• 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.

4-0 but...

M

mdk2

Well-known member
Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2014
Messages
5,519
Reaction score
4,556
Points
113
The defense is just not that impressive to me. In particular the secondary. They looked worse than ever today with no name players killing them.

I know it’s been said that QBs are throwing away from Minkah but he’s been nowhere to be found and his “tackling” looked bad today. At some point, he needs to be moved around the field or he needs to find ways to make plays if he truly is a great player.

Last season the defense played a lot more aggressive cause they were basically playing with house money. This season with Ben back, it looks like they’re waiting for teams to make mistakes instead of causing the mistakes. The defense just doesn’t have the same look.. hopefully they get their **** together cause our offense is looking solid.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Tomlin has ALWAY played to not lose, that’s why they lose so often to ****** teams. I would love to see him change his mindset to, let’s go out and take it to them for 60 minutes, and don’t ever let up. If they score 60-70, so be it. **** that, let’s try to win without embarrassing them, bullshit.
 
just like I posted a couple of weeks ago....3-0 with room to improve

the same issues are there.....except Claypool has vaulted up the chart.....damn he looked good

but the secondary is still shaky...they gotta get that **** straightened out

but 4-0 for the first time since I was 13....I'll take it
 
I think the secondary did ok until they got that 17 point lead.
That is what is worrisome is they let off on defense.

Maintain that killer instinct all four quarters this team can go far
 
We haven't played a good O yet. If Chubb is back this week, Cleveland has the potential to light us up. I have no idea what they are doing with Minkah but he is absolutely non-existant. I know teams may not throw his way but come on man! He is nowhere to be found.
 
For me there is no but,

they played who was on their schedule and are one of the few teams undefeated. Yeah the secondary needs work. Like some have pointed out there is plenty of time to work on that and win in the process. No more bye weeks. So there will be weekly focus to detail. I think they should see what Justin can do and mix Sutton in there as well. But overall I am reasonably happy. Especially with knowing the pressure Philly can provide and seeing the O0line respond well. As this team goes as Ben goes we can see an explosive offense developing right before our eyes. I am stoked about that.

Just win baby!
 
mdk2 said:
The defense is just not that impressive to me. In particular the secondary. They looked worse than ever today with no name players killing them.

I know it’s been said that QBs are throwing away from Minkah but he’s been nowhere to be found and his “tackling” looked bad today. At some point, he needs to be moved around the field or he needs to find ways to make plays if he truly is a great player.

Last season the defense played a lot more aggressive cause they were basically playing with house money. This season with Ben back, it looks like they’re waiting for teams to make mistakes instead of causing the mistakes. The defense just doesn’t have the same look.. hopefully they get their **** together cause our offense is looking solid.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Tomlin said last year, he plays defense differently when Ben is at QB, i see what he means. Not sure why we aren't allowed to have an aggressive defense and Ben

Sent from my SM-A515U using Steeler Nation mobile app
 
I'm a bit more optimistic about the defense. For starters the team is leading the NFL in sacks having played one less game than most of the league. Outside of a missed tackle on Miles Sanders the Steelers run defense is tops in the league. The Steelers defense has produced a handful of turnovers this far. So there are plenty of positives with the defense. The offense has complimented the defensive efforts and produced winning outcomes. Very few blown assignments by the Steeler secondary w/o preseason games to workout communication and situational football. So a young guy had a breakout game vs the Steelers. I'd say it was more about the advantage they had in the matchup because some of those catches the Steeler DBs couldn't of been any more covered. The ball placement and hands of the WR were perfect on most occasions. Besides it wasn't like the coaches had this guy on film and anticipated his abilities. Go Steelers and excited to see them be 4-0 in my lifetime.
 
Coryea said:
Tomlin said last year, he plays defense differently when Ben is at QB, i see what he means. Not sure why we aren't allowed to have an aggressive defense and Ben

Sent from my SM-A515U using Steeler Nation mobile app
Click to expand...

I think that is a bit of a myth now. Last year we had playmakers making plays on D and creating turnovers. That has continued to this season as well. We're averaging 2 TOs a game on D. That is how you win in this NFL. Create pressure, force TOs, and have more possessions for your O.

The perfect thing that Ben is doing this year that he never has done in the past, is he's not forcing balls (mostly to AB), and hits everyone. It's the reason why his TD/INT ratio is 10-1!
 
Is our defense good enough to win a game where the offense scores 20 or less?

An intersting point. Ben and the offense need to score lots of points. This year we would be 1-3 if you give the Steelers 20 points in each game. Considering the level of completion we played, a victory with 20 points or less is going to not going to happen often.

What if anything can be done to fix the defense?
 
This defense is loaded with talent, I don't believe the quality of players we're fielding is the problem. It's the schemes, and to be more specific, the 3rd and long schemes are what's killing us. Like that 3rd and 12 in the 3rd quarter, we should've been loading the box, instead we only rush a few guys and as a result, Wentz has all day to scan the field and fire a completion down field. Dont give the QB time to survey the field. This has been going on all season. Butler and/or Tomlin need to make adjustments there.
 
Go back and look at the 70's teams. We beat many teams ,, but we rarely scored 30. Our defense was vaunted, but games were rarely blow outs. The other guys want to win too. Take the win. Improve where you need to. We all see the issues. The real coaches do too.
 
If we won 49-0 , 41-3 , 35-6 and 33-7 in the first four games there would still be people on this board saying the OFFENSE is in decline and the DEFENSE is allowing scores to inflate on a consistent basis. both would technically be true statements ......

but we would still be no further ahead than where we sit currently at 4-0 ......... ON to CLEVELAND...... Go Steelers.....:fencing:
 
I ran an analysis—used basic algorithm & binary to check QB efficiency against us — figure out net efficiency.

Baseline: Ben is averaging 66% efficiency per passing play & 226 net effective yards/game.

Just high level trend analysis—no one can argue that points against us have come in clusters;
Eagles 2 TDs/2 drives (3rd/4th)
Texans 3 TDs/5 drives (1st half)
Broncos 2 TDs/3 drives (3rd/4th)

We’re coming apart during chunks of game—and teams are putting TDs up quickly.

Those stretches—QBs are 70-80% effective on passing plays.

Here’s the good news. These are only 3-4 drives all game. No one can run on us. And majority of the game—we’re owning QBs. Like Watson in 2nd half... Watson netted 28 effective yards — with 34 yard completion. The rest of half they literally went backwards.

I’ve a theory that our scheme & pass rush are so good (literally setting NFL records) — teams have us on tape & are scheming to attack formations. I don’t think it’s coincidence that many of the successful drives are resulting from very short offensive possessions.... Snell one run & fumble vs. Denver. Ebron fumbled catch vs. Eagles.

Since we blitz more than anyone, Might it not be good idea to do 3 man rush & drop guys back—just to give different look?


Sent from my iPhone using Steeler Nation mobile app
 
Steelers1356 said:
This defense is loaded with talent, I don't believe the quality of players we're fielding is the problem. It's the schemes, and to be more specific, the 3rd and long schemes are what's killing us. Like that 3rd and 12 in the 3rd quarter, we should've been loading the box, instead we only rush a few guys and as a result, Wentz has all day to scan the field and fire a completion down field. Dont give the QB time to survey the field. This has been going on all season. Butler and/or Tomlin need to make adjustments there.
Click to expand...

Already posted on this. Imported data, ran a basic analysis using algorithm & results show opposite to what you’re saying.

I’ll admit it wasn’t detailed — but high level just to get a better feeling on what they’re struggling with. It’s clear the struggles are coming in clusters vs. scattered throughout the game.

It strikes me odd that we’ve come close to blowing 14-point & 17-point leads. But we just cruised by coming back from 14-3 deficit with ease.

This team is not far off—gotta tighten up some things schematically.


Sent from my iPhone using Steeler Nation mobile app
 
Coach said:
An intersting point. Ben and the offense need to score lots of points. This year we would be 1-3 if you give the Steelers 20 points in each game. Considering the level of completion we played, a victory with 20 points or less is going to not going to happen often.

What if anything can be done to fix the defense?
Click to expand...

Coach you’re an idiot. Buying into the idiots who I have no clue why they have jobs blabbing on TV.

“The Steelers haven’t scored 30 points in 24 games”. — God it’s CNN & MSNBC level intellect.

26-26-28 points in 1st 3 games. All 3 of which the Steelers ran clock out inside opponents 30 yard line. Conner was 3 yards short on scoring vs. Broncos to hit 33. Claypool was a step away from hitting 35 vs. Texans. The points weren’t needed. Instead the knee is taken inside the 3 yard line.

24 games—16 last year with worst QB play in league. End of 2018; the screw job vs. Saints not withstanding; the AB & Lev Bell meltdown was in full effect.

It’s like that dumbass reporter saying to Claypool 2 of last 3 times Steelers went 4-0 they won the Super Bowl. Not just imprecise but inaccurate

The ONLY 2 times Steelers ever started 4-0 previously was 78-79.


Sent from my iPhone using Steeler Nation mobile app
 
FSF said:
Since we blitz more than anyone, Might it not be good idea to do 3 man rush & drop guys back—just to give different look?
Click to expand...

They did that on the Heyward sack. I didn't see it much but it was enough to confuse Wentz then. Vilma was also saying that Tuitt saved a touchdown with his sack as Wentz was winding up for a bomb down the sideline to a wide open receiver but the cameras didn't catch the wider view.

The other thing that surprised me is how often Devin Bush seems to have a very basic responsibility. If the RB stays in to block then blitz; if he leaks out in a receiving route then the back is his responsibility to cover. Seemed to work well enough except he isn't that great as a blitzer.
 
FSF said:
Coach you’re an idiot. Buying into the idiots who I have no clue why they have jobs blabbing on TV.

“The Steelers haven’t scored 30 points in 24 games”. — God it’s CNN & MSNBC level intellect.

26-26-28 points in 1st 3 games. All 3 of which the Steelers ran clock out inside opponents 30 yard line. Conner was 3 yards short on scoring vs. Broncos to hit 33. Claypool was a step away from hitting 35 vs. Texans. The points weren’t needed. Instead the knee is taken inside the 3 yard line.

24 games—16 last year with worst QB play in league. End of 2018; the screw job vs. Saints not withstanding; the AB & Lev Bell meltdown was in full effect.

It’s like that dumbass reporter saying to Claypool 2 of last 3 times Steelers went 4-0 they won the Super Bowl. Not just imprecise but inaccurate

The ONLY 2 times Steelers ever started 4-0 previously was 78-79.


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

Read the question. On a day when the Steeler offense scores 20, is the defense good enough hold the other team below that mark?. Using history, the answer is not likely, idiot.

I would NOT use the first four games as a benchmark for the offense. The Steelers have beaten poor opposition.
 
Coach said:
Read the question. On a day when the Steeler offense scores 20, is the defense good enough hold the other team below that mark?. Using history, the answer is not likely, idiot.

I would NOT use the first four games as a benchmark for the offense. The Steelers have beaten poor opposition.
Click to expand...

Of course you wouldn’t—cuz you’re a dumbass.

Forget the fact the offense returned back 3 Pro Bowl skill players that essentially missed 2019 & added a TE & drafted a big WR.

One of which is a Hall of Fame QB.

But it’s “poor opposition” — as if it matters. This ain’t college football & style points don’t matter.


Sent from my iPhone using Steeler Nation mobile app
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top