Is the problems with the secondary...

[Slapstick]

Unless it wasn't luck...

[fezziwig]

Someone can't evaluate talent. Is it Tomlin, Lebeau, Colbert ? No matter who the blame falls upon, this is the trouble. With this being a passing league, wouldn't you think the need to have good to great corners is just as important to having good to great receivers ? Something has passed the Steelers by. This team can not evaluate talent. Example, allowing Lewis to leave, signing a guy that I can't remember his name that can't even fill the position but, they are paying him 26 million. Then there is there 4th round pick in Grant that couldn't make the team. We have William Gay they let go, signed him back and now he's our best corner and he's not truly a corner. What about Boykin ? Signed to the team and doesn't get to play. I would have to believe it's the coaches fault for signing guys, not evaluating talent, not developing talent. Then there is Colbert...... Must not manage the money and contracts for when needed areas arise. Maybe Lebeau too for allowing this defense to get old and no change up with his loved players. This on Lebeau is speculation.

[SteelDecipher]

Someone can't evaluate talent. Is it Tomlin, Lebeau, Colbert ? No matter who the blame falls upon, this is the trouble. With this being a passing league, wouldn't you think the need to have good to great corners is just as important to having good to great receivers ? Something has passed the Steelers by. This team can not evaluate talent. Example, allowing Lewis to leave, signing a guy that I can't remember his name that can't even fill the position but, they are paying him 26 million. Then there is there 4th round pick in Grant that couldn't make the team. We have William Gay they let go, signed him back and now he's our best corner and he's not truly a corner. What about Boykin ? Signed to the team and doesn't get to play. I would have to believe it's the coaches fault for signing guys, not evaluating talent, not developing talent. Then there is Colbert...... Must not manage the money and contracts for when needed areas arise. Maybe Lebeau too for allowing this defense to get old and no change up with his loved players. This on Lebeau is speculation.

As good as "they" are at scouting, developing, and retaining receivers; they are equally as bad at the same - but for defensive backs.

Whichever group that is, needs to change. I don't think you could make a clearer argument than their collective performance this year.

Let McCain go- for $2.5mil a year on a 2 year deal. (he's no world beater- but he'd be starting)
Fail to bring in any real viable competition for Shamarko. (who you traded up for)
Waaaaaay over-reach on a 5'8" 175lb slot corner, in the 2nd round. (compounded by the abundance of slot corners already on the roster.)
Trade for a Nickel corner- that was - by some publications- rated in the top 25 league wide- but don't actually play him.
Once again cut your mid-late round draft picks, and only after the fact -deem one of them worth of the practice squad.
Sign a 1st run camp cut corner- who is going to see a lot of playing time due to injury and general lack of talent in front of him.


I'll take a deep breath and stop there. lol

[NorthCoast]

Problem with the Carnell Lake theory is that the Steelers pass defense was top 10 (even #1) during half of Lake's tenure. How do you explain he all of a sudden has lost it?

[Slapstick]

The Steelers are having to adjust to life without guys like Polamalu. You used to have a bunch of veterans who could play and knew the defense well. Then, you had a bunch of veterans who couldn't play but knew the defense well. Now, you have a bunch of guys who you think might be able to play, but DO NOT know the defense well...a defense that has had to be adjusted to fit the players we have (penetrating DL) as well as the players we don't have (HoF Safety). The Steelers cannot play defense the same way that they did when Troy was in his prime in the defensive backfield. The defense will get better, just not soon enough to suit the fans.

[Steelerphile]

The Steelers don't have a bunch of nobodies in the secondary. They don't have the complete player but everyone brings a little something. People have bashed Blake but I liked him better than McCain. He is faster and he is a physical kind of player. The interception that McCain got last week was like a fair catch. I think even Ike might have caught that. I don't think the secondary should be critiqued only on the basis on the performance against Brady which in context, was not that horrible. I am optimistic that with good coaching. which I think the Steelers have, they have enough to make a good run this season.