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The defense has improved a bit thanks to young or new players.

Coach

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Going into the season I thought the pass rush and lack of turnovers would be an issue.

Young players like Tuitt, and Shazier ( When healthy for Shazier ) combined with new players like Dupree and Cockrell have improved the defense.

Now we can get splash plays that further push back an offense or turnover the football

While I still think the coverage units need a lot of work if you give them a good pass rush and some ball hawks, the defense as a group can make plays help us win.

Once Ben comes back, this team will a force. The question is will he come back to a .500 team or not?
 
It doesn't matter if we are .500 or not....I still see us winning 11 games this season....the only games I see us possibly coming up short is at Seattle, losing maybe on the road to Cincy and possibly Denver. We are going to the playoffs this year. Only question is, will it be as divisional champs or the wildcard.

Ben comes back, the offense starts clicking again putting up 30 per game and the defense you speak about continues to gel holding the opposition under 22...they give up 19 on avg thru 5 games.
 
blitzburghv5 It doesn't matter if we are .500 or not....I still see us winning 11 games this season....the only games I see us possibly coming up short is at Seattle, losing maybe on the road to Cincy and possibly Denver. We are going to the playoffs this year. Only question is, will it be as divisional champs or the wildcard.

11-5? If the Steelers lose to the Cardinals they are 3-3, meaning with Ben back we need to go 8-2 in our final ten games to finish 11-5. Unlikely.

However, 10-6 should be good enough for a wild card spot. 9-7 right now won't cut it as our AFC record is 1-2.

Back to the point, I do feel a bit better about the defense thanks to young and new players making a difference.
 
I'm totally surprised at how well the defense has played. They deserve tons of credit for Monday Night being on the field what, 90 percent of time in second half.
 
11-5? If the Steelers lose to the Cardinals they are 3-3, meaning with Ben back we need to go 8-2 in our final ten games to finish 11-5. Unlikely.

However, 10-6 should be good enough for a wild card spot. 9-7 right now won't cut it as our AFC record is 1-2.

Back to the point, I do feel a bit better about the defense thanks to young and new players making a difference.

Why is 8-2 unlikely ?.....
 
It's really not......just that in today's NFL, the "any given Sunday" thing applies more than ever. IF Ben gets back soon and healthy and IF the d continues to improve, 8-2 is as likely as anything.

At close to full strength (Ben, Shazier, Bryant back healthy), I wouldn't fear too many teams beyond the Pats and Packers...
 
Why is 8-2 unlikely ?.....

Why?

We play at least 4 playoff teams ( as of right now ) in the next 10 games, and always seem to blow a game to a team below .500. Our ending is not so easy. 3 of our final 4 games are on the road, and the lone home game is Denver.
 
That loss to the @#$%ing horrible Ravens ... damn, if the team gets a 1st down at the 24 yard line, they are 4-1. That loss hurt so freaking much.
 
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