Defense Improving just in time

[Sword]

I hope are defense will be just as good as they were last week.
maybe better with Troy back.....

please gay don't blow the deep balls!!!

[feltdizz]

IMO we are better without Troy.

Harrison is the only vet who has something left on D.

[fordfixer]

IMO we are better without Troy.

Harrison is the only vet who has something left on D.

I hate to say it but you may be right

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

Is Ike suiting up?

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

Labriola and Prisuto on Agree to Disagree on Steelers.com both said that, though at the beginning of the year they never thought it could possibly come to pass, they are beginning to trust the defense.

We will see in just a few days. In a way I hope Green shows up ... I think we will be so pumped going into this game that if he doesn't it will be like getting a changeup when we're ready to swing at a fastball. If you know what I mean!

[Slapstick]

please gay don't blow the deep balls!!!

Must....not...laugh....

[pittpete]

Is Ike suiting up?

I really hope not...
Time to say goodbye my friend.
If Troy isn't at least close to being 100% then he shouldn't dress either

[skyhawk]

Green is foamin at the mouth!

Hope our CBs play up and press and make some plays like they did vs Chiefs!

[NorthCoast]

It's no secret the defensive success has come with the improvement in run defense. The Steelers defense is currently ranked 6th in the NFL in opponent rush yards/gm. But, in the last 3 games, they have held opponents to less than 75yds/gm. This bodes well for the game Sunday where the Bengals typically are almost dead split on run vs pass. Make them one-dimensional and Dalton's tendency for mistakes will only increase.

[Oviedo]

Less than one-half of the defense is solid with Timmons, Heyward, Harrison and to a lesser extent Worilds and Tuitt. Shazier and Jones have shown little to nothing this year at LB. The secondary is a mess. For this team to have any chance beyond one and done in the play offs the first four to five mentioned are going to need to play out of their minds.

AJ Green is probably planning for celebrating his next career day. Would not be surprised to see the Bumgals challenge the secondary from the opening snap to get a big score early and take the crowd out of the game.

[Slapstick]

Just hit Green in the arm again. Simple.

At any rate, he had 200+ yard receiving last time and they still lost...

[hawaiiansteel]

Steelers defense no longer sole key to deep playoff runs

December 26, 2014



Running back Le’Veon Bell, left, blocks Josh Harris in practice Tuesday on the South Side. The Steelers are attempting to make a Super Bowl run behind the strength of their offense, instead of the usual reliance on defense.

Steelers fans have been conditioned to believe an NFL team can't reach the Super Bowl without a great defense. After all, the Steelers won four Super Bowl titles in 1970s behind the Steel Curtain defense and two more behind top-rated Dick LeBeau-coached defenses in the 2000s.

But, in the modern-day NFL, getting to or winning a Super Bowl can happen without a dominating defense. It also can happen with a defense that ranks among the worst in the league.

The Steelers will be in the playoffs for the first time since 2011, and their return to the postseason comes with a twist. The Steelers enter the final week of the regular season with the No. 2 offense and the No. 20th-rated defense.

It hasn't been their recipe for playoff success, but plenty of other teams have made it to or won Super Bowl titles in the past 10 years with statistically similar defense. In some cases, teams with some downright bad defenses reached the Super Bowl.

Getting defensive

The past 10 Super Bowl participants with their total defense ranking (champion boldfaced):
2013: Seattle (No. 1), Denver (No. 19)
2012: Baltimore (No. 17), San Francisco (No. 3)
2011: New York Giants (No. 27), New England (No. 31)
2010: Green Bay (No. 5), Steelers (No. 2)
2009: New Orleans (No. 25), Indianapolis (No. 19)
2008: Steelers (No. 1), Arizona (No. 19)
2007: New York Giants (No. 7), New England (No. 4)
2006: Indianapolis (No. 21), Chicago (No. 5)
2005: Steelers (No. 4), Seattle (No. 16)
2004: New England (No. 9), Philadelphia (No. 10)

The best example came in 2011 when the New York Giants beat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI. The Giants had the 27th-ranked defense and the Patriots defense ranked 31st.

Other examples preceded it. The New Orleans Saints won Super Bowl XLIV after the 2009 season with a defense that ranked 25th. The Indianapolis Colts defense was No. 21 when it won Super Bowl XLI after the 2006 season and the Baltimore Ravens won Super Bowl XLVII after the 2012 season with the No. 17 defense.

"I think when you start looking at statistics you can kind of get lost in that," said Steelers receiver Lance Moore, who was on the Saints in 2009. "Every game will be different. There is no telling each week which offense and which defense will show up. Obviously, you prepare and hope the good one shows up. Just because the statistics say you do something poorly doesn't mean it will happen like that in the playoffs."

The Steelers will attempt to flip their script this season.

The Steelers have been to eight Super Bowls, and their lowest-rated defense was No. 4 in 1975 and 2005. In every other season they played for or won the Super Bowl, they were first, second or third in total defense.

The Steelers had the No. 1 offense in the league in 1979, but more often than not the offense was much more average statistically, especially in the recent Super Bowl appearances. They had the No. 15, No. 22 and No. 14 offenses in their three most recent Super Bowl seasons (2005, 2008 and 2010).

One common trait among the recent teams to win Super Bowl titles without a highly ranked defense was better defensive play in the postseason. The 2011 Giants, for example, allowed 56 points in four playoff games (14 points per game) en route to the title.

The 2009 Saints got hot at the right time and held the Peyton Manning-led Colts to 17 points in the Super Bowl.

The Steelers hope their defense is coming around at the right time, too. Recently, there have been signs suggesting they are trending in the right direction.

In the playoff-clinching win Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs, the defense did not allow a touchdown and forced the league's No. 2-rated red-zone offense to kick four field goals. In the past three games, the defense is allowing only 17.6 points per game.

"Guys are getting better," defensive end Cam Heyward said. "You really don't see as many mistakes. You don't see the execution mistakes. Guys are buying in and trusting more, and we're becoming a better team. The offense, defense and special teams, we're all working together with more cohesiveness. When we're doing that, we can click a lot more and we can be more successful."

Cornerback Ike Taylor, who earned Super Bowl rings in 2005 and 2008, likes what he has seen from the younger defensive players.

"The time is ticking with this defense," Taylor said. "We've been through our ups and downs during the season. At some point in time, you have to be able to stand up. During this month of December you have to be on the up. You can't be inconsistent.

"And so far, man, the 'D' has been on the up. Guys have been making plays. Regardless of what you do in life, confidence means a lot. A lot of the new guys are playing with confidence, and it shows."

Whether they can ride that wave into the playoffs remains to be seen, but they have won seven of nine entering the finale against the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday night, when the AFC North Division title and a home game in the first round of the playoffs will be on the line.

"With this team, we've seen the bad, we've seen the ugly, but we haven't seen the great yet," Heyward said. "Hopefully, we can keep improving every week and give something special to our fans."

[URL]https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2014/12/26/Steelers-defense-no-longer-sole-key-to-deep-playoff-runs/stories/201412260088[/URL]

[Snatch98]

For all those talking about Green potentially having a career day....what happened the last time he had a big one? Ahhhh I remember, the Bengals got their asses handed to them. Green can go for 200 for all i care. If the Bengals can't slow our offense it's not going to matter AND our defense is showing up.

[JDSteeler]

Less than one-half of the defense is solid with Timmons, Heyward, Harrison and to a lesser extent Worilds and Tuitt. Shazier and Jones have shown little to nothing this year at LB. The secondary is a mess. For this team to have any chance beyond one and done in the play offs the first four to five mentioned are going to need to play out of their minds.

AJ Green is probably planning for celebrating his next career day. Would not be surprised to see the Bumgals challenge the secondary from the opening snap to get a big score early and take the crowd out of the game.

Ovi, your posts are pretty accurate for the most-part, but wow, your way, way off on this!

I accept that this Steelers D is not perfect, but neither is 100% of the other defenses out there, including the Seaskanks!

Let me start with the front 7, first...

93, 91, 90, 97, 92, 94, 51/98. All of these guys have stepped up their game!! I will agree I want to see more from 50 and 95,
but you are essentially asking alot from a rookie, and a second yr rookie, both returning from injury. But 51, and 98 are a
surprise! I'm not disappointed.

You cannot deny this group has improved since week 1, and I see them only getting better!!

The primary objective is to stop the run, and THEY HAVE STOPPED IT. Teams are not gashing us. Their energy is sky high, and
they have been getting to the passer. Pressures, hits on the QB, and sacks are all UP!! I love the depth on the defense, especially with
the LB's!!

With regards to the secondary, its been bad, really bad at times. As I see it, if the front 7 can get the pressure they have been getting,
it will make their job easier. If they can just limit the big plays, tackle the catch, and make a play (intercept a couple balls), they might
just be solid enough to allow our offense to do its thing! I like the youngsters, 25, and 41. 20 and 22 has been playing their best football.
We just need 23, 24, and 43 to provide that knowledge from experience and leadership.

Dont forget, bro, the best defense is a balanced offense! This offense is so dangerous, because they are explosive, AND control the
ball. If the offense can put up TD's rather than FG's, look the f**k out, the Steelers are that team nobody wants to play!!

Frooothing at the mouth, like a crazed dog!!!!

Here We Go Steeeeeelers, Here We Go!!!!

JD

[raycafan]

The other thing about this D that I like is their tackling. They have gotten so much better with it, they rarely let player go for the extra yards. I noticed this in the last Bengal game, they were all getting to the tackle and stopping them were they stood. Except for a few diving out he window attempts from some of the corners, the tackling has been getting pretty darn good.