Ben: "We'll Be Running The Ball A Lot More, So Fans Should Be Happy"

[Captain Lemming]

We'll see. Like I pointed out today, the Jags 2007 playoff game they did exactly what Art wanted: Run the ball and play defense late.

They lost.

They ran 26 times and passed 42 times.
Three passes were picked, one a pick six, another led to a score.
We lost by THREE measly points!!!

Crash the 2007 strategy WAS NOT EMPLOYED in that game.
We put the game on the broad shoulders of Ben and he had a season high number of attempts.

The defense game up only 239 yards and had two picks, at least one that lead to a score. But we blame DL?

We played Crash football and "Crash" is what we did against a clearly inferior opponent.

[Northern_Blitz]

We'll see. Like I pointed out today, the Jags 2007 playoff game they did exactly what Art wanted: Run the ball and play defense late.

They lost.

This is ridiculous.

First, in that game we had 43 rushing yards (out of 340 yards) and they ran the ball 26 times out of 76 plays. We did not run the ball often (33%), nor did we run the ball effectively. That loss (much like the Raven's lost last year) can be but directly on turnovers.

Second, despite having a terrible running game, we almost won because good Ben showed up in the second half. Unfortunately, terrible Ben showed up in the first and threw 3 picks. That's why we didn't run the ball too much, because we were way down. Doesn't really fit the prevent D narrative you seem to be creating.

It's also worth noting the the D, got two turnovers late in the game so good Ben had the chance to score some points (some of which came through the running game).

[URL]http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2008010501/2007/POST18/jaguars@steelers?icampaign=GC_schedule_rr#tab=anal yze&analyze=boxscore[/URL]

[Oviedo]

I'm a huge fan of Lebeaus but I have to admit, his defenses look very confused at times. I don't even think confused is the right word but, without having Troy, Harris and Woodley playing lights out his defense just looks sluggish ...I can't put my finger on it.

I've been saying for the past two years that the only people we are confusing with LeBeau's self imposed complexity is ourselves in many cases. IMO the sluggish nature is because both our DL and DBs are asked to play passive. The DL is rarely in the attack mode because they are just suppose to "dance" with the OL to keep them off the LBs and the DBs are just asked to keep the guy in front of them.

I totally agree with your initial hypothesis, we ask three guys to be dynamic and eight others not to let anything bad happens. The Steelers "attacking style" has become a myth. Less and less do we see the ILBs blitzing or Cornerbacks blitzing. We overly rely on an aging Harrison, Troy and Woodley. It's no accident that we had the lowest sacks and turnover numbers in a decade last year. The 3-4 is great when in the constant attack mode. It is easily exploited when not.

Many times it seems LeBeau is playcalling like he is afraid something will go wrong and I don't say that because I don't like LeBeau which will be the immediate reaction. I think Lebeau was great in his time when he was innovating and we were blitzing from everywhere. That isn't happening anymore which is why I think we need a fresh look on our defense and what it does.

[RuthlessBurgher]

I'm a huge fan of Lebeaus but I have to admit, his defenses look very confused at times. I don't even think confused is the right word but, without having Troy, Harris and Woodley playing lights out his defense just looks sluggish ...I can't put my finger on it.

You can play this game with any defense...

...without having Haloti Ngata, Terrell Suggs, and Ed Reed playing lights out the Ravens defense just looks sluggish...I can't put my finger on it...

...without having Justin Smith, Patrick Willis, and Dashon Goldson playing lights out the Niners defense just looks sluggish...I can't put my finger on it...

I could go on, but you get the idea...

[birtikidis]

Dick LeBeau's defense gave up 20-7 4th quarter lead.

THEN.....the offense went 88 yards in two minutes, and saved his ass.

And without that defense we lose. Bc we couldnt score against the CARDINALS

[Crash]

And without that defense we lose. Bc we couldnt score against the CARDINALS

We only had the ball 5 times in 45 minutes because the defense couldn't get off the field. We scored on three of those drives.

The offense came out on fire, 10 points on two straight drives, gaining yards, chewing up clock, they score a TD to go up 10-0.

Then................the defense gave up another TD right after the offense scored one themselves.

I guess the defense was tired after one series of work.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

I think Lebeau was great in his time when he was innovating and we were blitzing from everywhere. That isn't happening anymore which is why I think we need a fresh look on our defense and what it does.

The low number of turnovers forced by the D last season is good evidence for what you are saying.
Attack, force turnovers, shut down the opponent in critical situations...all of these things are of greater value, IMO, than simply being at the top in fewest yards allowed.

[Crash]

We don't attack anymore. The only who attacks is Troy. Corner blitzes are rare. Clark blitzing is rare.

It's basically Troy, and ILBs up the middle. Those are our "blitzes".

[ikestops85]

The low number of turnovers forced by the D last season is good evidence for what you are saying.
Attack, force turnovers, shut down the opponent in critical situations...all of these things are of greater value, IMO, than simply being at the top in fewest yards allowed.

I have to agree that being first in fewest yards allowed doesn't mean much. Being first in fewest points allowed means you are playing damned good defense.

[Crash]

Not all the time. When the Texans held the ball for 11 minutes to start the game, did their "defense" stop our offense?

No.

When the Steelers offense held the ball for almost 6 minutes to start the Pats game, did the "defense" stop Brady?

No.

That's what some fans can't grasp. Context means more than box scores and fantasy rankings.

[fezziwig]

What is the problem then, players getting old ? Injuries or Lebeau forgot how to coach ? I believe Harris was banged up at the start last season. Smith wasn't getting his job done when he was playing. Clark would make receivers regret they caught the ball in his area. Troy doesn't seem to be Johnny On The Spot like he used to be. I thought Ike did a good job up until the Broncos playoff and even then, I thought it had to do more with poor coaching schemes than it had to do with Ike. Lebeau acting like Tebow had no arms. Woodley, I can't recall how his season went. I think he started out slow again and then poured it on or did he start out with a bang and then drift away ? No matter what the issues were of last season they usually right the ship on defense after having an off year. Hopefully they'll figure things out.

[birtikidis]

We only had the ball 5 times in 45 minutes because the defense couldn't get off the field. We scored on three of those drives.

The offense came out on fire, 10 points on two straight drives, gaining yards, chewing up clock, they score a TD to go up 10-0.

Then................the defense gave up another TD right after the offense scored one themselves.

I guess the defense was tired after one series of work.

And the defense scored 7 in the first half. Nearly as much as the offense.

[birtikidis]

What is the problem then, players getting old ? Injuries or Lebeau forgot how to coach ? I believe Harris was banged up at the start last season. Smith wasn't getting his job done when he was playing. Clark would make receivers regret they caught the ball in his area. Troy doesn't seem to be Johnny On The Spot like he used to be. I thought Ike did a good job up until the Broncos playoff and even then, I thought it had to do more with poor coaching schemes than it had to do with Ike. Lebeau acting like Tebow had no arms. Woodley, I can't recall how his season went. I think he started out slow again and then poured it on or did he start out with a bang and then drift away ? No matter what the issues were of last season they usually right the ship on defense after having an off year. Hopefully they'll figure things out.

The main problem is that the league has changed and our offense can't keep up with the changes.

[Crash]

We don't want our offense to change. Art wants the run game.

We changed in 2009 and the offense was scapegoated for the defenses 4th quarter problems.

Then we dump our best receiver for a box of cleats.

And the offense has been erratic ever since.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Then we dump our best receiver for a box of cleats.

You talking about Santokio? Considering the state of his intelligence, and the condition of the cow pasture they call Heinz Field, that might be one of the best trades we ever made!