What I don't understand

[steelsnis]

I don't get it. Virtually EVERYONE on this board went into this season knowing that this defense was going to be a work in progress this season. Virtually EVERYONE figured that the D would struggle early in the season while it integrated new, young players into the team (or into the NFL). We all expected that they'd get better as the season progressed.

Let's harken back to a simpler time...a happier time. Let's look waaaaay back an entire 6 days, to last Sunday, when the Steelers played the best 1st half of offense and defense they had played in a long time. Did that just not happen? Was it a mirage?

How is it then, that after 6-quarters, SOOOOOOO many fans are screaming about firing everyone on the defensive staff, firing the head coach, and replacing the entire defensive scheme?

I know, I know, this team needs to be the best RIGHT NOW!

But if we all knew that this D was a work in progress, don't we owe them a chance to....ya know...progress???

[SidSmythe]

Until this defense has a true pass rusher and a true NT it's not going to stop anyone.

It's not a scheme problem..... its a personnel problem

[raycafan]

Yes steel, I agree with you, give them time. They play what the equivalent of 1/2 or 3/4 of a game for the whole preseason. Then they start and are expected to play the whole game without mistake or a learning curve. Blaming the coaches is the only thing people have to lash out at. Having played and coached and been involved in the game for 33 yrs of my 48 i have been associated with many different types of teams, some are fast out the gate but died by the end, others slow but improved quite a bit throughout the season to finish strong. Very few teams keep it all together for the entire season. When I was teased or ask what happen thursday night I just tell them lots of new faces learning new places. Some of it may be coaching and some of it is the players. Having been both it is never just 1 of them, it is usually a combination of the 2 at any given time. So I am willing to give some time to work things out, the Super Bowl is never won in September. Just my train of thought

I don't get it. Virtually EVERYONE on this board went into this season knowing that this defense was going to be a work in progress this season. Virtually EVERYONE figured that the D would struggle early in the season while it integrated new, young players into the team (or into the NFL). We all expected that they'd get better as the season progressed.

Let's harken back to a simpler time...a happier time. Let's look waaaaay back an entire 6 days, to last Sunday, when the Steelers played the best 1st half of offense and defense they had played in a long time. Did that just not happen? Was it a mirage?

How is it then, that after 6-quarters, SOOOOOOO many fans are screaming about firing everyone on the defensive staff, firing the head coach, and replacing the entire defensive scheme?

I know, I know, this team needs to be the best RIGHT NOW!

But if we all knew that this D was a work in progress, don't we owe them a chance to....ya know...progress???

[steelsnis]

Yes steel, I agree with you, give them time. They play what the equivalent of 1/2 or 3/4 of a game for the whole preseason. Then they start and are expected to play the whole game without mistake or a learning curve. Blaming the coaches is the only thing people have to lash out at. Having played and coached and been involved in the game for 33 yrs of my 48 i have been associated with many different types of teams, some are fast out the gate but died by the end, others slow but improved quite a bit throughout the season to finish strong. Very few teams keep it all together for the entire season. When I was teased or ask what happen thursday night I just tell them lots of new faces learning new places. Some of it may be coaching and some of it is the players. Having been both it is never just 1 of them, it is usually a combination of the 2 at any given time. So I am willing to give some time to work things out, the Super Bowl is never won in September. Just my train of thought

Agreed. I totally get the frustration though. I'm super frustrated. I HATE when the Steelers lose. It freakin ruins my day, and the next day, and the next day, haha. It's totally normal to get frustrated or even pissed after a loss, and I get that this place is a perfect venue to vent about it all.

But it's super obvious and apparent that this defense is in the midst of a huge rebuild, incorporating new players into the system and weeding out old ones. Some of the old ones are the cause of some of the problems, and some of the new guys are the cause of the problems. If it were up to me, I'd much rather see the new guys making the mistakes because at least they'll be learning as they go, and have a chance to get better because of it. But I digress.

My whole point is that if you can't see that they are in the process of re-tooling the defensive personnel, and you are using just the results as the reason to "FIRE EVERYBODY" without acknowledging that they are trying to rebuild, then you have your own agenda.

[pittpete]

Until this defense has a true pass rusher and a true NT it's not going to stop anyone.

It's not a scheme problem..... its a personnel problem

And if you don't have the players to fit the scheme do you continue to pound the round peg into the square hole?
This will be the third year of this excuse.
There are 4 #1 picks on defense, enough with the FN excuses for St. LeBeau please

[Slapstick]

Okay, Ovi!

[Va Steelr]

Common sense,rationale and conclusions based on fact are not welcome here!!!! Please proceed to the edge of the cliff with everyone else !!!

[Oviedo]

Yes steel, I agree with you, give them time. They play what the equivalent of 1/2 or 3/4 of a game for the whole preseason. Then they start and are expected to play the whole game without mistake or a learning curve. Blaming the coaches is the only thing people have to lash out at. Having played and coached and been involved in the game for 33 yrs of my 48 i have been associated with many different types of teams, some are fast out the gate but died by the end, others slow but improved quite a bit throughout the season to finish strong. Very few teams keep it all together for the entire season. When I was teased or ask what happen thursday night I just tell them lots of new faces learning new places. Some of it may be coaching and some of it is the players. Having been both it is never just 1 of them, it is usually a combination of the 2 at any given time. So I am willing to give some time to work things out, the Super Bowl is never won in September. Just my train of thought

The preseason didn't seem to hinder the Ravens defense

[Mr.wizard]

And if you don't have the players to fit the scheme do you continue to pound the round peg into the square hole?
This will be the third year of this excuse.
There are 4 #1 picks on defense, enough with the FN excuses for St. LeBeau please

Thank you!!!! Its a scheme problem, teams have our defense figured out. Zone running scheme, spread the field short passes, same formula has been killing us for years.

[NorthCoast]

And if you don't have the players to fit the scheme do you continue to pound the round peg into the square hole?
This will be the third year of this excuse.
There are 4 #1 picks on defense, enough with the FN excuses for St. LeBeau please

2010 defensive draft:
Jason Worilds - jury still out I think for most people, hasn't looked good this season so far
Thadeus Gibson - out of football
Steven Sylvester - perennial 3rd stringer
Crezdon Butler - good in practice, a nobody at game time
Doug Worthington - never showed much

2011 defensive draft
Cam Heyward- the real deal and likely the savior of the draft that year
Curtis Brown- never panned out
Cortez Allen- this board seems to have mixed feelings on whether he is a true #1 CB
Chris Carter- waste of a roster spot for most of his career

2012 defensive draft:
Sean Spence- bad injury delayed a promising player
A Taamu- couldn't crack the starting lineup, even on his newest team
Terence Frederick- who??

I skipped the 2013 draft because it's not fair to evaluate a guy after one season, but at least a few posters are frustrated with the #1 pick that year...

So all this great defensive talent the coaches have at their disposal has been going to waste because they don't know how to use them correctly......right, gotcha.......

[fezziwig]

I know many of us figured young players. learning curve and all that but, I think it is because we aren't even catching a glimpse of development or what possibly could evolve to the positive. They seem like boys going against men.

[papillon]

2010 defensive draft:
Jason Worilds - jury still out I think for most people, hasn't looked good this season so far
Thadeus Gibson - out of football
Steven Sylvester - perennial 3rd stringer
Crezdon Butler - good in practice, a nobody at game time
Doug Worthington - never showed much

2011 defensive draft
Cam Heyward- the real deal and likely the savior of the draft that year
Curtis Brown- never panned out
Cortez Allen- this board seems to have mixed feelings on whether he is a true #1 CB
Chris Carter- waste of a roster spot for most of his career

2012 defensive draft:
Sean Spence- bad injury delayed a promising player
A Taamu- couldn't crack the starting lineup, even on his newest team
Terence Frederick- who??

I skipped the 2013 draft because it's not fair to evaluate a guy after one season, but at least a few posters are frustrated with the #1 pick that year...

So all this great defensive talent the coaches have at their disposal has been going to waste because they don't know how to use them correctly......right, gotcha.......

I hate to say this, but calling Cam Heyward the real deal right now is a bit of stretch as well, he seems to be easily blocked in the run game. I'm hoping because the defense in general has been pretty bad that it's a function of the team and not the individual player.

Pappy

[squidkid]

are we the only team in the league that has young players on defense?
any chance they will progress also as the season goes?