Defensive Personnel: Cowher Superior

[Oviedo]

Godell wants touchdown passers. He does not want JH pile driving QBs into the ground. If he wasn't held on every freaking play, he'd have 50 sacks.

But that is how things are so what are other teams doing to adjust that we aren't? lamenting how things have changed won't help us win.

[Oviedo]

It could also be that he doesn't want to go back to the grind of coaching. He probably makes a 7 figure salary and has a pretty easy life. Why trade that for the life of a coach, which must be pretty rough?

I stay right in the studio if I was hime. Guy probably has $20M in the bank and like you said makes very high six- or low seven-figures for watching film and talking. He probably can pick up some nice change making appearances and speaking too. None of that required 18-20 hour days at the office.

[SteelCrazy]

Agree with all you said and that being said why aren't we adjusting to the changes in strategy and rules? I don't think our players aren't talented, if anything across the board they are more athletic than the players they have replaced.

I think a lot of it has to do with the reads our LB's have to make. Sometimes they have the option to rush the passer or play coverge (mostly OLB). However, its not a coin flip, they have to make reads and be correct in doing so. Being football smart goes a long way in LeBeau's D.

[Sugar]

It could also be that he doesn't want to go back to the grind of coaching. He probably makes a 7 figure salary and has a pretty easy life. Why trade that for the life of a coach, which must be pretty rough?

Yeah, that's all true. Many times a fierce competitor will have a drive to compete no matter the obstacles. Perhaps Bill just got it all out of his system.

[Steelerphile]

We definitely do not have any young talent blowing it up. Chris Carter did a decent job, but he doesnt look like a guy ready to blow it up. We wont know about Spence until next year. Adrian Robinson seems like he may be a very good pass rusher, but if he cant learn the other aspects of the D, we may never see him on the field. Our CB's are also looking very suspect. Lewis looked way behind in Denver. Even worse than Willie Gay. I hope we look better against the Jets

You single out Chris Carter to say he did a good job? You must be joshing. He was invisible. Worilds looked very good on the one sack that he made. I still think he has elite pass-rush abilities if only he could get healthy and stay on the field. But a bad wrist is a big problem for a football player. Hood has worked too hard in the off-season to not show something more this year. I will be surprised if the dline does not play better in the ensuing weeks. I'm ready to jump off the Timmons bandwagon. He plays like he is trying to not get hurt. He has to be more of a leader.

[virgilbosetti]

Not trying to start an avalanche here but Cowher was a better leader IMO. His print was all over the defense, to his credit, and the offense probably to a fault.

[steelz09]

You single out Chris Carter to say he did a good job? You must be joshing. He was invisible. Worilds looked very good on the one sack that he made. I still think he has elite pass-rush abilities if only he could get healthy and stay on the field. But a bad wrist is a big problem for a football player. Hood has worked too hard in the off-season to not show something more this year. I will be surprised if the dline does not play better in the ensuing weeks. I'm ready to jump off the Timmons bandwagon. He plays like he is trying to not get hurt. He has to be more of a leader.

As much as I'd hate to admit it, I watched a 37 y/o Ray Lewis play a better game Monday night than Timmons has ever had in his career.

[steelz09]

When Larry Foote turns in your best defensive performance (though Troy also had an impact not seen on the stat sheet), you know there is an issue.

I think a lot of the problems start with the defensive line. Smith-Hampton=Kimo/Keisel were disruptive. They commanded the line of scrimmage. You either double teamed them or they destroyed plays.

Casey is not as explosive as he used to be, but still can at least hold his ground. I didn't see Ziggy or Heyward really step up and dominate in week 1, nor McClendon. If the defensive line is getting blown off the ball, the scheme doesn't matter. The results will not be good.

Kimo - 6th round pick
Aaron Smith - 4th round pick
Brett Keisel - 7th round pick

Ziggy - 1st round pick
Heyward - 1st round pick

See the problem? Where is the production in our 1st rounders on defense? Add Timmons to that list too. It's not like we aren't drafting defensive players in the 1st. We simply aren't seeing 1st round production from our 1st round picks. That's a MAJOR problem.

[SteelCrazy]

Godell wants touchdown passers. He does not want JH pile driving QBs into the ground. If he wasn't held on every freaking play, he'd have 50 sacks.

Kimo - 6th round pick
Aaron Smith - 4th round pick
Brett Keisel - 7th round pick

Ziggy - 1st round pick
Heyward - 1st round pick

See the problem? Where is the production in our 1st rounders on defense? Add Timmons to that list too. It's not like we aren't draft defensive players in the 1st. We simply aren't seeing 1st round production from our players. That's a MAJOR problem.

Agree with that....It isnt the round, its having an eye for talent and apparently Cowher was the one with that eye.

[stopplayn]

It was one game vs argueably the best quarterback in NFL history. I watched this D all preseason and they were breaking on the ball creating turnovers etc. Its hard to do that vs a Qb that decides where to throw the ball pre snap. Sanchez is no Manning. The defense will come up huge (NEW SCHOOL PLAYING A ROLE). Remember this post.

[stopplayn]

Cowher didnt draft. IF he did we wouldnt have Ben Roethlisberger (he was totally against drafting Ben). A little Perspective

[hawaiiansteel]

Cowher didnt draft. IF he did we wouldnt have Ben Roethlisberger (he was totally against drafting Ben). A little Perspective

that's correct, Cowher wanted to draft Shawn Andrews instead...

[Oviedo]

Kimo - 6th round pick
Aaron Smith - 4th round pick
Brett Keisel - 7th round pick

Ziggy - 1st round pick
Heyward - 1st round pick

See the problem? Where is the production in our 1st rounders on defense? Add Timmons to that list too. It's not like we aren't drafting defensive players in the 1st. We simply aren't seeing 1st round production from our 1st round picks. That's a MAJOR problem.

The problem is what those first rounders are being asked to do. Hold up and impede the OL. Same thing that Smith and Kiesel were asked to do. If you want more from Hood and Heyward, play a defense that turns then loose and allows them to play an attacking style versus being a speedbump slowing down the OL. Put Hood and Heyward on the Giants DL and watch how they are making impacts every game.

The MAJOR problem is what LeBeau is having talented, athletic players do to fit his defense that he will never change.

[phillyesq]

The problem is what those first rounders are being asked to do. Hold up and impede the OL. Same thing that Smith and Kiesel were asked to do. If you want more from Hood and Heyward, play a defense that turns then loose and allows them to play an attacking style versus being a speedbump slowing down the OL. Put Hood and Heyward on the Giants DL and watch how they are making impacts every game.

The MAJOR problem is what LeBeau is having talented, athletic players do to fit his defense that he will never change.

This is a fallacy. These guys are asked to do more than impede the offensive line. Aaron Smith was unblockable one-on-one. He wasn't asked to hold up blockers; he was asked to destroy plays. And if you didn't double team him, he did. Too often, Ziggy gets blown off the ball. The idea of "occupying blockers" is to play in such a manner that you can't be blocked or moved one-on-one. These guys aren't winning individual matchups, let alone commanding double teams.

[RKSteel]

But that is how things are so what are other teams doing to adjust that we aren't? lamenting how things have changed won't help us win.

They have defensive cooridinaters that can adjust and gameplan for these passing offenses.