Larry Foote: Pittsburgh Steelers struggling mentally

[hawaiiansteel]

Larry Foote: Pittsburgh Steelers struggling mentally

By Kareem Copeland
Published: Oct. 12, 2012

Larry Foote was brutally honest in his assessment of his Pittsburgh Steelers after they were upset 26-23 by the Tennessee Titans on Thursday night.

"We're not strong mentally," the veteran linebacker told KDKA-FM, via CBS Pittsburgh. "We don't look like a championship team right now.

"Everybody's been knocked down, everybody's had doors shut in their face, everybody's gotten beat."

Those aren't the types of things we're used to from the Steelers (2-3). That might be the first time coach Mike Tomlin's team has been accused of being soft. But we're not used to the Steelers being ranked No. 19 in scoring defense (23 points per game) either.

Defense normally is the calling card in the Steel City, but it wasn't Thursday. The Titans (2-4) scored 10 points in the final 4:19. Running back Chris Johnson, who has been shut down in 2012, had his second-best game of the year with 91 yards on 19 carries. Johnson could've had more if he stopped hesitating at the line of scrimmage. Elder quarterback Matt Hasselbeck connected on throws when absolutely needed.

The Steelers clearly miss Troy Polamalu. Linebacker James Harrison (knee) played for a second consecutive week, but LaMarr Woodley was out with a hamstring injury.

It's not over in Pittsburgh, but a loss against the struggling Titans hurts. Two games against the Baltimore Ravens loom, and there's the Week 9 trip to face the New York Giants.

Foote said he's excited to see how the Steelers respond. If that's going to happen, it needs to happen soon.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000079550/article/larry-foote-pittsburgh-steelers-struggling-mentally?module=HP11_headline_stack

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Sorry, but it's more than mental, Larry...the Steelers defense is getting beat PHYSICALLY. DLmen are getting pushed back, some DBs and LBs are a step slow in coverage, and blitzers are not winning their matchups often enough to get real pressure on opposing QBs. Granted, the DC is not doing enough from his end to help get that pressure, but it also appears that too many of the Steelers defenders, physically, are just not getting it done.

[NorthCoast]

Sorry, but it's more than mental, Larry...the Steelers defense is getting beat PHYSICALLY. DLmen are getting pushed back, some DBs and LBs are a step slow in coverage, and blitzers are not winning their matchups often enough to get real pressure on opposing QBs. Granted, the DC is not doing enough from his end to help get that pressure, but it also appears that too many of the Steelers defenders, physically, are just not getting it done.

A strong pass rush will solve the DB problems, (ref. 2008 season). I agree though, the DL is weak. The Steelers desperately need a high-motor d-lineman that doesn't take plays off and is rock-steady with their play. A. Smith was noted for his consistency, on every play you knew what you were getting. I don't see that from any DL playing right now. If one guy holds his gap, two others are stumbling and bumbling. No consistency.

[steelz09]

At the end of the day, the defensive players are not winning their 1-on-1 matchups.

[skyhawk]

Not struggling mentally. Just busy reading past press on this team. Right now, they are lacking in playmakers and talent on the field.

[Shoe]

At the end of the day, the defensive players are not winning their 1-on-1 matchups.

Well, then how come every game I see Ziggy Hood dancing on the field about something er other.

[stopplayn]

Dline getting pushed back. We run a 3-4. The Dline is not built to be the stars in a 3-4. The line sets up the LBs to make the play. The best 3-4 Dlineman in the game is Ngata. Do you see him with a lot of sax? NO! He plays either a A or B gap which opens the door for the Lbs. If you are looking for production from our Dline then you are rooting for the wrong team. In a 4-3 (Giants) the Dlinemen are the stars. In our scheme you wont see that.

[Steel Life]

Dline getting pushed back. We run a 3-4. The Dline is not built to be the stars in a 3-4. The line sets up the LBs to make the play. The best 3-4 Dlineman in the game is Ngata. Do you see him with a lot of sax? NO! He plays either a A or B gap which opens the door for the Lbs. If you are looking for production from our Dline then you are rooting for the wrong team. In a 4-3 (Giants) the Dlinemen are the stars. In our scheme you wont see that.
There's something to be said about that...the Texans run a 3-4 but it is more of an attacking style from the DL perspective. Given the nature of the game nowadays, perhaps that's what the team should be looking to do. But BradshawsHairdresser is right - our blitzers are not getting the job done, they seem to get stonewalled more often than not.

Personally I'd like to see McClendon in there as as the starter, Casey just doesn't have it anymore - & someone needs to tell Woodley to drop some weight, he looks like a DT out there.

[hawaiiansteel]

Well, then how come every game I see Ziggy Hood dancing on the field about something er other.

I doubt you saw Ziggy doing any dancing on the field against the Titans since his stat line was zeroes across the board.