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Heard an interesting statement from Ray Fittipaldo who cover the Steelers.

Coryea

Coryea

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He was on a sports talk show in Pittsburgh yesterday. The host asked him, so who is calling the defense, who do we give credit to and who do we blame? Tomlin, Butler, Austin? Ray said from what he understands is Butler calls 1st and 2nd downs, Tomlin makes the 3rd down calls.

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Coryea said:
He was on a sports talk show in Pittsburgh yesterday. The host asked him, so who is calling the defense, who do we give credit to and who do we blame? Tomlin, Butler, Austin? Ray said from what he understands is Butler calls 1st and 2nd downs, Tomlin makes the 3rd down calls.

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Surely that can't be true. I don't think that is a good way to run a defense. And, if it is the case, then Tomlin needs to stop calling third down because on Sunday, it was an unmitigated disaster.
 
Sarge said:
Surely that can't be true. I don't think that is a good way to run a defense. And, if it is the case, then Tomlin needs to stop calling third down because on Sunday, it was an unmitigated disaster.
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I thought the same thing, but a guy that covers the team, is there daily, and is always asking questions during Tomlins presser, I can't see him saying this and putting his name to it unless he's pretty sure

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Sarge said:
Surely that can't be true. I don't think that is a good way to run a defense. And, if it is the case, then Tomlin needs to stop calling third down because on Sunday, it was an unmitigated disaster.
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Lol........never mind just on Sunday. I would say one of the most frustrating things about this defense for years is the amount of 3rd down and long conversions they give up.
 
That doesn’t make sense. A team can pick up a first down on any down. Why would a coach entrust and delegate only 2 of the downs to an assistant?
 
ZonaBurgh said:
Why, indeed.
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These are the guys who brought us the NE and Jacksonsville Dunkirks, so it makes a lot of sense. Tomlin has his hands on it wherever defenses crumble.
 
There has to be some level of truth to the story, there is NO WAY that Fittipaldo runs that out there without reliable sources.
 
Tomlin is too in love with cover 2schemes that offenses eat up these days..But to be fair, a lot of those conversions have been with really great plays... qbs are throwing at coverage a lot... the dbs must make them pay
 
Steelmann said:
Lol........never mind just on Sunday. I would say one of the most frustrating things about this defense for years is the amount of 3rd down and long conversions they give up.
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For about as long as SBWCMVLT has been coaching.......................... maybe???





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Well if that is the truth, Tomlin needs to come up with a different plan.. How many times third and long and we give it up easly.
 
ZonaBurgh said:
3rd and 18 always makes me nervous.
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Hell, 3rd and 40 would make me nervous, our DB's would back peddle and our safeties would play off the receiver until 42 yards down the field, all with a 2-3 DL set.
 
Steeler Pride said:
Hell, 3rd and 40 would make me nervous, our DB's would back peddle and our safeties would play off the receiver until 42 yards down the field, all with a 2-3 DL set.
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Prevent defense is a strategy.


Yea, yea. I know. A bit like a three year old covering their face with hands and saying "You can't see me", but it is still a strategy.
 
Hoot said:
Prevent defense is a strategy.


Yea, yea. I know. A bit like a three year old covering their face with hands and saying "You can't see me", but it is still a strategy.
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I don't have a problem in the world with prevent defense, when it is used at the right time, and when it is even remotely close to executed. We play prevent defense and some of the most head scratching times, and our prevent seems to apply only to a TD. Just because you are in prevent D, does not mean that your DB cannot play aggressively on the ball or receiver down the field.
 
So, a question (or two).

1. If Tomlin has been "meddling" since Butler took over as DC, and the Defense was great last year, what exactly has changed so far this season?
2. Did the DBs execute better and play with more urgency last year? Maybe they bought into the hype and haven't been as detail oriented?
 
SteelBuckeye said:
So, a question (or two).

1. If Tomlin has been "meddling" since Butler took over as DC, and the Defense was great last year, what exactly has changed so far this season?
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Austin , Senior Defenive Assistant/ secondary

Teryl Austin is entering his second season as the Steelers' senior defensive assistant/secondary and 17th year in the National Football League coaching ranks. He was hired on January 11, 2019.

Austin coached a group of defensive backs that helped the Steelers defense rank as one of the NFL's best in 2019. Pittsburgh limited 11 opponents below 200 yards passing, which led the League. The Steelers ranked top-five in the NFL in interceptions (2nd, 20), interception rate (2nd, 3.89%), pass defense (3rd, 194.6), yards per play allowed (3rd, 4.72), passes defensed (3rd, 99), opposing passer rating (4th, 79.7), pass yards per attempt allowed (4th, 6.06), total defense (5th, 304.1) and scoring defense (5th, 18.9).

SteelBuckeye said:
2. Did the DBs execute better and play with more urgency last year? Maybe they bought into the hype and haven't been as detail oriented?
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I guess its possible. We just dont know how coaching responibilities have changed either.
 
Black & Gold Bleeder said:
Austin , Senior Defenive Assistant/ secondary

Teryl Austin is entering his second season as the Steelers' senior defensive assistant/secondary and 17th year in the National Football League coaching ranks. He was hired on January 11, 2019.

Austin coached a group of defensive backs that helped the Steelers defense rank as one of the NFL's best in 2019. Pittsburgh limited 11 opponents below 200 yards passing, which led the League. The Steelers ranked top-five in the NFL in interceptions (2nd, 20), interception rate (2nd, 3.89%), pass defense (3rd, 194.6), yards per play allowed (3rd, 4.72), passes defensed (3rd, 99), opposing passer rating (4th, 79.7), pass yards per attempt allowed (4th, 6.06), total defense (5th, 304.1) and scoring defense (5th, 18.9).



I guess its possible. We just dont know how coaching responibilities have changed either.
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Great response. I forgot about Austin being hired last year. That being the case though, it seems like Teryl has some work to do as far as getting his charges to play better, smarter football.

Also, looking back to last year, it seems like the DBs were, as a whole, more aggressive and ball hawking. This year, although they already have 6 INTs, it seems like those interceptions have been more of the 'gift" type than the manufactured/effort type we saw last year.
 
Chris Carter over at DK's site has a nice article up on what's going on in the secondary and how that has been affecting Fitzpatrick.
Long and short of it is a bunch of mental errors that need to be tightened up/fixed in order for the secondary, and by extension, Fitzpatrick to reach the heights it reached last season. Things like recognizing who you're supposed to cover, sticking with that man.
 
Can Tomlin please take over on first downs and give up those ****** 3rd down calls to someone else?
 
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