Hats off to the defense

[Djfan]

Any updates on Tuit?

[7upnext]

They did a good job and kept this game in check.... I can't say enough about Heyward. Timmons had a terrific interception... These guys never stopped bringing it despite the yards put up against them. I forgot how much turnovers could mean to a game.. Something we haven't experienced in a while...

They actually played really bad but terrible refs (if you are a Cards fan) kept the Steelers in the game and the Cards played very sloppy. Our secondary is still close to the worst in the league. That said, there are certainly several legit players on D I'm no longer too concerned about Butler as he is bringing different looks and seems to have some fire in him getting after players.

[pittpete]

Heyward is a beast.
I really thought Blake would get better. He seems to be getting worse and his tackling is so so.
When do we see Brandon Boykin?

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

Heyward is a beast.
I really thought Blake would get better. He seems to be getting worse and his tackling is so so.
When do we see Brandon Boykin?

He did have what was potentially an open field game saving 1-on-1 tackle on Fitzgerald at the end ... who knows how far Fitz would have run there. I have this feeling that with one or two more plays they might have stuck it to us ... his tackle shut that possibility down.

[Steelerphile]

Antwon Blake was all over the field. 12 tackles. Still a work in progress but his speed is an asset. His one of one tackle of Fitzgerald was a beauty.

[Oviedo]

Antwon Blake was all over the field. 12 tackles. Still a work in progress but his speed is an asset. His one of one tackle of Fitzgerald was a beauty.

All over the field but still getting turned inside out by just about every WR he tries to cover. The guy has terrible coverage skills. His tackling would be an asset if he was a LB but he kinda has to cover people as a CB.

[Slapstick]

Didn't Blake return a pick 6 just one week ago? One that at least kept the Steelers in the game last week?

Blake is a good fit for the LeBeau "zone blitz/run support/make-a-tackle-after-the-catch" defense that we run...he adds a bit of physicality and feistiness while his coverage skills are a work in progress...

All I know is that yesterday, our maligned DBs, who gave up 400+ yards passing, came up with big plays (Mitchell's INT in the EZ) and stops (Blake's 1-on-1 tackle of Fitz) while the much more hyped Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu just kind of watched Martavis Bryant run away from them...

[Steelhere10]

Blake needs to be benched ASAP, he's a great tackler when he's not actually missing tackles.

[Sword]

Well done!!!

[Steelerphile]

Blake needs to be benched ASAP, he's a great tackler when he's not actually missing tackles.

I think you are suggesting he misses a lot of tackles. Blake is 2nd leading tackler on the team. 39. Very unusual for a CB He is also listed with 5 passes defensed and an int pick-6. Those are more than acceptable numbers. The defense is keeping them off the board, in spite of being dominated in TOP the last three games, and Blake is bringing a lot of energy to the effort. He was also involved in the play where Harrison got the strip and recovery. His pluses clearly outweigh the negatives to me. The passes he has been burned on required good routes and good throws and every DB is going to get beat sometimes.

[fezziwig]

Why did they sign Boykin if they won't allow him to see the field ?

[phillyesq]

Blake seems to be either really good or completely terrible, from play to play. There is nothing in the middle. Cockrell was a bit handsy and probably got away with at least one hold. I barely noticed Golden aside from the one pass breakup, and I take that as a positive.

Overall, the defense did a great job. They kept us in the game when the offense was completely ineffective early. The hit by Harrison - wow! He crushed that guy when he forced the fumble.

The defense has been greatly improved and I hope they keep it up next week against a KC team that is missing a lot of weapons.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Antwon Blake was all over the field. 12 tackles. Still a work in progress but his speed is an asset. His one of one tackle of Fitzgerald was a beauty.

I'd personally like to see Blake as a safety. It seems like his aggressive style and tackling prowess would be a better fit back there. Sure, he isn't a big guy, but neither were Troy Polamalu or Bob Sanders (not that I'm putting him in their class or anything...just making a size comparison). Since Will Allen is old and hurt, Robert Golden is a special teamer, and Shamarko is apparently not the answer we were all hoping for, we could certainly use another safety next to Mitchell (I was originally hoping that they'd be preparing Doran Grant for such a transition). I think, to get our best five DB's on the field at the same time (while Allen's still hurt), I'd have Mitchell and Blake as the two safeties, Cockrell starting outside opposite Gay, and then Boykin as your nickel slot corner.

[ikestops85]

I thought Golden did a pretty good job at safety this week. Blake is absolutely horrible in coverage. We have to have someone (read Boykin) better than him on the bench. I love Cockrell even though he might draw some PI penalties at least he is close to the receive and has batted down balls. I'm still not a big fan of Mitchell even though he did make a nice interception. He just doesn't have that instinct for the ball that you see some of the good DBs have.

[Slapstick]

Mitchell also recovered a fumble...