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Steelers' defense disappoints
By John Harris, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, August 23, 2010
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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - At first glance, some of the statistics from Saturday night's Steelers-Giants preseason game don't appear to be cause for concern.
The Steelers were facing third-string quarterback Rhett Bomar, starting only because Eli Manning and backup Jim Sorgi were sidelined with injuries. Moreover, Giants starting running back Brandon Jacobs didn't play, and starting wide receiver Hakeem Nicks was ejected along with Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor after only four plays.
Still, the inexperienced Bomar completed 5 of 10 passes for 82 yards against the Steelers' first-team defenders, including a 45-yard strike to Steve Smith in the second quarter. The Giants also averaged 4.0 yards on nine rushes against the Steelers' first unit, including Ahmad Bradshaw's 9-yard touchdown bolt around left end, which came six plays after Smith's catch.
Try telling Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison the Giants' offensive production against the first team doesn't mean anything.
"We didn't play fundamentally sound the way we're used to playing,'' an unhappy Harrison said following the Steelers' 24-17 win.
Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau agreed with Harrison.
"I think (Harrison's comments are) very accurate,'' LeBeau said. "That's why you need preseason. That's why you need training camp. You can't just walk out there and start playing. Any drill you simulate is never going to be as quick as it is on the field.''
Harrison delivered a similar salvo to his teammates following a preseason loss against Buffalo two years ago, when he accused them of taking the exhibition season lightly. Of course, the Steelers' defense that year finished No. 1 overall and played a major role in winning Super Bowl XLIII.
So much for Harrison's concerns.
Two years later, however, Harrison finds himself repeating a familiar complaint.
"I remember that,'' inside linebacker James Farrior said of Harrison's outburst in 2008. "We were all upset with how we played. We felt like we didn't play up to our standards. Even though it was preseason, not playing up to our standards was disappointing.''
Particularly galling to Harrison this time was the Steelers' inability to stop the Giants' predictable attack that was directed by a newcomer at quarterback.
"We knew with (Bomar) in there they weren't going to do much passing like they would if Eli was in there,'' Harrison said. "We had a lot of missed tackles. I lost contain on the run where (Bradshaw) scored.''
Cause for concern? Probably not, although the Steelers' defense, featuring seven starters 30 and older, isn't getting any younger.
On second thought, Harrison's concerns are legitimate enough to make me wonder if age and injuries are beginning to take a toll.
Of course, it is only the preseason, as Farrior is quick to point out. The Steelers are 2-0, and the first-team defense has allowed only one touchdown against the Giants and Lions.
"I don't think you can put too much in the preseason,'' Farrior said. "In the back of your mind, you still know it's preseason. You still know you've got time. We definitely try to play hard. We definitely want to play a good game.''
Speaking of Taylor, who never missed a game in his first seven seasons because of injury, the Steelers got a taste of what life would be like without him. Director of football operations Kevin Colbert said during training camp the team won't negotiate any more contracts until after the season. That makes it unlikely the Steelers will re-sign Taylor, who is entering the final year of his contract and will become an unrestricted free agent.
In Taylor's absence, the Steelers inserted second-year player Keenan Lewis at right cornerback against the Giants before moving him to left cornerback, where he has been playing behind Bryant McFadden. Lewis, who left Saturday's game with a concussion and was injury-prone as a rookie, is improving on the field but needs to prove he can stay healthy to be considered starting material.
McFadden had a tough time on the right side. When Taylor is in the game, he plays primarily man-to-man while the other corner plays zone. As Taylor's replacement, McFadden gave up the long completion to Smith. He was also late getting to the corner and couldn't prevent Bradshaw's touchdown run.
By John Harris, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, August 23, 2010
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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - At first glance, some of the statistics from Saturday night's Steelers-Giants preseason game don't appear to be cause for concern.
The Steelers were facing third-string quarterback Rhett Bomar, starting only because Eli Manning and backup Jim Sorgi were sidelined with injuries. Moreover, Giants starting running back Brandon Jacobs didn't play, and starting wide receiver Hakeem Nicks was ejected along with Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor after only four plays.
Still, the inexperienced Bomar completed 5 of 10 passes for 82 yards against the Steelers' first-team defenders, including a 45-yard strike to Steve Smith in the second quarter. The Giants also averaged 4.0 yards on nine rushes against the Steelers' first unit, including Ahmad Bradshaw's 9-yard touchdown bolt around left end, which came six plays after Smith's catch.
Try telling Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison the Giants' offensive production against the first team doesn't mean anything.
"We didn't play fundamentally sound the way we're used to playing,'' an unhappy Harrison said following the Steelers' 24-17 win.
Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau agreed with Harrison.
"I think (Harrison's comments are) very accurate,'' LeBeau said. "That's why you need preseason. That's why you need training camp. You can't just walk out there and start playing. Any drill you simulate is never going to be as quick as it is on the field.''
Harrison delivered a similar salvo to his teammates following a preseason loss against Buffalo two years ago, when he accused them of taking the exhibition season lightly. Of course, the Steelers' defense that year finished No. 1 overall and played a major role in winning Super Bowl XLIII.
So much for Harrison's concerns.
Two years later, however, Harrison finds himself repeating a familiar complaint.
"I remember that,'' inside linebacker James Farrior said of Harrison's outburst in 2008. "We were all upset with how we played. We felt like we didn't play up to our standards. Even though it was preseason, not playing up to our standards was disappointing.''
Particularly galling to Harrison this time was the Steelers' inability to stop the Giants' predictable attack that was directed by a newcomer at quarterback.
"We knew with (Bomar) in there they weren't going to do much passing like they would if Eli was in there,'' Harrison said. "We had a lot of missed tackles. I lost contain on the run where (Bradshaw) scored.''
Cause for concern? Probably not, although the Steelers' defense, featuring seven starters 30 and older, isn't getting any younger.
On second thought, Harrison's concerns are legitimate enough to make me wonder if age and injuries are beginning to take a toll.
Of course, it is only the preseason, as Farrior is quick to point out. The Steelers are 2-0, and the first-team defense has allowed only one touchdown against the Giants and Lions.
"I don't think you can put too much in the preseason,'' Farrior said. "In the back of your mind, you still know it's preseason. You still know you've got time. We definitely try to play hard. We definitely want to play a good game.''
Speaking of Taylor, who never missed a game in his first seven seasons because of injury, the Steelers got a taste of what life would be like without him. Director of football operations Kevin Colbert said during training camp the team won't negotiate any more contracts until after the season. That makes it unlikely the Steelers will re-sign Taylor, who is entering the final year of his contract and will become an unrestricted free agent.
In Taylor's absence, the Steelers inserted second-year player Keenan Lewis at right cornerback against the Giants before moving him to left cornerback, where he has been playing behind Bryant McFadden. Lewis, who left Saturday's game with a concussion and was injury-prone as a rookie, is improving on the field but needs to prove he can stay healthy to be considered starting material.
McFadden had a tough time on the right side. When Taylor is in the game, he plays primarily man-to-man while the other corner plays zone. As Taylor's replacement, McFadden gave up the long completion to Smith. He was also late getting to the corner and couldn't prevent Bradshaw's touchdown run.
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