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STEELERS Moats: Steelers completely changed what they ask of outside linebackers

antdrewjosh

antdrewjosh

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In the midst of setting a team record for sacks in 2017, the Steelers got little production from their outside linebackers in that regard compared to previous seasons.

Seventeen of the 56 sacks came from the outside linebackers in 2017, or just 30 percent. That was just a half-sack more than the outside linebackers produced in 2016 when the Steelers recorded 39. But at least that represented 42 percent of the team’s production, a level fans have become accustomed to seeing from that position.


The sacks saw a huge leap, but they didn’t come from the typical source. According to Arthur Moats, that’s probably not going to change anytime soon. In his third season as the team’s defensive coordinator, Keith Butler completely changed what is being asked of the team’s outside linebackers.

“Absolutely. It definitely has changed,” Moats told me Saturday at the Pittsburgh International Auto Show inside the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. “I feel like my first year with (Dick) LeBeau, it was getting to that point where we were dropping more, but it wasn’t all the way to where it is now. Now, we are legit, like, we cover.”

But is that better?

The overall numbers suggest it might be. The Steelers have seen their defense rise from 21st in Butler’s first season in 2015, to fifth overall last season. And, as stated, they set the team record for sacks in 2017.

https://www.dkpittsburghsports.com/...s-completely-changed-ask-outside-linebackers/


EDIT -- WAY TOO MUCH POSTED ON A PAID STORY.
 
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With them going this way, it makes even more sense to have a 3 down NT that can command double teams and collapse the pocket. We can't have 2 DL in the game and we can't only rush 3 and expect to consistently get to the QB.

Why Butler/Tomlin think the game still isn't won in the trenches is beyond me.
 
Well no ****.
 
How about 4 down linemen?
 
Did they also ask every outside linebacker outside of Watt to avoid making tackles as well? Way too many big runs on the ground and that keeps the chains moving. In fact, opponents seem to be getting more big runs over a 3-4 game stretch than they would over the course over an entire season against the Steelers defense.
 
SteelerFan448 said:
Did they also ask every outside linebacker outside of Watt to avoid making tackles as well? Way too many big runs on the ground and that keeps the chains moving. In fact, opponents seem to be getting more big runs over a 3-4 game stretch than they would over the course over an entire season against the Steelers defense.
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Not sure Watt didn't share in the blame at times.

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it is time for 4 man fronts we have the personnel, for nickel situations, Dupree wasa DE in college went back and forth between de and olb at Kentucky, we can just kick Heyward to the 1T and Hargrave to the 3 T and rotate Aluala with both Tuitt and Dupree. as well as Chickello.
Adding a pure run stiffer like Justin Ellis would also help as you can really mix up how much you want to play 3-4 and mix in 4-3 or just nickel 4-2-5
 
F83 said:
it is time for 4 man fronts we have the personnel, for nickel situations, Dupree wasa DE in college went back and forth between de and olb at Kentucky, we can just kick Heyward to the 1T and Hargrave to the 3 T and rotate Aluala with both Tuitt and Dupree. as well as Chickello.
Adding a pure run stiffer like Justin Ellis would also help as you can really mix up how much you want to play 3-4 and mix in 4-3 or just nickel 4-2-5
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Whatever it takes to get away from the two man front.
 
slashsteel said:
Whatever it takes to get away from the two man front.
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Butler is as stubborn as Lebeau refuses to make changes, Flacco, Dalton, Brady know where the pressure is coming by heart from this 2-4-5, please throw in 4-2-5 and a bit of 3-3-5
 
Can anyone tell me what situation and when the 2DL set is needed???????




Salute the nation
 
The 2 man line would not be such a problem if the Steelers had better play from their OLBs, particularly in the running game, but also pertaining to the pass rush. Let's not pretend that the likes of Moats, Watt and Dupree did not have ample opportunities to both get to the QB and make stops against the run.

All this talk about them having to cover more just sounds like excuses to me.
 
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Punxsutawney said:
The 2 man line would not be such a problem if the Steelers had better play from their OLBs, particularly in the running game, but also pertaining to the pass rush. Let's not pretend that the likes of Moats, Watt and Dupree did have ample opportunities to both get to the QB and make stops against the run.

All this talk about them having to cover more just sounds like excuses to me.
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Watt only rushed the QB on 25% of his downs played this season.
The OLBs covering more is even more of a reason 2DL is a horrible idea

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Coryea said:
Watt only rushed the QB on 25% of his downs played this season.


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What percentage of those downs were actually passing plays?


Watt rushing the passer on approximately one out of every four plays is no small amount, taking running plays into account and considering the Steelers usually send at least one OLB toward the QB on passing plays.

The bottom line is that the Steelers did not draft Watt and Dupree in the first round for their coverage skills.
 
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Punxsutawney said:
What percentage of those downs were actually passing plays?


Watt rushing the passer on approximately one out of every four plays is no small amount, taking running plays into account and considering the Steelers usually send at least one OLB toward the QB on passing plays.

The bottom line is that the Steelers did not draft Watt and Dupree in the first round for their coverage skills.
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I can't tell you the percentage but Bud Dupree's coverage ability is what had the STEELER'S "D" #1 defending TE against the pass with-in the season. At one point I thought he was better at that than his SACK mastery.




Salute the nation
 
Punxsutawney said:
What percentage of those downs were actually passing plays?


Watt rushing the passer on approximately one out of every four plays is no small amount, taking running plays into account and considering the Steelers usually send at least one OLB toward the QB on passing plays.

The bottom line is that the Steelers did not draft Watt and Dupree in the first round for their coverage skills.
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I totally agree, if you want to only use 2 DL then you need OLB that can rush the passer, and you need to allow them to rush the QB, Watt definitely did not rush the QB enough

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