Pittsburgh Steelers Change Defensive Philosophy

[Oviedo]

Lemming...you stated "And what team has more of a rep as an "attacking" defense than this one?"

About half the teams in the NFL? I was speaking about last season as stated in my post. No one feared the Steelers D last season.

Agree. At times it seemed that opponents knew exactly what to expect. After losing to the Raiders, Carson Palmer said exactly that.

People fear a defense when you are getting to their QB and taking the ball away not when the defense is first in yards allowed but you still beat them.

[Slapstick]

It isn't exactly like the defense "allowed" the Raiders to win, though they weren't great by any stretch in that game...

Turnovers by the Steelers offense and special teams miscues were as much or even more to blame for losses as the defense...

[Oviedo]

It isn't exactly like the defense "allowed" the Raiders to win, though they weren't great by any stretch in that game...

Turnovers by the Steelers offense and special teams miscues were as much or even more to blame for losses as the defense...

But it was an example of a defense that use to routinely make game changing plays but hasn't been able to on a consistent basis for a couple of years. IMO that is because the defense has gone passive scared to death to give up the big play versus attacking like they use to.

[Sugar]

IMO, the #1 job of the defense is to keep opponents from scoring. Additionally, keeping the opponent on their side of the 50 and giving your O good field position is #2. Things like pressure on the QB or stopping the run or takeaways are fantastic side effects, but are not the primary mission. Just my $0.2.

[Captain QB]

IMO, the #1 job of the defense is to keep opponents from scoring. Additionally, keeping the opponent on their side of the 50 and giving your O good field position is #2. Things like pressure on the QB or stopping the run or takeaways are fantastic side effects, but are not the primary mission. Just my $0.2.

Turnovers and QB sacks generally go a long way to stopping an opponent from scoring.

[ikestops85]

I agree, the talent is the issue.

One gap or two, Ziggy Hood is not going to suddenly become JJ Watt.

Worilds I think can be ok, but I've seen nothing to lead me to believe that he will be a force. I am excited about Jones. Woodley returning to form will be a major key.

I agree with you about Ziggy but Worilds really impressed me last year when he subbed for Woodley on the left side. I think he did a great job on that side as opposed to his play when on the right side.

[Shawn]

Woodley himself said he was asked to drop into coverage...alot. So, we took one of the best pass rushers in the NFL and asked him to play DB.

[steelfin]

Woodley himself said he was asked to drop into coverage...alot. So, we took one of the best pass rushers in the NFL and asked him to play DB.

Woodley himself is making excuses for his lack of conditioning and lack of production....

[Shawn]

Woodley himself is making excuses for his lack of conditioning and lack of production....

I doubt he would outright lie about being dropped back into coverage. My point isn't to debate Woodley's conditioning but to make a point about a mindful attacking nature (or lack there of) of the D.

[phillyesq]

Woodley himself said he was asked to drop into coverage...alot. So, we took one of the best pass rushers in the NFL and asked him to play DB.

And I can find the stats again, but he did not drop back into coverage any more than he did in years in which he was successful rushing the passer.

[phillyesq]

I agree with you about Ziggy but Worilds really impressed me last year when he subbed for Woodley on the left side. I think he did a great job on that side as opposed to his play when on the right side.

I agree, I liked him better on the left side.

I see Worilds as a Gildon or Haggans level OLB - a guy who can do the job when paired with a Joey Porter or James Harrison type on the other side.

[Shawn]

And I can find the stats again, but he did not drop back into coverage any more than he did in years in which he was successful rushing the passer.

Again not the point. I'm not debating his productivity. I'm debating why we are dropping pass rushers into coverage...often.

[Jooser]

Again not the point. I'm not debating his productivity. I'm debating why we are dropping pass rushers into coverage...often.

Shawn, I think the idea is, in this defensive philosophy, that you have your secondary playing deep to eliminate the long stuff. That kinda forces the offense to throw short. So, you drop your LB's and try to clog the throwing lanes and hope the QB rushes his read a makes a bad throw into traffic. The problem has been (recently), we've allowed the QB too much time to improvise because of lack of pressure from whomever is the designated blitzer. Generally, at least one LB is tasked with rushing along with the DL. I guess I can see some merit in getting the ends to attack the QB more on obvious passing situations, but they can be burnt on draw type plays too. (<<<<---- think Ray Rice here.)

[Captain Lemming]

Lemming...you stated "And what team has more of a rep as an "attacking" defense than this one?"

About half the teams in the NFL? I was speaking about last season as stated in my post. No one feared the Steelers D last season.

Shawn but that is a PLAYER issue not scheme. Rushing Ziggy and Casey aint scaring anybody last year. AGAIN, Harrison not healthy, ditto for Troy, Woodley fat and slow, that aint scheme. If Sure people did not FEAR our D last year like they used to. I said REPUTATION which aint one year, I am talking about the Steelers under DL as a coach. WE ALL KNOW the reputation of his defense IS WITHOUT PEER when it come to attacking nature. Shawn what has changed? Did he use to bring the rush from the defensive line? It is the health, age and shape of his best PLAYERS. Now he is tweaking his scheme. Not because the old was a failure but as Keisel implied "when they had Harrison and Woodley"(healthy) they rightly freed up the LBers to create havoc. This change has less to do with a bad scheme than less confidence in the LBers.

[Captain Lemming]

Again not the point. I'm not debating his productivity. I'm debating why we are dropping pass rushers into coverage...often.

Nothing new. The WHOLE KEY to the defense is YOU DONT KNOW WHO is coming. You want Troy or Timmons to shoot a gap untouched to make a clean sack? Somebody HAS to drop back. The numbers are out, Woodley dropped back LESS than he did in big sack seasons. His whining is just an excuse. "Sure Lamar you weren't fat and slow" yeah I believe that.