Is it time for the Steelers to rethink their approach?

[feltdizz]

Re: Is it time for the Steelers to rethink their approach?

Oh, and to take the OPPOSITE viewpoint - sounds like it was a LeBeau-style defence that won the game for the Giants against the Packers yesterday - keeping everything in front of you, allowing nothing deep.

Rodgah's longest pass was 21 yards yesterday, and his rushing average was almost equal to his passing average (9.4 rushing average vs 10.2 ypa).

So what's the take home message? Defense is irrelevant?

Or LeBeau-style defenses wins championships*?

* (With the right personnel )

Packer fumbles and dropped passes lost the game for them not the Giants keeping people in front of them. It was greatly aided by tremendous pressure on Rodgers by the Giants four man DL. They rushed a minimum of four every play and didn't have three DL trying to beat five OL like we did way too many times this season. Pass rush by guys dedicated to rush the passer is the key.

Packers were fumbling because of the Giants D....

Pack WR's dropped passes in the SB too... maybe Pack WR's aren't that hot in big games.

[Dee Dub]

Re: Is it time for the Steelers to rethink their approach?

How funny. After the Giants win the Super Bowl everyone will be saying how defenses win championships.

Fans and the media are so fickle.

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

Re: Is it time for the Steelers to rethink their approach?

How funny. After the Giants win the Super Bowl everyone will be saying how defenses win championships.

Fans and the media are so fickle.

I am NOT fickle!!!

Well, maybe I am. A little bit.

No, wait - I am definitely NOT. Definitely!!

[NorthCoast]

Re: Is it time for the Steelers to rethink their approach?

It's funny to me that three of the four teams left are a lot closer in style to the Steelers. In fact, of the teams left standing, only NE would be characterized as an offensive juggernaut. Should we be shocked that most of those high-powered offenses petered out in the playoffs?

I thought this thread was going to be about a defensive philosophy change. Did you watch the Giants manhandle GB? They rushed using 4 DEs (and they had 3 sets of them) on nearly every play and put a ton of heat on Rodgers. Quarterbacks today do not like getting it, when they do, their game completely changes.
For all the rule changes in favor of the offense (and even some pathetic calls against defenses) it just confirms the adage that a strong defense wins championships. This, despite Goodell's best effort.

[Oviedo]

Re: Is it time for the Steelers to rethink their approach?

It's funny to me that three of the four teams left are a lot closer in style to the Steelers. In fact, of the teams left standing, only NE would be characterized as an offensive juggernaut. Should we be shocked that most of those high-powered offenses petered out in the playoffs?

I thought this thread was going to be about a defensive philosophy change. Did you watch the Giants manhandle GB? They rushed using 4 DEs (and they had 3 sets of them) on nearly every play and put a ton of heat on Rodgers. Quarterbacks today do not like getting it, when they do, their game completely changes.
For all the rule changes in favor of the offense (and even some pathetic calls against defenses) it just confirms the adage that a strong defense wins championships. This, despite Goodell's best effort.

...or confirms that a 4-3 defense is more effective against these types of high powered offense

[Dee Dub]

Re: Is it time for the Steelers to rethink their approach?

3 of the final 4 teams run the football and have above average defenses. Hmmmmmmmmm? Just when you think the media has you convinced the game is changing.....huh!!

[feltdizz]

Re: Is it time for the Steelers to rethink their approach?

Well, most of the board was screaming for more weapons on O to keep up with these high powered offenses....

12-4 is 12-4 and it doesn't matter how much you beat your opponents by.... this isn't college and margin of victory doesn't help your ranking in the playoffs.

[Chadman]

Re: Is it time for the Steelers to rethink their approach?

It's funny to me that three of the four teams left are a lot closer in style to the Steelers. In fact, of the teams left standing, only NE would be characterized as an offensive juggernaut. Should we be shocked that most of those high-powered offenses petered out in the playoffs?

I thought this thread was going to be about a defensive philosophy change. Did you watch the Giants manhandle GB? They rushed using 4 DEs (and they had 3 sets of them) on nearly every play and put a ton of heat on Rodgers. Quarterbacks today do not like getting it, when they do, their game completely changes.
For all the rule changes in favor of the offense (and even some pathetic calls against defenses) it just confirms the adage that a strong defense wins championships. This, despite Goodell's best effort.

...or confirms that a 4-3 defense is more effective against these types of high powered offense

49ers beat the Saints with a 3-4....

[MeetJoeGreene]

Re: Is it time for the Steelers to rethink their approach?

The Steelers could focus primarily on fixing the OL without ignoring the Defense. They do get 7 picks, right?

As far as Chadman sees it, the Steelers need 2 decent OL, a NT & an ILB primarily.

It is possible that either Foote or Farrior sticks around to play ILB next season. It's also possible that Sylvester could be 'the answer' there. Chadman wouldn't use a #1 pick on ILB. In fact, ILB is the prime candidate to be the #4 or at best #3 pick for them.

The NT position could be more problematic as Hampton is visibly slowing down, and McLendon is no guarentee of filling that role. There are no other options, and the play of the NT directly effects the play of the ILB in a 3-4. NT is a priority, at least a #2 worthy pick, but quite possibly a #1 pick.

With Gilbert likely to move to LT, and Colon back next season (don't delude yourself, they won't cut the guy they just resigned long term because of an injury), the OT position is 'likely' sorted. Jon Scott would most probably be the #1 backup OT, and maybe Jamon Meredith gets a shot at the #4 OT spot? The OG position, however, is a mess with zero certainty for either LG or RG. Luckily, if there is an 'easy' position to fill on the OL- it's OG. Back-to-back OG's in rounds 2 & 3, or at least 2 picks out of the top 4 at OG, gives the Steelers a couple of reasonably talented (you would assume) players to compete with Legursky & Foster for the starting positions.

Now that chadman can focus on things other than MNFE, he is making a lot of sense. I agree with the logic and thinking behind this post.

[Dee Dub]

Re: Is it time for the Steelers to rethink their approach?

The Steelers could focus primarily on fixing the OL without ignoring the Defense. They do get 7 picks, right?

As far as Chadman sees it, the Steelers need 2 decent OL, a NT & an ILB primarily.

It is possible that either Foote or Farrior sticks around to play ILB next season. It's also possible that Sylvester could be 'the answer' there. Chadman wouldn't use a #1 pick on ILB. In fact, ILB is the prime candidate to be the #4 or at best #3 pick for them.

The NT position could be more problematic as Hampton is visibly slowing down, and McLendon is no guarentee of filling that role. There are no other options, and the play of the NT directly effects the play of the ILB in a 3-4. NT is a priority, at least a #2 worthy pick, but quite possibly a #1 pick.

With Gilbert likely to move to LT, and Colon back next season (don't delude yourself, they won't cut the guy they just resigned long term because of an injury), the OT position is 'likely' sorted. Jon Scott would most probably be the #1 backup OT, and maybe Jamon Meredith gets a shot at the #4 OT spot? The OG position, however, is a mess with zero certainty for either LG or RG. Luckily, if there is an 'easy' position to fill on the OL- it's OG. Back-to-back OG's in rounds 2 & 3, or at least 2 picks out of the top 4 at OG, gives the Steelers a couple of reasonably talented (you would assume) players to compete with Legursky & Foster for the starting positions.

Now that chadman can focus on things other than MNFE, he is making a lot of sense. I agree with the logic and thinking behind this post.

I dont think Chadman's past is realistic. He acts as if the Steelers are going to fill all these holes in one draft. Or that all picks are going to pan out. What the Steelers need more than anything is at least one immediate impact player on either side of the ball. And that is not an easy thing to do in a draft especially at number 24. It can be done but not with the approach that certain positions need to be filled. Take best player on the board at a position of need.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Re: Is it time for the Steelers to rethink their approach?

The Steelers could focus primarily on fixing the OL without ignoring the Defense. They do get 7 picks, right?

As far as Chadman sees it, the Steelers need 2 decent OL, a NT & an ILB primarily.

It is possible that either Foote or Farrior sticks around to play ILB next season. It's also possible that Sylvester could be 'the answer' there. Chadman wouldn't use a #1 pick on ILB. In fact, ILB is the prime candidate to be the #4 or at best #3 pick for them.

The NT position could be more problematic as Hampton is visibly slowing down, and McLendon is no guarentee of filling that role. There are no other options, and the play of the NT directly effects the play of the ILB in a 3-4. NT is a priority, at least a #2 worthy pick, but quite possibly a #1 pick.

With Gilbert likely to move to LT, and Colon back next season (don't delude yourself, they won't cut the guy they just resigned long term because of an injury), the OT position is 'likely' sorted. Jon Scott would most probably be the #1 backup OT, and maybe Jamon Meredith gets a shot at the #4 OT spot? The OG position, however, is a mess with zero certainty for either LG or RG. Luckily, if there is an 'easy' position to fill on the OL- it's OG. Back-to-back OG's in rounds 2 & 3, or at least 2 picks out of the top 4 at OG, gives the Steelers a couple of reasonably talented (you would assume) players to compete with Legursky & Foster for the starting positions.

Now that chadman can focus on things other than MNFE, he is making a lot of sense. I agree with the logic and thinking behind this post.

I dont think Chadman's past is realistic. He acts as if the Steelers are going to fill all these holes in one draft. Or that all picks are going to pan out. What the Steelers need more than anything is at least one immediate impact player on either side of the ball. And that is not an easy thing to do in a draft especially at number 24. It can be done but not with the approach that certain positions need to be filled. Take best player on the board at a position of need.

And go get a proven OL player in free agency as well.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Is it time for the Steelers to rethink their approach?

maybe concentrating their efforts on the OL is in the Steelers' future?


Limiting sacks tops on 2012 season agenda for Steelers

By Scott Brown, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, January 18, 2012


Art Rooney II said he'd like the Steelers to become more consistent on offense and for them to cut down on sacks.

The Steelers president did not call for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who frequently holds onto the ball to extend plays, to make significant changes to his style of play.

"He may need to tweak it a little bit, but Ben is Ben and you wouldn't want to convince him that he's got to completely change his game because a lot of what he does is the reasons he's successful," Rooney said. "The other side of the coin is he is turning 30 (in March), and we do need him to stay healthy."

Roethlisberger was sacked 40 times this season. When asked if keeping him more upright in 2012 is tied to upgrading the offensive line, Rooney said, "For the most part, I would say we feel like we have the people in the building that can do the job. That's not to say that we won't try to get better as we prepare for the offseason, and the draft is always something that we look at as an opportunity to get better."

Rooney said he doesn't expect the Steelers to make any big-name signings during free agency, which starts at 4 p.m. March 13.

ADDING SEATS

Expansion is coming to Heinz Field, though it won't happen until after the 2012 season.

Rooney said the Steelers will add about 3,000 seats to the open end of the stadium.

Extra seats had been installed there temporarily for the Winter Classic, which was played Jan. 1, 2011. Rooney said plans to add seats in that area permanently were put on hold last year because of the NFL lockout.

"The uncertainty of the lockout is really what pushed us into next year, because we sort of had to pull the trigger on the project last June," Rooney said.

EXTRA POINTS

Look for the Steelers to re-sign quarterbacks Byron Leftwich and Charlie Batch. Both, along with Dennis Dixon, are unrestricted free agents. "We like the quarterbacks we have on our roster, and we're hopeful to sign at least some of them," Rooney said. ... The Steelers are waiting to see if defensive end Brett Keisel needs to have groin surgery. ... Wide receiver Tyler Grisham signed a futures contract with the Denver Broncos. Grisham appeared in four games for the Steelers in 2009, catching one pass for 14 yards. He has exhausted his practice-squad eligibility.

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