Ben, Brown and Bell made a bad coach and team look good.

[antdrewjosh]

Heyward starts the play over center in a 2 point stance. He is playing like an LB. Tuitt is a 3 technique (outside shade of the guard). Baron is on his feet playing a very slight outside shade on the LG. Tuitt and Baron both attack their respective B gaps. This means Cam has to play both A-gaps. The only guy behind Cam in the middle is Edmunds who rolls outside to pick up a receiver. There is nothing behind Cam here.

So, my question would be was Cam supposed to stack, peek and shed the OC (i.e., a 2 gap control) or was he supposed to penetrate one of the A gaps. I do not know, but the fact that he starts in a 2 point stance and charges upfield immediately tells me he wasn't in a stack and shed mode. More over, Bud starts his stunt before Wilson takes off. He starts as soon as Baron is upfield. That tells me Cam expected Bud would be looping behind him which give me more reason to believe that Cam was responsible for 1, not 2 gaps. The LG passes Barron off and picks up Dupree. OC gets the better of Cam and pushes him wide. So, yea, both Cam and Dupree get beat on the play.

But, to Vader's point, this doesn't mean the scheme was sound. Two guys on the play had their hand in the dirt - Tuitt and Watt. Cam is playing like an LB shooting a gap, not a stack and shed technique. That leaves an unaccounted for Gap...rather, it relies on an LB to loop over to that lane. In order for him to do that, Barron has to attract the block of the LT and LG. He doesn't.

So, what you end up with is 5 big O linemen (that is six gaps to honor BTW) and 5 Defenders. Remember, Edwards rolled out of the middle of the field to cover. Russel saw it and 5 Bigs beat 2 Bigs (one playing LB mechanics) and 3 LBs. Schematically speaking, the numbers were on Russel's side to make a big run. I doubt it was planned, but he saw it and took it. Its 3rd and 16 with the game on the line and these coaches pulled a soft middle stunt package against a damn fine runner under center. 5 blockers on 5 defenders - six total running lanes.

Steelers Depot's Breakdown of the same play

Wilson’s 3rd down scramble. The Steelers send a five man pressure. The theory being, if you send five, you should close up all escape lanes so long as everyone does their job. The only wrinkle here is a stunt between Mark Barron and Bud Dupree. Barron has outside contain with Dupree looping inside, a stunt that’s been effective before, both with Dupree and in this game. That’s how TJ Watt notched his first sack.

But to be clear. There is no specific “contain” player. All five men are rushing. And initially, things look pretty good. Like there’s nowhere for Wilson to run to.



The issue? It’s weird to harp on him because he’s normally so steady for this team but I think it’s again Heyward providing the fatal flaw. He initially rushes center Justin Britt back but attempts to shed the block by swimming over to the offense’s left. The center pushes him down, using that natural leverage, and that creates a lane in the opposite A gap. Giving Wilson the escape hatch.



It’s easy to sit back and play armchair defensive coordinator but ideally, Heyward just walking the center back would’ve been best. It’s like run defense. One-gap schemes who want to penetrate can make big plays but if they miss, they open up a big lane. Two-gap schemes won’t get that penetration but can stack and shed when the runner makes his decision. Everyone else can hit their gap, the others don’t have two-way gos to win any way they can, but someone’s gotta just push the pocket and prevent a lane from opening up.

I think that’s what Tomlin meant by “rushing smart.”

Here’s the entire play.

Video Player

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Of course, the play didn’t end there. Wilson still went 15 yards after crossing the line of scrimmage. Dupree, now looping over (and I think he sorta broke off the stunt because he saw the guard not bite on Barron), has a chance to make the play. He’s gotta change directions and get around the left guard, I get that, but the dude’s gotta make the tackle. Critical moment of the game. Miss that tackle and Wilson has nothing but green in front of him.

Dupree may have not been the true and blue contain guy, like I said, they were all supposed to rush, but in that moment, it doesn’t matter. He’s there. Gotta make the play. Have to. And he didn’t.

https://Invalid Link - Check SN Hom...did-the-steelers-let-russell-wilson-run-free/

 

[Hoot]

5 rushers on 5 blockers. The play relies on speed (which I have said Tomlin/Bulter prioritize) and some disguise. I think they tried to bait russel into taking the A gap but Bud didn't get there but that is speculation on my part. No matter how you slice it, it is 5 defenders on 5 blockers. 3 of the defenders are likely well outweighed and there was nobody on the field drawing a double team. The numbers in the box favored the offense.

 

[antdrewjosh]

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[Hoot]

seems to me if you are not going to put a "spy" on him (which is fine), then put in at least one DL who draws a double. For example, swap Cam and Barron on the same play. Put Cam's hand on the ground. Cam is more likely to draw both the DT and the DG enough for Dupree to get over the top.

 

[SteelerFan448]

Also on Russel 3rd and 16 Heyward arguably your best defensive player gave up his gap on a 5 man rush giving Wilson a lane to shoot thru. Again Gap integrity is football 101 for his position.

This is what you sacrifice when you want your defensive linemen to become more involved getting to the quarterback. One of the hallmarks for the Steelers defense under LeBeau were the defensive linemen who held their gaps. They never needed elite talent at the position because they'd find guys who would only do their job and never be out of position. It was one of the reasons the run defense was dominant for so long.

 

[Vader]

The entire game may rest on that play. It's 3rd and 16. You know these things:

1. Wilson has already ran on the drive to pick up a 1st down and it's highly likely he'll do it again.
2. They don't want to pass the ball because it stops the clock if it's incomplete
3. Dupree hasn't done anything in 2 games. He had done nothing in this game to that point.
4. You have to stop them by any means necessary. You have to take away their best weapons and force someone else to make a play.
5. You can give up literally 13 yards and still be in good shape.
6. Your entire defense has been running 2 DL most of the day.

Now with all that knowledge you have. What type of defense are you going to run? I'm taking the ball out of Wilson's hands. I'm playing zone coverage and forcing him to run through multiple LBs and DBs. Or he's going to throw it short and we come up and make the tackle well short of the first down.

There are 2 things I absolutely can't allow to happen on this play. I can't allow a deep pass and I can't allow him to break the LOS and nothing but green grass in front of him. What defense is best for this situation? It's not rush 5 and play man behind it. That's literally the worst defense you could call for this play. Because if Wilson breaks contain the game is over. You can't allow that. Make him throw it underneath or make him run a gauntlet. Horrible defensive call.

 

[topseed]

I get it Spike. I get all the Tomlin hate. I get all the negativity. I also understand there's ample reason to feel that way. I'm just wired differently. Following the Steelers for me has always been a positive thing, helps me relax, actually forget a little bit about the 'real world.' I'm a full-on homer and I know it. It's just been my attitude and relationship with the Steelers for decades now.

It was that way during the Kordell years, through the ups and downs, including the disappointments of the past few seasons. I don't ignore or disregard the negative aspects of the team, including Tomlin's shortcomings. I'm not happy at all with Tomlin and his coaching staff, and the miserable end to our recent seasons. But I do choose to look past it, and root for the squad we have, the players we have, and yes, the coaches we have. I've called for Butler to be replaced, but as long as he's here, I'm also hoping he'll figure **** out and get this defense straightened out. Same with Fichtner, and Tomlin as the head coach. As long as they're here and leading this team, I will go out of my way to support them. The second they're gone, be it superstars like AB, Bell, or the head coach, I'll turn the page and focus on those that are here. I simply want this team to compete hard, play tough D and win games. I love the black & gold with a passion. I love the draft, free agency, the game prep leading up to the weekends, look forward to the match-ups, seeing whatever slight improvement that can be gained as the season goes on.

In summary, I'm a fool and a sucker for all things Steelers. I don't see myself changing in the foreseeable future.

Q: Do you have any messages for Steelers nation?
JuJu: Stay with us. Stay positive. Let’s keep moving forward. It’s going to be a great season. Don’t leave us out yet. We still have conference play and a lot more games to play.


When I read this, it gave me chills, kid you not. That's exactly my attitude, circle the wagons and go into battle. I want the team - now faced with the peril of losing Ben - to rally around Mason Rudolph, rally around Fitzpatrick on D, and start winning ballgames. Nothing else matters to me, as far as what happens down the road, who gets hired or fired, what players or coaches come or go. It's all about the 2019 season, as far as we can take it.

A nice feel-good post.

However, you are going to be left wanting by this shell of a team that Tomlin has finally run into the ground.

 

[Steelin]

Bannable - Neil O'Donnell comparison.

MR = Neil ODonnell without all the ***** undertones.

 

[Steelworth]

MR = Neil ODonnell without all the ***** undertones.

 

[Steelin]

It's TRUE. You know it is.

 

[steelpastor]

Bell Made this line look good, turns out, they aren't.
Been saying it all offseason, Now ALL of the talent has left the building.
Ju Ju is a solid slot reciever, James Conner is journeyman level talent.

OP... OK. Thank you for your deep thoughts, Jack Handey.

.