Defending

**RussBII** · 08-22-2014, 10:54 AM

I don't give two figs about the score last night. I'm a little perturbed they seemed so flat. That'll happen in the regular season for sure, it always does at some point in a 16 game season. Last night was a tough one, they had a huge distraction, and they ran into a buzzsaw. Tough to regroup and focus when the tempo is forced upon you.

We'll be fine.

**K Train** · 08-22-2014, 10:55 AM

Preseason is glorified practice. You want to work on things, but since its so public you dont want to show your hand...hence the reason we didnt see much no huddle i think.

Like i said before, Chip was playing mid season offense...the steelers were very much in preseason mode when it came to game planning and play calling. This team wont be coming out flat against the browns, after last year i dont think its possible

**papillon** · 08-22-2014, 11:02 AM

Originally posted by steelsnis

I hate to feel like I'm defending last night's performance (because the Steelers sure as hell weren't doing much defending...wocka wocka wocka...)

The truth is, the team, as a whole was awful last night. It happens. Sometimes even in the regular season. But when it happens in the preseason, there's ZERO that I take out of it. I don't care which preseason game it is, there is no game-planning. Zip, zilch, zero. This is a chance for coaches to see specific players in specific situations so they can gauge their reactions. That's all it is. There is no planning to go after a certain player on the opposing team to exploit a perceived weakness. There are no exotic defenses called, or wild stunts executed to get to the QB.

Offensively, the best player on the Steelers (Ben) had a bad game last night. Again, it happens. Are you really worried that he'll do this in the regular season? No way!
[Nope, not worried about Ben, he's been great for 10 years, he's proven what he can do.]

Defensively, it was a mess. The Eagles however, run the single most exotic offense in the league. Nothing else comes close. I don't think they huddled a single time last night, even with their backup QB's in the game. This was a great chance for the Steelers D to get a taste of this funky-azz offense. You don't really think the defense would get beat this bad during the regular season do you?
[Yes, and here's why, regardless that they may have been playing a vanilla defense, the Eagles were physically better than the Steeler across from them. Not one Steeler could win a one-on-one battle, if you're relying on the scheme to win, you're in trouble. You have to be able to win a one-on-one and not one Steeler defender proved they could do that.]

Secretly coaches love stuff like this. Take an azz-whoopin in the preseason and use it to motivate guys moving forward. I seem to remember a regular-season azz-whoopin by these very same Eagles in Philly a few years ago. Anyone who was around this board then will remember how INSANE the comments were here after that game. I also seem to recall that season turning out OK.
[I'm not sure why they would need motivation moving forward. Porter seemed to be the only defensive player genuinely intense enough to play a football game last night, unfortunately, he hasn't had pads on in a few years.]

Sure a win in the preseason looks better than a loss in preseason. But sometimes a loss helps you improve more than a win ever can.

[URL="https://twitter.com/JayGlazer"]Jay Glazer ‏@JayGlazer [/URL] [URL="https://twitter.com/JayGlazer/status/502822958767681537"]30m[/URL]
Gang, don't overreact to preseason games. There's VERY little game planning. It's kinda like light sparring & hoping nobody comes out hurt

Dang it, need more characters.

Pappy

**feltdizz** · 08-22-2014, 11:27 AM

Originally posted by K Train

Preseason is glorified practice. You want to work on things, but since its so public you dont want to show your hand...hence the reason we didnt see much no huddle i think.

Like i said before, Chip was playing mid season offense...the steelers were very much in preseason mode when it came to game planning and play calling. This team wont be coming out flat against the browns, after last year i dont think its possible

This was early season Chip Kelly offense...

Oct 30th, 2013 Chip Kelly offense "The Eagles offense hasn't scored a touchdown in nearly 134 minutes of football."

**K Train** · 08-22-2014, 11:30 AM

Originally posted by feltdizz

This was early season Chip Kelly offense...

Oct 30th, 2013 Chip Kelly offense "The Eagles offense hasn't scored a touchdown in nearly 134 minutes of football."

What i meant was he was pulling out a lot of the playbook.

Remember how they started against the skins last year? The skins defense were EXHAUSTED, but that pace was not sustainable and they didnt sustain it.

**feltdizz** · 08-22-2014, 11:36 AM

Originally posted by K Train

What i meant was he was pulling out a lot of the playbook.

Remember how they started against the skins last year? The skins defense were EXHAUSTED, but that pace was not sustainable and they didnt sustain it.

Yep... that's why I said early season... by mid season they hit a brick wall and couldn't score for a few games. Injuries mount up when you have 53 men instead of 85 kids like in college.

Hell, even in college part of the reason they always fell short with Chip was due to losing key players.... it's fun to watch but hard to maintain for a season.

**Shawn** · 08-22-2014, 12:36 PM

How did your preseason theories work out for you last year?

**feltdizz** · 08-22-2014, 02:08 PM

Originally posted by Shawn

How did your preseason theories work out for you last year?

Who knows... we lost Pouncey on the second series due to DD diving on his leg and Foote also was lost for the season.

Don't let facts get in the way tho...

Last week we were headed to the SB, now its fire the coaches if we miss the playoffs... I hate to blame Cheech and Chong but I think their incident had an impact our team last night.

**Shawn** · 08-22-2014, 02:15 PM

Originally posted by feltdizz

Who knows... we lost Pouncey on the second series due to DD diving on his leg and Foote also was lost for the season.

Don't let facts get in the way tho...

Last week we were headed to the SB, now its fire the coaches if we miss the playoffs... I hate to blame Cheech and Chong but I think their incident had an impact our team last night.

Yes, Pouncey and Foote were the reasons the Steelers went 8-8. Come on. Other teams have injuries...major injuries...its part of the game. But hey don't let the facts get in the way tho...

**K Train** · 08-22-2014, 02:17 PM

I guess we can continue to act like they werent major blows right out of the gate.

Whats next, who wants to bitch about the raiders game?

**feltdizz** · 08-22-2014, 02:20 PM

Originally posted by Shawn

Yes, Pouncey and Foote were the reasons the Steelers went 8-8. Come on. Other teams have injuries...major injuries...its part of the game. But hey don't let the facts get in the way tho...

Pouncey and Foote damn sure had an impact on our first half of the season. As well as Bell's injury.

Once we stabilized the OL we played MUCH better.

Injuries are part of the game and sometimes they impact a teams success.

With all that said we were still a missed FG away from making the playoffs last year.

**feltdizz** · 08-22-2014, 02:22 PM

Originally posted by K Train

I guess we can continue to act like they werent major blows right out of the gate.

Whats next, who wants to bitch about the raiders game?

who needs a pro bowl center who calls the blocking assignments or a veteran LB who calls the defense...lol.

Defending

Defending

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