The Statistical data on DB's making splash plays.

[Coach]

Interceptions as a group through 5 games. Zero. Yet opposing QB's have a combined 23 interceptions. Clearly, improvement is needed here.


Not one of our DB's has recorded a sack, probably because Butler plays them back and doesn't send them blitzing often. A corner blitz every now and then would not hurt, I think.


Pass defended, forced fumbles, fumble recoveries as follows:


Cockrell - 5 passes defended. A good amount. 1 fumble recovery.

Burns -4 passes defended. Burns size, long arms, and ball skills are evident. Once he figures it out, I think he'll start on the outside

Mitchell - 2 passes defended. A low amount considering how many plays he has been in. Still, prefers to hit over playing the ball

Gay -2 passes defended. Perhaps because he has not been targeted as often

Golden - 1 passes defended. 1 fumble recovery * only played in three games

Davis - 1, He has played 4 games.

Dangerfield 0 passes defended. * on the field as a DB for 2 games and maybe a few plays in others.

 

[Slash#10]

The more opportunities we give the offense the ball we'll really expand our success. What we did to the Chiefs in the first quarter is the ultimate blueprint to maximizing our weapons.

 

[Coach]

The more opportunities we give the offense the ball we'll really expand our success. What we did to the Chiefs in the first quarter is the ultimate blueprint to maximizing our weapons.

Agreed. I still can't believe the opposing QB's have thrown 23 interceptions and our DB's have zero. As long as Ben keeps throwing 3-4 TD's a game, it might not matter. But a turnover would be nice.

 

[Litos]

Davis played 4 games, not 5

 

[Stryker]

True Litos, though if you want to be thorough, Davis did play in 5 games, one of the games he was injured and only received 1 ST snap since DHB was injured that game. So for Coach's metrics, he should only be counting 4 games for Davis.

In other news, team leaders in missed tackles: Davis and Burns, had ZERO missed tackles last game.

One could say that they might be IMPROVING...

 

[Steelerfan]

I was hoping for Golden Gay **** in the slot with Burns

 

[antdrewjosh]

True Litos, though if you want to be thorough, Davis did play in 5 games, one of the games he was injured and only received 1 ST snap since DHB was injured that game. So for Coach's metrics, he should only be counting 4 games for Davis.

In other news, team leaders in missed tackles: Davis and Burns, had ZERO missed tackles last game.

One could say that they might be IMPROVING...

I saw Daivs miss one, the other guy further back made the tackle, he only made contact. The stat guy may not count that as a missed tackle.

Davis did miss one game, but still leads the team in missed tackles, and I think his 1 pass defended ( vs the jets ) is last among our DB's with a similar amount of snap counts. While it was nice to see him finally make a play on the ball, the negatives outweigh the positives so far.

Or not

 

[Drink IRON City]

No matter what the angle your looking at, our team is I,proving overall. A few hiccup along the way but an improving team it is. Hope the injury bug is hibernating in our area.......



Salute the nation

 

[SteelerFan448]

The defense isn't pressuring the QB like they did last year, so you are just counting on a QB making a poor throw. There have been a few opportunities, but the defense needs to force the quarterback into making mistakes to get the interception numbers up.

 

[SteelBuckeye]

Interceptions as a group through 5 games. Zero. Yet opposing QB's have a combined 23 interceptions. Clearly, improvement is needed here.


Not one of our DB's has recorded a sack, probably because Butler plays them back and doesn't send them blitzing often. A corner blitz every now and then would not hurt, I think.


Pass defended, forced fumbles, fumble recoveries as follows:


Cockrell - 5 passes defended. A good amount. 1 fumble recovery. Has played 349 snaps (or 99.1% of ALL Defensive snaps)

Burns -4 passes defended. Burns size, long arms, and ball skills are evident. Once he figures it out, I think he'll start on the outside Has played 213 snaps (or 47.3% of ALL Defensive snaps)

Mitchell - 2 passes defended. A low amount considering how many plays he has been in. Still, prefers to hit over playing the ball Has played 348 snaps (or 98.2% of ALL Defensive snaps)

Gay -2 passes defended. Perhaps because he has not been targeted as often Has played 350 snaps (or 99.4% of ALL Defensive snaps)

Golden - 1 passes defended. 1 fumble recovery * only played in three games Has played 174 snaps (or 43.4% of ALL Defensive snaps)

Davis - 1, He has played 4 games. Has played 269 snaps (or 64.8% of ALL Defensive snaps)

Dangerfield 0 passes defended. * on the field as a DB for 2 games and maybe a few plays in others.

So, if we look at the percentage of Defensive snaps that the DBs were on the field, we can see that Davis has almost as many passes defended as Gay and Mitchell, who both saw significantly more snaps (playing time). Approximately 34% more snaps each to be exact. That really doesn't reflect that Davis has been playing poorly. In fact, the snap count merely points out how well Burns is progressing despite a much more limited amount of playing time. Maybe this is a reflection of the positions that they play?

Btw, I'd say that snap count is a more accurate reflection of what you're trying to get at than "games played". However, even snap counts are a limited indicator because they don't reflect things such as how many times each player was "targeted" and either defended the pass or did not. It's late and, quite honestly, I have no desire to look that stuff up anyway.

"There are two kinds of statistics, the kind you look up and the kind you make up"....Rex Stout

Edit: you can look up the snap counts yourself here:

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/snapcounts

 

[paperclip]

Does this one help?

 

[Coach]

So, if we look at the percentage of Defensive snaps that the DBs were on the field, we can see that Davis has almost as many passes defended as Gay and Mitchell, who both saw significantly more snaps (playing time). Approximately 34% more snaps each to be exact. That really doesn't reflect that Davis has been playing poorly. In fact, the snap count merely points out how well Burns is progressing despite a much more limited amount of playing time. Maybe this is a reflection of the positions that they play?

Btw, I'd say that snap count is a more accurate reflection of what you're trying to get at than "games played". However, even snap counts are a limited indicator because they don't reflect things such as how many times each player was "targeted" and either defended the pass or did not. It's late and, quite honestly, I have no desire to look that stuff up anyway.

"There are two kinds of statistics, the kind you look up and the kind you make up"....Rex Stout

Edit: you can look up the snap counts yourself here:

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/snapcounts

Thanks for the snap count link. I agree the snap count is a more accurate reflection of what you're trying to get at than "games played". As for targets, the more you get the more plays you should make.

Like I said Mitchell isn't good vs the pass. Gay has not been as good this year either and dropped what should have been an easy interception As for Davis, he's averaging a pass defensed ever 269 snaps, so he'll be due for #2 PD around 538 snaps

 

[deljzc]

I hate the term "splash plays".

Just hate it.

 

[Coach]

I hate the term "splash plays".

Just hate it.

Like a married couple for 40 years, there's not much splash with the Steelers D.

Better?

 

[Max Power]

Want to watch a Defense? Watch tonight as a pissed off and Hungry Vikings D tee's off against the Bears.

Watch Zim's Defense, watch them do their job.

 

[POP]

No matter what the angle your looking at, our team is I,proving overall. A few hiccup along the way but an improving team it is. Hope the injury bug is hibernating in our area.......



Salute the nation

(scratching head). We lost two in a row (one to a 1-4 team) and are 2-3 in our last 5 games, but we are improving? I _DO_ believe we are likely to improve from here on out, if we can get healthier, but to say we "have" been improving seems illogical. Coming up, we have our arch rivals (who swept us last year, once with a QB who they just signed off his couch) and then a 6-1 Dallas team, who has won 6 in a row. We win both those, we might be on to something. We lose, and we were just pretenders all along. We lose those two, and we are looking at 8-8, which would make three out of five years with a non-winning season....3 out of of 5. Had Cowher or Noll ever had a span like that?

 

[Ike Kelly]

We lost two with 4 starters missing or injured. At least 2 starters on defense at a centerpiece of the scheme, LB and DE. Let me reiterate what your posted double negative statement.....You acknowledge the team is to improve ""from here on out, if we get healthier", but state we aren't improving because we lost and are 2-3 in our last 5 games. How about we state it correctly, We are 4-3 in 7 games, We have lost the last two games, without several starters to our defense and offense. Which is no excuse, because that is what a backup is for. (please hold the we have terrible backups commentary, we know your opinion). Once we are healthy and if we start winning again.....then what?

BTW, Mitchell is the designated enforcer center-fielder on top coverage. His job is to be a clean up player when there is help. Clean up means to force turnovers, and give receiver alligator arms for future route running.

 

[paperclip]

Want to watch a Defense? Watch tonight as a pissed off and Hungry Vikings D tee's off against the Bears.

Watch Zim's Defense, watch them do their job.

lol

Just goes to show, that no matter what is "supposed" to happen, may not. They had a week off, supposed to be the best defense, and then give up ~200 yards on the ground to the Bears.

It's why they play the game.

 

[ark steel]

I hate the term "splash plays".

Just hate it.

I get that. You would expect a DL/LB to get sacks occasionally, so, a "play" is what it is. Same with a DB getting INT's. Getting the occasionally should be the norm.

 

[Coach]

I get that. You would expect a DL/LB to get sacks occasionally, so, a "play" is what it is. Same with a DB getting INT's. Getting the occasionally should be the norm.

Ark,


You don't get it. None of our edge rushers can beat NFL tackles, outside of say once or twice a sack every 8 games. Our OLB's have 2.5 sacks in 7 games. That's it. Jones and Harrison have 0.


Heyward can rush the passer some, but 44 NFL players have more sacks and he's pretty much it with the pass rush. As a total, the Steelers are dead last in sacks out of 32 teams.


We have played some lousy QB play, and none of ou DB's have intercepted one ball. As a team, we have three interceptions in three games. Only one team has less.


And trust me, the soft middle in the nickel vs the run has been an issue lately. We might have to go back to Big Dan and limit Hargrave some.


Outside of Heyward, None of these players, except for say Shazier who's often injured would start on a Steeler defense 5 years ago.


With 20 million in free agency and the draft, the Steelers need a complete rebuilding process and better cross their fingers that a 1st, 2nd, and 2nd round pick at DB pan out in recent drafts and cross their fingers that Dupree can become a solid starter.

 

[Blitzburgh]

lol

Just goes to show, that no matter what is "supposed" to happen, may not. They had a week off, supposed to be the best defense, and then give up ~200 yards on the ground to the Bears.

It's why they play the game.

LOOL yeah and I was feeling pretty good about our offensive line watching the vikings tackles just getting abused by da Bears. Cutler was playing with a huge chip on his shoulder.

 

[ark steel]

Ark,


You don't get it. None of our edge rushers can beat NFL tackles, outside of say once or twice a sack every 8 games. Our OLB's have 2.5 sacks in 7 games. That's it. Jones and Harrison have 0.


Heyward can rush the passer some, but 44 NFL players have more sacks and he's pretty much it with the pass rush. As a total, the Steelers are dead last in sacks out of 32 teams.


We have played some lousy QB play, and none of ou DB's have intercepted one ball. As a team, we have three interceptions in three games. Only one team has less.


And trust me, the soft middle in the nickel vs the run has been an issue lately. We might have to go back to Big Dan and limit Hargrave some.


Outside of Heyward, None of these players, except for say Shazier who's often injured would start on a Steeler defense 5 years ago.


With 20 million in free agency and the draft, the Steelers need a complete rebuilding process and better cross their fingers that a 1st, 2nd, and 2nd round pick at DB pan out in recent drafts and cross their fingers that Dupree can become a solid starter.

No idea what all of this means.

"I get that" means, I understand what Del means (or I think I do) when he says he hat3s the phrase "splash plays". If I understand him right, the int's and/or sacks should be the norm, not "splash".

I can read a stat line and see there are no int's by the DBs (especially, considering I mentioned it a while ago) and how many sacks the team/players have. Not surprisingly, given my profession, I can read stats and, often, understand some underlying issues on why they might or might not be outside the norm and/or whether they are even relevant to a particular discussion.