Defensive Line

[Slapstick]

So far, the Steelers have recorded 3.5 sacks from the defensive line...while it is only a three game sample, that is on pace for 18.5 sacks for our DEs, which is absolutely unheard of in our defense...

Conversely, there have been only 3.5 sacks made by outside linebackers (zero by Harrison and Jarvis Jones)...

To me, this is logical...while I'm excited for studs on the DL, they aren't holding blocks and keeping the LBs clean anymore, so while I expect more sacks overall, I don't think any of our outside LBs will be voted to the Pro Bowl...

[Eddie Spaghetti]

stephon tuitt has been dominant. Most folks expected a strong year, but if he keeps this up, I will be at a loss for superlatives. Just an absolute gem of a 2nd round pick

And the kid is only what? 22?

[WindyCitySteel]

They've been great. Any idea what formations/sets these sacks came out of?

[phillyesq]

stephon tuitt has been dominant. Most folks expected a strong year, but if he keeps this up, I will be at a loss for superlatives. Just an absolute gem of a 2nd round pick

And the kid is only what? 22?

I thought he would take a big step forward this year, but I didn't think he'd be this good, this quick. He's a force, and he hustles all over the field. He and Heyward have been a great tandem and are only likely to get better.

[Flasteel]

Heyward and McClendon have been solid and McCullers is still flashing potential...when he's on the field. Tuitt - as mentioned - has been dominant and only promises to get better. I think the new 1-gap system is suiting these guys very nicely.

[Steelhere10]

I think Bud need to start and at this point JH has been non existence. I think age is creeping on him.

[flippy]

Defense starts with being able to stop the run and forcing teams to be one dimensional. We're slightly improved in that area vs last season down to giving up 3.6 YPC vs 4.4 YPC last year.

If we can get down around 3.0 YPC, we'll have a chance to become another historic defense a la 2010. If teams have to pass against us, then the pressure, sacks, and mistakes will follow.

We still need more production out of our OLBs, but kudos to the start Tuitt is having. When we start getting better play from our OLBs, Heyward and Tuitt are going to get that much better.

[WindyCitySteel]

4.4 to 3.6 is more than slightly improved. That's almost a 20% improvement. Keep in mind that Kaep ran 9 for 51 and WR Chris Givens ran a jet sweep for 24 yards last Sunday.

I know those kinds of plays counted in the total five years ago, but with such a small sample size they skew a 2.97 YPC to 3.6.

The Steelers have been slamming the door on running backs.

[Oviedo]

Change is good. Using our Def Line which has two of our best defensive player in Heyward and Tuitt to go after the passer is a positive change. They are wasted occupying blockers because even if they do that the OLBs are not getting the QBs at a high enough rate.

Doesn't hurt that Butler understands you have to be aggressive and attack defense and not just absorb blows by playing soft

[Slapstick]

Well, so far the Steelers are tied for 5th in the NFL in sacks...

[Slapstick]

Doesn't hurt that Butler understands you have to be aggressive and attack defense and not just absorb blows by playing soft

Is it Butler who understands or Tomlin? Now that he let the legend go, is he allowing himself to take a more active role as opposed to just stepping back and giving the DC free reign? Is his long relationship with Butler allowing for more synergy between the HC and DC? There could be many things in play here that we just can't know...

[Oviedo]

Is it Butler who understands or Tomlin? Now that he let the legend go, is he allowing himself to take a more active role as opposed to just stepping back and giving the DC free reign? Is his long relationship with Butler allowing for more synergy between the HC and DC? There could be many things in play here that we just can't know...

I think the relationship between Tomlin and Butler is a definite positive going forward. I turning Def Line loose is part of that. Recall the pointed comment Tomlin made last year about "warming up to the pass rush" just when Heyward and Tuitt got more active

[Slapstick]

I think the relationship between Tomlin and Butler is a definite positive going forward. I turning Def Line loose is part of that. Recall the pointed comment Tomlin made last year about "warming up to the pass rush" just when Heyward and Tuitt got more active

It makes sense. When Tomlin got here in 2007, he had a legendary DC and little to no previous knowledge of the 3-4 Zone Blitz. Now, both he and Butler are intimately familiar with the nuances of the defense and can put their own stamp upon it...

[ikestops85]

It may be me but I seem to recall Heyward and Tuitt attacking last year. It wasn't as noticeable at the beginning of the year because Cam Thomas was playing instead of Tuitt. Didn't Heyward have 7.5 sacks last year? That's pretty hard to do if you are just eating up blockers.

I really don't see much changing in our defensive philosophy between last year and this year. The biggest difference is the younger guys have another year of experience under their belts. I also think a lot of you are feeling far too optimistic about our defense. Watch out when we start playing some good QBs because the pass defense is horrible. I'm even worried about handling Flacid this week and he's not even good. Steve Smith will probably have double digit catches against us ... especially if he is covered by Blake.

[NorthCoast]

I think the relationship between Tomlin and Butler is a definite positive going forward. I turning Def Line loose is part of that. Recall the pointed comment Tomlin made last year about "warming up to the pass rush" just when Heyward and Tuitt got more active

This change in philosophy has been in progress for several years under LeBeau, but the regular fan may not have appreciated because all the pieces weren't in place yet:

A quote from 2013:

"We definitely need to get more pressure up front," [URL="http://www.nfl.com/player/brettkeisel/2505207/profile"]Brett Keisel[/URL] said Tuesday, via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "There's been an emphasis more on (ends) getting on the edge rather than just pushing the pocket, getting on the edge and trying to make something happen."
This is a dramatic change in philosophy for LeBeau from recent seasons. The [URL="http://www.nfl.com/teams/pittsburghsteelers/profile?team=PIT"]Steelers[/URL] traditionally have been a 3-4 team that asks their defensive ends to occupy blockers, do the dirty work and let the outside linebackers grab the glory. The change perhaps is a recognition that the [URL="http://www.nfl.com/teams/pittsburghsteelers/profile?team=PIT"]Steelers[/URL] have more questions at outside linebacker than usual and solid depth at defensive end.