cam Heyward has been as good - probably better - than any Defensive Lineman since the 1970s, which is saying something. But am I the only one who feels like maybe he would have been more dominant of a pass rusher in a different scheme?

2.Jarvis Jones -- the biggest bust of the Steelers first round picks this millennium. Drafting as if too desperate to hold on to the old system that most teams know exactly what was coming.


3. Ryan Shazier -- Simply put, the best defensive player the Steelers drafted since Troy Polamalu, though to be fair, it did take a few years for him to develop into it. And unfortunately as a football player, he is done. I am happy he can walk again.

4 Bud Dupree -- He'll be gone next year, but am I the only one who thinks potential was there? He seems to be out of position and trying to do too much. Can't help but wonder what Coach Noll would have taught him.

5. Artie Burns -- A lot of people call him a bust; but they desperately needed a CB with size and so many were already taken off the board before him. He was raw and seemed to do well with simpler scheme of man-to-man. Cannot help but wonder if developed a little more like Ike Taylor would have learned more and improved as Ike had ups/downs to start his career.

6. T.J. Watt -- The guy doesn't need coaching, it was a miracle he landed with us drafting #30.

7. Terrell Edmunds -- Jury is still out - but track record of developing talent is not encouraging.

8. Devin Bush -- Way to early to judge. Asking him to be Ryan Shazier part II this early is a lot and seemed like its what they are doing.

Non-Drafted:
9. Joe Haden -- Is a silent baller, doesn't make the big plays/interceptions but Defense is just so much better with him in there.
10. Mark Barron -- There is a reason he's on his 3rd team.
11. Minkah Fitzpatrick -- wait and see


There is too much raw ability out there that they simply cannot be this weak as a unit. It's coaching, scheme, discipline etc.

There has to be a better way to deploy what we've got.
 
It’s obvious based on my user name I’m both a Steelers fan and Ohio State. The point I want to call out is look at Ohio State the last few years or even last year alone. They were getting slashed with big plays and broke 100+ year old records for yards given up. Wasn’t tackling well, looked lost and slow yet the team is filled with 5 star talent. This year they replaced the entire defensive coaching staff except Johnson after fans and players complained. This year it’s night and day different. For the most part the same players that couldn’t tackle last year and seemed like busts are looking all pro and playing like a top 4 team in the nation.

As many of you have pointed out the Steelers have 1st round talent all over the defense yet we play lost, slow and confused. We hear communication as an issue in numerous games this season alone. It’s time for a house cleaning on the coaching staff like Ohio State performed last year. How can the patriots have the best defense in the league year in and year out and play above their level and we have 8 first round picks on defense and can’t get off the field? Coaching!!! Something we haven’t seen since Dick L. left.
 
Tomlin & Company do not coach guys up. They cannot develop talent. If Noll was greatness, they are preschool. There is a reason there are guys with "pedigree" but no results. There is no mechanism there for results to improve unless the player takes it upon himself. Other teams have real standards, and the coaching to make it happen. The Steelers haven't had that in years.
 
The defense feels like the offensive line before Munchak. They had a ton of talent, but could never put it together until a quality coach came and helped develop them into an elite unit. I can almost guarantee with the right coach this defense would be one of the best in the league.
 
SteelerFan448 said:
The defense feels like the offensive line before Munchak. They had a ton of talent, but could never put it together until a quality coach came and helped develop them into an elite unit. I can almost guarantee with the right coach this defense would be one of the best in the league.
Click to expand...

Amen to that. Keith Butler is an amazing LB coach, a job he could easily slide back into, if he's humble enough to deal with a demotion. This D needs a coordinator that brings it all together, where there's no question if it's 'his D', or 'Tomlin's D'. With a quality D coordinator that's never a question, as far as who's D it is. I mean, come on. This is the NFL, with so many quality coaches out there...
 
Roy92040 said:
I just wonder if Shazier could play a bigger part of mentoring/coaching?


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

Some if it is the scheme. You can't coach an OLB to cover a 170 Lbs WR. It just can't happen. You can't coach 2 DL to take on 5 OL. Yes, there is some coaching that needs to be done. But a vast majority of our problems are scheme based.
 
Tibs said:
Amen to that. Keith Butler is an amazing LB coach, a job he could easily slide back into, if he's humble enough to deal with a demotion. This D needs a coordinator that brings it all together, where there's no question if it's 'his D', or 'Tomlin's D'. With a quality D coordinator that's never a question, as far as who's D it is. I mean, come on. This is the NFL, with so many quality coaches out there...
Click to expand...

Keith Butler pretty much was demoted to OLB coach last offseason.
 
As most said its not the players, the schemes are garbage. It is honestly mind-blowing to me how professional football coaches can not see how the 2 DL is not working. They just keep doing it over and over and over....The fact that coaches or players can not shift basic assignments is also head-scratching. Of course it is also on the owners for letting this continue. The fact Butler was not let go makes me believe that Tomlin has a big hand in the defense, DBs / LBs are not developing and the schemes are bad.
Time to say bye bye to Tomlin and Butler
 
Vader said:
Some if it is the scheme. You can't coach an OLB to cover a 170 Lbs WR. It just can't happen. You can't coach 2 DL to take on 5 OL. Yes, there is some coaching that needs to be done. But a vast majority of our problems are scheme based.
Click to expand...

More or less talking about our young inside linebacker. He looked a little out of place against Seattle.


Sent from my iPad using Steeler Nation mobile app
 
Vader said:
Some if it is the scheme. You can't coach an OLB to cover a 170 Lbs WR. It just can't happen. You can't coach 2 DL to take on 5 OL. Yes, there is some coaching that needs to be done. But a vast majority of our problems are scheme based.
Click to expand...
Bingo, was watching highlights of one of Tuitt sacks, he was singled up on, but Cam was doubled by the guard and center. Throw Hargrave out there and none of them are going to be doubled

Sent from my XT1585 using Steeler Nation mobile app
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top