D Line Playing Much Better

[SidSmythe]

D Line playing very well. Heyward looks like the guy we thought he'd be finally

[Mr.wizard]

We are getting in favorable down and distance, guys can pin their ears back and rush.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Shut down the run, make them one dimensional, then wreak havoc. Always been a LeBeau staple and it can still work, whether or not ungrateful Steeler fans think he some senile old coot.

[Chadman]

We are getting in favorable down and distance, guys can pin their ears back and rush.

That's exactly right.

And it's the difference between this game & the last 2. This D can work if they can get the 3rd & 8 or so. And they are showing today they can achieve that.

[Mr.wizard]

That's exactly right.

And it's the difference between this game & the last 2. This D can work if they can get the 3rd & 8 or so. And they are showing today they can achieve that.

We are playing up on the line scrimmage with our corners not allowing newton to throw quick, its a nice adjustment by lebeau, of course their receivers aren't much of a threat to run by us.

[SteelBucks]

Heyward is a beast! I can't believe they had him sitting behind Ziggy Hood.

[LordVile]

McClendon brought some decent pressure, nice SACK.. ! Newton was getting abused back there..

[Chadman]

McClendon brought some decent pressure, nice SACK.. ! Newton was getting abused back there..

Credit where it's due- McLendon was much better tonight than I've seen.

And the result of good play from the NT- good play from the defense.

[SidSmythe]

Since the LBs aren't getting pressure it's now up to the DL to step it up. They did last night.

[phillyesq]

Credit where it's due- McLendon was much better tonight than I've seen.

And the result of good play from the NT- good play from the defense.

McClendon was really good last night. We've seen good games from him like this before. I'm hoping to see him build off this performance moving forward.

[steelsnis]

Since the LBs aren't getting pressure it's now up to the DL to step it up. They did last night.

Pretty sure the LB's get pressure BECAUSE the D-Line is being disruptive. The two work together.

[SidSmythe]

McClendon isn't a true NT ... last night was was effective when he had space ... He has a good first move to shoot gaps ... i think the Steelers made adjustments on how they were gonna use their Lineman last night and that meant not using McClendon as Casey Hampton

[steelsnis]

Two plays in particular stood out to me with regard to the D-Line last night. Both involved Steelers D-linemen beating Pro-Bowl Center Ryan Kalil. First Steve McLendon abused him and smashed Cam Newton, then Heyward did the exact same thing!

Pressure up the middle is a HUGE bonus for any defense. It eliminates the ability for a QB to step up in the pocket, and either forces him to make a quick throw or move out of the pocket where he can get hit by the LB's

[WindyCitySteel]

As Tunch was saying all week, Carolina doesn't run the ZBS, which makes them a better matchup.

[Shawn]

Finally? Heyward was superb last season.