How do they fix the middle?

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

First our top payed players Tuitt and Heyward can't combine for one tackle. That was unthinkable going into this game. The DL has to be disruptive, and they were stonewalled by a 3rd string O line.

I really wanted Mitchell to make plays, he just doesn't. He sits back and is still 10 yards deeper than the deepest player catching a 25yd-35yd pass. Come up and make a play!

Sean Davis is boom or bust, but at least he booms. He led the team in tackles with 12. Sure he missed some tackles, and had coverage errors, but he also defended passes and made some big tackles around the LOS. I think he's got to adjust his game by figuring out how to play without Shazier in front of him. That will be tough on anyone.

Haden coming back will fix a lot of coverage issues with WRs. Burns will improve, and the Safeties will look better. I still think he's a week away from practicing, but I wouldn't mind being wrong here.

You guys also have to realize, we are missing our #1 and #2 ILB. Matakevich would be a big boost to this D. Instead we're playing our 3rd ILB Fort, a 4th ILB Moats, who is playing out of position, and a 5th ILB Spence who was a street FA who hasn't played in 13 weeks. If you don't have talent in the middle, don't expect results.

I'd like to put Watt in the middle, but with his effort on the edge, I'm now apprehensive about that thought. He has a limitless motor, and is crashing through the "rookie wall". You will never see Watt or JuJu hit it, because they are too well conditioned, and never take a play off. Great to watch.

Finally, I'm all for putting Harrison on the field in pass rush situations. Flip Watt and remove Bud. Couldn't hurt. But really this D starts with the DL and we have 2 players who should be playing up to their All pro contracts, and just aren't.

Great post. I totally overlooked the play of our D line. I wonder what rats did to stymie them so well. We ddint get much of anything from them last night. Wonder if anything was lost in the defensive play calls without shazier We all know we miss his speed and awesomeness..

 

[Shane Falco]

On a side not le, I’d love to have Collins on this roster. The kid is a beast and runs down hill.

 

[Stryker]

Great post. I totally overlooked the play of our D line. I wonder what rats did to stymie them so well. We ddint get much of anything from them last night. Wonder if anything was lost in the defensive play calls without shazier We all know we miss his speed and awesomeness..

They did a good amount of sliding protection paired with max protect with 1 or 2 players blocking in the backfield. They knew if they have time, someone will get open in our secondary.

 

[21STEELERS21]

Against the Pats the Steelers will play a lot of nickel and dime. Need Hilton, Gay and Davis to have good games.
NE backs are on the smaller side, need the quicker players to bring them down.

Another week of practice should help Spence. Can't expect much from a living room couch to starter in 5 days player.

 

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

They did a good amount of sliding protection paired with max protect with 1 or 2 players blocking in the backfield. They knew if they have time, someone will get open in our secondary.

And we werent pushing the blitz and stunts either with the LB'rs.

But the run is what im talking about. Can we pin our rush defense solely on the absence of shazier? clearly we missed some containment as well.

 

[ark steel]

Tough to fix losing your starter and back up in one game.

I would have thought Watt would do OK in the middle. He has a good head on his shoulders, but I don't know that he has ever played the position. I think Moats played the position some at Buffalo. Usually, a pretty solid tackler if he gets to the runner.

I thought they'd give Spence a week before throwing him out there.

 

[SteelerSask2]

On the power runs right it looked to me like the dline did a good job holding up their blocks not getting creased. The flow and fill was pathetic by the backers. The dline will have to take a more aggressive strategy as they are now the talent of the force unit. Slant and gap.

 

[SteveA]

We need to apply pressure. That will fix the middle

 

[Steeler Pride]

Spence had just one tackle last night.

the guy has been on our roster for 4 days after not playing ball for 3 months...I am surprised he held up as well as he did.

 

[MT~Forged]

Why even have Moats and Fort on the roster if you are going to bring in someone from the street and start them? If Spence is a better option, why was he sitting at home while Fort & Moats are on the active roster?

 

[oicu8ad]

How can you sign a guy off the street and play him that much?

Agreed. As I stated in another thread, I don't understand how / why you have Fort on the team if you think a guy off the street is better prepared to play.

 

[Spike]

hahahahaha - anybody that thinks the Pats will come out running the ball is delusional

I perdict the Pats will throw 60 times - in the first half!

 

[Coryea]

Why even have Moats and Fort on the roster if you are going to bring in someone from the street and start them? If Spence is a better option, why was he sitting at home while Fort & Moats are on the active roster?

Well those 3rd string spots often go to special teams aces, and not necessarily the better player at their position on defense. And Moats is an OLB.
I would like to see Fort play a bit more, athletically he's better than Spence and Moats, but we can't use 2 ILBs vs NE or it's game over

Sent from my XT1585 using Steeler Nation mobile app

 

[Hines57]

Bud was absolutely HORRIBLE - he SUCKED - totally out of position on every play, no wonder we couldn't hold the edge

at least Tomlin finally listened to us and put Harrison in there and moved tj to Buds spot on the final play to win the game

Bud is almost always bull rushing himself out of position. He's physically gifted but he does not get the job done. His run containment sucks. I'm off the Dupree hype. I hope they do not give him a second contract

 

[Coach]

Fix it? Is it too early to start talking about the draft?


Inside Linebacker. Rashaan Evans. Fast, productive, versatile a playmaker. There's a lot to like, and ILB has excellent value for later in round one.

Assuming he runs under a 4.65 and has a 20 yard shuttle time of under 4.20, I like him as a target player in round one

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/rashaan-Evans-1.html



Safety. Armani Watts. A playmaker type battle-tested in the SEC. In 4 years he has ten interceptions, seven forced fumbles, 24 tackles for losses and 17 passed defended. He has just average height, so he will have to prove his speed at the combine and pro days. Safeties have good value late in round one.

http://www.draftblaster.com/2018-NFL-Draft/positions-defense/safety/armani-watts-s-texas/

 

[6Lombardis]

I'll take any of this defense right here over any of the ******* we have on Defense now, and you can even throw in Harrison if you want: E L.C. Greenwood, Joe Greene, Ernie Holmes, Dwight White, Jack Ham, Jack Lambert, Andy Russell, J.T. Thomas, Mel Blount ,,Mike Wagner, Glen Edwards

Most of these guys were at Heinz Field a few weeks ago, and they didn’t look to be in playing shape. Sorry.