It starts with the 10yd cushion...

[feltdizz]

Sorry skyhawk but that is one of the most ignorant posts ever. You obviously havn't watched most of the defenses in the league to say that. I'm not saying the defense played well. They obviously played like sh*t in this game. It certainly wasn't the players or LeBeau's finest hour but to we are far from the most inept defense in the league.

We are still one of the better defenses but not near the top like we used to be. We don't get pressure on the QB and we aren't allowed to hit receivers hard anymore (that call on the hit on Heath was BS). We are certainly not feared anymore although I can only think of 2 defenses that are (Seattle and San Fran). So is the problem with the players or coaches or both? Since we have been playing the zone blitz with a soft cushion since LeBeau came back I really can't see how it is the system. It doesn't take Offensive Coordinators 10 years to "figure it out" and start beating it. No, they've known for a long time how to do that. I think it has more to do with the players not handling their responsibilities. That's not to say that LeBeau called a perfect game. Far from it but if we would have tackled like we normally do we would have won this game.

Note: To all you Gay bashers out there I would have rather had Gay on his worst day than what Cortez showed us yesterday.

nah.. Skyhawk is right... our D is soft and inept EVERY time we need a key stop. It's been going on for years.

3rd and throw out any number larger than 6 in must stop situation.. we fail every time.

This D puts up solid "stats" but teams have figured us out. Take the most average QB in the league and we make them look GOOD.

[skyhawk]

No forced turnovers in 30 or so quarters. THAT's inept.

Sure Ike can't catch, but he rarely has the opportunity TO catch. The more the DBs give up on the 10 yard cushions the more they will be able to make plays. You can't make plays if you are RARELY in position to do so.

Look at one of Ike's potential picks. He anticipated well and was not 10 yards off the ball and got his hands on it. Play a better cover 2 defense with tight coverage on the outside and safety help over the top (quit using Polamalu so much at the LOS so this can happen).

[skyhawk]

Just saw THIS.

[url]http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/4795163-74/polamalu-plays-steelers#axzz2gLeNZzJM[/url]

[ikestops85]

nah.. Skyhawk is right... our D is soft and inept EVERY time we need a key stop. It's been going on for years.

3rd and throw out any number larger than 6 in must stop situation.. we fail every time.

This D puts up solid "stats" but teams have figured us out. Take the most average QB in the league and we make them look GOOD.

I'm taking exception to "MOST" inept. We aren't even close to most inept. If you think so you haven't watched other teams play.

[steelblood]

At the start of todays game:
Me: Rob watch the first play of the game, it will be a short pass.
Rob: Dad how do you know?
Me: Just watch bud
Rob: Wow, dad how did you know that?
Me: That's because the Steelers start out every game like that and other teams know it.
Later on:
Rob: Dad why are the corners playing so far off the WR's?
Dad: I would love to know the same thing Rob

My son is 8 years old BTW

What is his name?

[BURGH86STEEL]

nah.. Skyhawk is right... our D is soft and inept EVERY time we need a key stop. It's been going on for years.

3rd and throw out any number larger than 6 in must stop situation.. we fail every time.

This D puts up solid "stats" but teams have figured us out. Take the most average QB in the league and we make them look GOOD.

Show me a defense that makes key stops year in and year out. I believe people's expectations in regard to "key stops" may be a bit unrealistic.

The defense made stops vs the Vikings. The problem is that they gave up to many uncharacteristic big plays. The Vikings offense converted 4/11 3rd downs. Cincy converted 7/17 3rd downs, Tenn converted 6/15 third downs, Bears converted 5/15 third downs. The Steelers defense was 4th in the league in 3rd down conversion percentage at 35.44% in 2012. Denver was number one in 2012 at 31.33%. The defense didn't fail every time. Perception isn't always reality.

The number one goal of a defense is to limit point production. Turnovers, sack, and everything else can't be counted on to win games. If the defense can limit the opposition from scoring points then the team will always have a chance to win. The Steelers won games based on that philosophy for years.

Games don't boil down to what teams have or haven't figured out. Games boil down to execution.

[skyhawk]

Show me a defense that makes key stops year in and year out. I believe people's expectations in regard to "key stops" may be a bit unrealistic.

The defense made stops vs the Vikings. The problem is that they gave up to many uncharacteristic big plays. The Vikings offense converted 4/11 3rd downs. Cincy converted 7/17 3rd downs, Tenn converted 6/15 third downs, Bears converted 5/15 third downs. The Steelers defense was 4th in the league in 3rd down conversion percentage at 35.44% in 2012. Denver was number one in 2012 at 31.33%. The defense didn't fail every time. Perception isn't always reality.

The number one goal of a defense is to limit point production. Turnovers, sack, and everything else can't be counted on to win games. If the defense can limit the opposition from scoring points then the team will always have a chance to win. The Steelers won games based on that philosophy for years.

Games don't boil down to what teams have or haven't figured out. Games boil down to execution.

Yes, they can. It's a team game. Just ask the Seahawks, time and time again, including this weekend. Ask the Steelers in 2008 and 2010 - time and time again the D does it's part. Not for the past three years they haven't.

[BURGH86STEEL]

Yes, they can. It's a team game. Just ask the Seahawks, time and time again, including this weekend. Ask the Steelers in 2008 and 2010 - time and time again the D does it's part. Not for the past three years they haven't.

Turnovers or sacks can't be counted on to win games because teams don't know when or if they will occur in a game.

What gives a team a better chance to win is if the offense takes care of the football. The bigger issue is that this team hasn't taken care of the football last season or this season. The defense created turnovers last season. The offense gave the ball away near the end of games last season.

The defense caused fumbles and had opportunities for INT's this season. For whatever reasons, the defense didn't finish on the opportunities they had. I don't know of any defense that could keep pace with the way the offense gave the ball away up to this point of the season (almost 3 turnovers per game). The offense didn't score many TD's off the turnovers the defense created last season. Do you believe the offense would had scored TD's off of turnovers this season? I don't.

[pittpete]

..........................

[Steelhere10]

..........................

Change his name to Dick lecushion.

[skyhawk]

Turnovers or sacks can't be counted on to win games because teams don't know when or if they will occur in a game.

What gives a team a better chance to win is if the offense takes care of the football. The bigger issue is that this team hasn't taken care of the football last season or this season. The defense created turnovers last season. The offense gave the ball away near the end of games last season.

The defense caused fumbles and had opportunities for INT's this season. For whatever reasons, the defense didn't finish on the opportunities they had. I don't know of any defense that could keep pace with the way the offense gave the ball away up to this point of the season (almost 3 turnovers per game). The offense didn't score many TD's off the turnovers the defense created last season. Do you believe the offense would had scored TD's off of turnovers this season? I don't.

Yes, I do.

However, one can't argue the fact that the O turns it over too much. It's a perfect storm of a not so good team. Turning the ball over and inability to create turnovers. Hence their -12 (or so)TO differential last year, like the worst in 30 years.

Neither unit is playing good football. And no accountability in sight - especially on the defensive side.

[feltdizz]

Show me a defense that makes key stops year in and year out. I believe people's expectations in regard to "key stops" may be a bit unrealistic.

The defense made stops vs the Vikings. The problem is that they gave up to many uncharacteristic big plays. The Vikings offense converted 4/11 3rd downs. Cincy converted 7/17 3rd downs, Tenn converted 6/15 third downs, Bears converted 5/15 third downs. The Steelers defense was 4th in the league in 3rd down conversion percentage at 35.44% in 2012. Denver was number one in 2012 at 31.33%. The defense didn't fail every time. Perception isn't always reality.

The number one goal of a defense is to limit point production. Turnovers, sack, and everything else can't be counted on to win games. If the defense can limit the opposition from scoring points then the team will always have a chance to win. The Steelers won games based on that philosophy for years.

Games don't boil down to what teams have or haven't figured out. Games boil down to execution.

That doesn't make sense... a 10 yard cushion on 3rd and 3 rarely stops a pass play for a 1st down. There is no "execution" to stop a first down with that defense.

I keep hearing "execution" but if you are executing a bad game plan it doesn't matter. Not double teaming Allen when it's clear he is abusing Adams... that's not poor execution.. that's a lack of FIGURING OUT that Adams can't handle Allen and you have to make adjustments.

..and why can't Turnovers, sacks and everything else be counted on to win games? It's the reason we are losing games!!! The teams we play and EVERY other team in the league is counting on their D to gets sacks and TO's but we shouldn't count on it because it would hurt DL's feelings? I'm sorry but I really have a hard time with this philosophy.

The O definitely has it's problems but this D is keeping pace as well... it would be nice to get 1 freaking TO by our D. Not sure why that is asking for too much in today's NFL but this is what happens when your best DB can't catch and your Safety is being used as a 5th LB.

[Slapstick]

..and why can't Turnovers, sacks and everything else be counted on to win games? It's the reason we are losing games!!! The teams we play and EVERY other team in the league is counting on their D to gets sacks and TO's but we shouldn't count on it because it would hurt DL's feelings? I'm sorry but I really have a hard time with this philosophy.

Because when you don't get them, like the Steelers haven't, you lose...

You can scheme to create turnovers, but it's not as reliable as playing sound defense...stripping at the ball instead of tackling the player works wonderfully if successful, but ends up giving up extra yards when not successful...

Relying on turnovers is a gamble...when you win, you look like a genius...when you don't, you look like a fool...

The idea that LeBeau is not coaching these guy to make plays on the ball is simply ridiculous...he's not coaching them to miss tackles either, but look what happened...

[feltdizz]

Because when you don't get them, like the Steelers haven't, you lose...

You can scheme to create turnovers, but it's not as reliable as playing sound defense...stripping at the ball instead of tackling the player works wonderfully if successful, but ends up giving up extra yards when not successful...

Relying on turnovers is a gamble...when you win, you look like a genius...when you don't, you look like a fool...

The idea that LeBeau is not coaching these guy to make plays on the ball is simply ridiculous...he's not coaching them to miss tackles either, but look what happened...

The D's job is to go get the ball.. always has been and always will be.

Sound D creates opportunities to create TO's... and since we aren't doing it we aren't getting TO's.

Fumble on 1 isn't sound D... but better blitz packages, swarming the guy with the ball and stripping it, hard legal hits that dislodge the ball.. all those things help create TO's.

We aren't attacking, we are reacting and this is why the D isn't getting TO's.