"Butler Ball" is getting it done

[Starlifter]

a vicious pass rush can cover up a lot of secondary blemishes. conversely, a weak pass rush can make a great secondary look like scrubs. most fans get caught up with the splash plays and the ones holding the rock - but the game as it has always been, is won or lost in the trenches. give me a solid O-line that can control the LOS and combine that with D linemen that can wreak havoc - and that team will win a great many games.

[WindyCitySteel]

a vicious pass rush can cover up a lot of secondary blemishes. conversely, a weak pass rush can make a great secondary look like scrubs. most fans get caught up with the splash plays and the ones holding the rock - but the game as it has always been, is won or lost in the trenches. give me a solid O-line that can control the LOS and combine that with D linemen that can wreak havoc - and that team will win a great many games.

Yup - football is about blocking and tackling.

I think our DL is playing better than our OL, which is overrated and really missing Pouncey.

[NorthCoast]

Yup - football is about blocking and tackling.

I think our DL is playing better than our OL, which is overrated and really missing Pouncey.

Mount Cody.. or should I say mole-hill Cody had a rough outing last night.

[BowCatShot]

It is why you should never give a coach "tenure." To be successful you have to produce everyday not live in the past or try to recreate the past. Past achievements are for the past.

Hear, hear.

Applies equally well to players and owners too. If the b***tards don't want to put a winner on the field, why support 'em?

That's why the Patriots do so well, year after year...

[flippy]

We're definitely getting better defensively, however, there's still room to grow. I agree with the sentiment that Butler is playing more aggressive. But what we really need is to be able to generate pressure with 4 guys to become dominant.

The other piece of the equation that this defense needs is an offense to build leads and force teams to throw against us.

A little tackling 101 would help these guys too. I'm still not sure we can really stop the run yet either.

[Oviedo]

The other piece of the equation that this defense needs is an offense to build leads and force teams to throw against us.

Totally agree. However, we have to deal being without our franchise QB for a couple more games. When Ben gets back and has Brown, Bryant, Wheaton and Bell...WOW!!!!!! Hope to be lighting up the scoreboard and then the defense will be able to pin their ears back.

I just suspect this team could be peaking at the right time as the play offs come around.

[Eich]

When Ben gets back and has Brown, Bryant, Wheaton and Bell...WOW!!!!!! Hope to be lighting up the scoreboard and then the defense will be able to pin their ears back.

I can't wait for Ben to get back. At the same time, I don't think he'll be lighting up the scoreboard game one back. He'll likely be in a brace with a knee that he might not fully trust - and there will be a little rust. We didn't exactly light up the scoreboard in cheater land week one against a mediocre cheater defense (though we didn't have Bryant and Bell either). But I still think it'll take a game for Ben to get his game legs back.

But if we get healthy towards the latter part of the season, this offense can be something really special. And with the way the defense is starting to play, it could get real interesting.

[Sword]

I can't wait for Ben to get back. At the same time, I don't think he'll be lighting up the scoreboard game one back. He'll likely be in a brace with a knee that he might not fully trust - and there will be a little rust. We didn't exactly light up the scoreboard in cheater land week one against a mediocre cheater defense (though we didn't have Bryant and Bell either). But I still think it'll take a game for Ben to get his game legs back.

But if we get healthy towards the latter part of the season, this offense can be something really special. And with the way the defense is starting to play, it could get real interesting.

I see Ben coming back for KC game to get ready for home against Bungles!!!

[SidSmythe]

Let's not forget we've played 2 of the worst OLs in the league over the past 2 weeks.

I'm still skeptical bc i dont see the excellent play of Heyward and Tuitt causing consistent pressure from the OLB position.

So far our pressure is coming from the DL and DB blitzes. Dupree seems to be making progress.

The best thing for this defense is getting BEN back.

[Oviedo]

So far our pressure is coming from the DL and DB blitzes.

Sounds like 4-3 defense to me....just sayin'

[phillyesq]

Hear, hear.

Applies equally well to players and owners too. If the b***tards don't want to put a winner on the field, why support 'em?

That's why the Patriots do so well, year after year...

Since 1992 (the year that Cowher started), the Steelers have had 3 losing seasons, one of which yielded Ben. The Steelers do a good job of consistently fielding a good team in a league that is designed to force parity.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Sounds like 4-3 defense to me....just sayin'

Sounds like nickel/dime formations to me...just sayin'

[RuthlessBurgher]

I love that Cam gives a shout out to his late father each week with "IRON" and "HEAD" on his eye black.

I'm actually shocked that Goodell hasn't tried to stop him from doing it for no reason at all.

I had to open my stupid mouth, didn't I?


Cam Heyward fined for eye black tribute to his father


Posted by Mike Florio on October 14, 2015, 2:29 PM EDT


Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward recently wanted to honor his late father, Craig, during his team’s Week Four game against the Ravens. And so he did, applying the words “Iron” and “Head” to his eye black.


And, inevitably, Cam Heyward has been fined for the gesture.


“Got fined for honoring my Dad who bravely fought cancer on my eye black,” Heyward said on Twitter.


Heyward is the second Steeler this week to take issue with the league’s refusal to allow players to honor family members beyond the narrow exception for pink in the month of October. Running back DeAngelo Williams wanted to wear pink in his uniform all year to honor his mother, who died of breast cancer last year at the age of 53. The NFL said no.


The league is being criticized for its stance as to Williams, and the league surely will be criticized for fining Heyward. While the league obviously needs to set barriers on when and how the uniform will be something other than, you know, uniform, the NFL has created this problem by allowing deviation from the concept of a uniform for two specific causes.


They do it in October for breast cancer awareness, and they do it in November for the “Salute to Service.” While both are worthy causes, why does the NFL select those two but no others?


How about prostate cancer? Colon cancer? Skin cancer? All three are deadly but preventable. How about one week in October for each of those causes?


The NFL has invited these questions and any ensuing criticism by selecting two causes to the exclusion of all others. Maybe there should be a way to use the NFL platform to promote other causes, too.


[URL]http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/10/14/cam-heyward-fined-for-eye-black-tribute-to-his-father/[/URL]

[K Train]

The defense has played well despite a serious lack of DB talent.

Loving Dupree, looks like the real deal. Heyward is PFFs highest rated player at any position, Timmons just had his best game of the season, and Tuitt is just flat out disruptive.

#butler

[NorthCoast]

Let's not forget we've played 2 of the worst OLs in the league over the past 2 weeks.

I'm still skeptical bc i dont see the excellent play of Heyward and Tuitt causing consistent pressure from the OLB position.

So far our pressure is coming from the DL and DB blitzes. Dupree seems to be making progress.

The best thing for this defense is getting BEN back.

OK. I'll go with the glass half full view. The DL didn't suck against the two worst OLs in the league....

so they have that going for them....