Understanding Steeler Defense

[Sword]

Can someone please tell me why most of the time we allow catches and then tackle?
Is it because they are playing zone prevent or are the players just bad?

I mean, if we are on there ass\man to man coverage we have a play at the ball and possible interception. correct?

Why are we not blitzing like 8 out of 10 times if we are week in backfield. If we give any QB time
we get burned and our Defense is left on the field....

Frustrated watching this!!!!

[Steelhere10]

Join the line.

[Slapstick]

Can someone please tell me why most of the time we allow catches and then tackle?
Is it because they are playing zone prevent or are the players just bad?

I mean, if we are on there ass\man to man coverage we have a play at the ball and possible interception. correct?

Why are we not blitzing like 8 out of 10 times if we are week in backfield. If we give any QB time
we get burned and our Defense is left on the field....

Frustrated watching this!!!!

Because that system works. The Steelers don't get blown out. We lose when we give up big plays and when we turn the ball over.

The defense generally doesn't give up big plays.

The losses have resulted from giving up big plays on both offense and special teams and copious turnovers on both offense and special teams...

[raycafan]

Today in my local paper there was a brief article in the NFL section, they were quoting K Lewis. He has the the most deflected balls in the league 23. He points out that they reason he does not pick the ball is that he has to make a choice. Tackle the receiver or go for the ball, if he goes for ball and misses ball and it is caught good chance it is a TD. Now this is not news to anyone who plays the game. But, it makes you think these guys are playing a game at a speed you can't feel until you've been there. He, they must make this decision in a micro second. Hit or miss on the ball and it could taken to the house. I am sure many of Steeler cover guys are thinking if they catch and I tackle then we can possibly get them on the next play. All this during the snap of a ball and play that last between 3 to 5 seconds. Tough stuff

[flippy]

It's about being conservative on the backend and not giving up big plays. And making QBs make mistakes with pressure. The problem is we can't generate pressure.

There's quite a few plays this season where opposing QBs have forever and still can't find anyone open. We're playing pretty great on the backend. Our front 7 can't do anything and that's where the problem lies.

[pittpete]

Yup, force the QB to make a quick decision and hopefully force him into making a mistake without giving up the long play.
Thats why a QB like Brady can spread our D out and dink and dunk dowwn the field.
One thing I noticed a lot this year is certain players on defense seem to be tipping their hands on whether or not they are blitzing.
(Foote does this a lot)

A lot of this is timing and I think opposing offenses are constantly changing up their snap counts.

[papillon]

This type of defense shortens the game and almost ensures that the Steelers have a chance to win. The Steelers want the other team to have to take their time to move the ball down the field using clock. The Steeler offense isn't a juggernaut, so shortening the game and giving Ben a chance is a good recipe for success. As long as the Steeler offense keeps turnovers, penalties and three and outs to a minimum the defense will keep the Steelers in the game.

Secondly, the longer the drive, the greater chance that the offense will make a mistake like a penalty, turnover, dropped catch, a sack, etc. and the Steelers will force a punt.

it's hard to watch because it looks like the defense is getting carved up and they are, but typically at the end of the day if the offense can score 24 points the Steelers will win. There have been some anomalies to this principle this year, but all in all the system works, it's just difficult to watch.

Just my take on the defense...

Pappy

[SidSmythe]

I love how this system has been tops in the leagues EVERY YEAR including this year and people complain about it.

This year the Steelers are at the top of the league w/out the personnel being the best its been.

Talk about Mind Boggling!!

[pittpete]

I love how this system has been tops in the leagues EVERY YEAR including this year and people complain about it.

This year the Steelers are at the top of the league w/out the personnel being the best its been.

Talk about Mind Boggling!!
Woopdeedoo, and whats our record?
Whats mind boggling is the lack of turnovers these paper champions have generated this year.
Just sayin

[Oviedo]

It's about being conservative on the backend and not giving up big plays. And making QBs make mistakes with pressure. The problem is we can't generate pressure.

There's quite a few plays this season where opposing QBs have forever and still can't find anyone open. We're playing pretty great on the backend. Our front 7 can't do anything and that's where the problem lies.

Agre the pass rush is the problem. But why wouldn't it be? We all know what is going to happen. The DL's first read is to stop the run and control the blockers to keep the LBs "clean". Then we will typically rush either Harrsion or Woodley but rarely both at the same time. There fore the offense has 5 OL and usually one other blocker to deal with 4 maybe 5 rushers at most. Since the DL's first read is play the run and then go after the passer you essentially give the QB 2-3 seconds before the DL commits to going after the QB and they usually have one or two men on them. Plus, since we have bulked up our DEs to play in LeBeau's stop the run first scheme they are bullrushers versus being able to use a speed rush to turn the corner. What do we struggle against most bullrushes or speed rushes. It is the latter.

It is essentially the same thing every play, every game. Guess what? We all see it and so does the league and they have all adjusted for it because they know 90% of the time it will be Harrison or Woodley with a very rare (far too rare IMO) inside blitz. They also know they can lower the percentage of both OLBs by leaking a RB into the flat and forcing the OLB to cover them. Therefore the offense over matches our rush with 5 or 6 blocking 3 or 4. The defense does good to put up meaningless rankings stats but they are no loonger a big play defense like they use to be.

The fact is we are getting the lowest sack totals and INT totals in decades but we do the same thing week after week.

[Slapstick]

And, week after week, the Steelers are usually in a position to win the game....

Unless multiple and/or critical turnovers by the offense and/or special teams allows the opponent to take advantage of the costly error and win the game....

[hawaiiansteel]

Whats mind boggling is the lack of turnovers these paper champions have generated this year.


and last year as well...

[Mister Pittsburgh]

And, week after week, the Steelers are usually in a position to win the game....

Unless multiple and/or critical turnovers by the offense and/or special teams allows the opponent to take advantage of the costly error and win the game....

True, against good teams we rarely get blown out. BUT, this approach is also why we don't blow teams out that are inferior and then when we make a mistake or two, why we lose to bad teams. We essentially keep crappy teams in the game simply due to this conservative approach.

[lloydroid]

It's about being conservative on the backend and not giving up big plays. And making QBs make mistakes with pressure. The problem is we can't generate pressure.

There's quite a few plays this season where opposing QBs have forever and still can't find anyone open. We're playing pretty great on the backend. Our front 7 can't do anything and that's where the problem lies.

Which is kind of pathetic, since the whole concept of this D is applying pressure to the QB, yet we can't get any. FAIL. Woodley has been more worthless than tits on a bull. Timmons has got pressure when they send him. Harrison just returning to form. NOTHING from the DL, which isn't all about pressure in a 3-4 but SOME would sure help.

[SidSmythe]

Woopdeedoo, and whats our record?
Whats mind boggling is the lack of turnovers these paper champions have generated this year.
Just sayin

Woopdeedoo ...are the Steelers going to win the Superbowl every year in your fantasy world???

The lack of Turnovers is the DEFENSIVE scheme's fault???

In 2010 the Steelers forced 35 TO's (21 INTS)
In 2008 29 TOs (20 Ints)
Over the last decade the Steelers have forced over 25-35 TO's per year on average.
Different Defensive Scheme???

[lloydroid]

Woopdeedoo ...are the Steelers going to win the Superbowl every year in your fantasy world???

The lack of Turnovers is the DEFENSIVE scheme's fault???

In 2010 the Steelers forced 35 TO's (21 INTS)
In 2008 29 TOs (20 Ints)
Over the last decade the Steelers have forced over 25-35 TO's per year on average.
Different Defensive Scheme???

Pgh is -14 in turnover ratio.

NE is +22

I wonder which team will go further in the play offs? Pgh is nearly the bottom of the barrel when it comes to forcing turnovers or giving them up. It's a sign of an unfocused, undisciplined team, period.

[Oviedo]

Woopdeedoo ...are the Steelers going to win the Superbowl every year in your fantasy world???

The lack of Turnovers is the DEFENSIVE scheme's fault???

In 2010 the Steelers forced 35 TO's (21 INTS)
In 2008 29 TOs (20 Ints)
Over the last decade the Steelers have forced over 25-35 TO's per year on average.
Different Defensive Scheme???

You are correct, it did work...once. Is it working now? Why? Players? League knows how to deal with it because they seen it from us and they see it week after week from more and more teams playing the 3-4. No surprises. No fooling anyone.

Suince it isn't working now like in 2008 and 2010, what do we do? Keep doing the same thing because it worked 3-4 years ago? Wait two, three, four years until we get players who can make it work again? How about we do something really radical and adjust to the players we have and modify things to put them inpositions to excel whether the Def Coord is comfortable with that or not?

[SidSmythe]

Pgh is -14 in turnover ratio.

NE is +22

I wonder which team will go further in the play offs? Pgh is nearly the bottom of the barrel when it comes to forcing turnovers or giving them up. It's a sign of an unfocused, undisciplined team, period.

That's my point. It's not the SYSTEM, it's the PERSONNEL

[Oviedo]

That's my point. It's not the SYSTEM, it's the PERSONNEL

Lets say you are right and we do have the wrong personnel to execute, then why are we trying to do the same thing that we did when we had the right personnel? Does that make sense on any level? Sound like we are trying to fit square pegs in round holes because someone is in love with rounds holes.

[SidSmythe]

Lets say you are right and we do have the wrong personnel to execute, then why are we trying to do the same thing that we did when we had the right personnel? Does that make sense on any level? Sound like we are trying to fit square pegs in round holes because someone is in love with rounds holes.

Is there really a "system" that produces more "turnovers"??

Maybe "play calling" or certain coverage disguises at the correct times.

BUT I simply think it comes down to lack of pressure forcing bad throws/poor decisions

As for changing things up??? I guess it would be worth a shot, but I think we're doing the best we can with what we have.

[NorthCoast]

Watched the 1974 Steelers on NFLN. Talk about a dominating defense! Everyone one of the DL had the ability to dominate their man. When teams tried to double one guy, it was easy pickings for the guy left one-on-one.

I honestly don't have a beef with LeBeau's philosophy. As others have said, the strategy is to keep it a one-possession game. And if you have a franchise QB, it should be a win against bad defenses and at least 50-50 against good ones. If you look at the Steelers record over the last 10 yrs, this is exactly how it has worked out.
Win home games, split against good teams, win against bad teams and this generally leads to a playoff spot. If the Steelers don't learn to take care of the ball, then none of this philosophy works. But does that mean you change your philosophy, or do you find players that can play to it?