Defense wins championships?

[WindyCitySteel]

I mean, they can't stink outright during a playoff run, but here are some less than stellar defenses, by the age old YPG allowed standard, that have recently won Super Bowls.

Indy stunk pretty much across the board, but they played impotent offenses in the playoffs, save for NE, whom they beat in a shootout.


2001 NE: 24th YPG, 6th PPG, T-9th FR, 6th INTs


2006 IND: 21st YPG, 23rd PPG, T-17th FR, 20th INTs


2009 NO: 25th YPG, 20th PPG, T-5th FR, 3rd INTs


2011 NYG: 27th YPG, 25th PPG, T-7th FR, T-6th INTs


Which brings us to this unit. If this offense keeps putting up 30 and the defense plays to these averages, this could end really well.


2015 PIT: 23rd YPG, 11th PPG, T-6th FR, T-6th INTs

[Slapstick]

It goes to show the value of a franchise QB...or, in the case of the 2001 Patriots, the value of cheating!

[Eich]

They're both really important but I'd have to say that Franchise QB's win Championships more than Defense wins Championships. When you have both, lookout.

[WindyCitySteel]

They're both really important but I'd have to say that Franchise QB's win Championships more than Defense wins Championships. When you have both, lookout.

In the salary cap era that's very difficult unless you win before the QB gets paid, like the Steelers and Seahawks did. The Bengals time ran out - they have to pay too many people next year and will end up losing a lot from that team.

[WindyCitySteel]

Keep in mind that the defense has to play well in the playoffs. The Giants' D stunk all year, but rose up in the playoffs and shut down the Pats. And it better if there are two franchise QBs playing in the big game, which there generally are.

[flippy]

I think it comes down to how your D plays in the playoffs. And a lot of it is situational at that time of year and stats aren't as important. Getting QB pressure, stopping the run, forcing turnovers, and getting a lead to force the opponent into a one dimensional game are important.

Playoff are generally different in cold weather. Then the dynamic changes once you get to the SuperBowl in a dome. I think there'd be a lot different outcomes if all the playoff games were in domes or if the SuperBowl was outside in cold weather.

[Shawn]

See this is where stats tend to lie. I've seen many a Steeler D ranked in the top 5 who couldn't pass the eye test. Why? Because they were not opportunistic, couldn't stop an O when they needed to, allowed too many RZ TDs...etc and so on. While this D has it's issues what I have seen is a D coming up with big plays at the right time, making opposing QBs uncomfortable, and minimizing the damage when an O walks on them down the field. IMO, with our O...this D is good enough to win a SB with.

[Slapstick]

I agree. The difference this year is that individuals are making plays and causing turnovers.

The scheme was sound with LeBeau, but players didn't take advantage of turnover opportunities...

Here, it seems the scheme, especially in the passing game between the 20s, isn't as sound...but the players are taking advantage of those turnover opportunities, especially in the red zone...

[WindyCitySteel]

LeBeau's scheme was "tackle the catch" and let Polamalu fly all over the field and Deebo and Woodley crush the pocket. When the latter three got less effective with age/injury, it fell apart. INTs from CBs were a rarity because they were coached to allow a completed pass.

Butler has a more attacking, aggressive style that has resulted in more turnovers and more schemed pressure. LeBeau stopped blitzing long ago.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Isn't it kinda weird that our O can move the ball up and down the field at will between the 20's, but struggles once they get in the red zone, and our D allows opposing offenses to move the ball up and down the field at will between the 20's, but tightens up once they get in the red zone?

[feltdizz]

See this is where stats tend to lie. I've seen many a Steeler D ranked in the top 5 who couldn't pass the eye test. Why? Because they were not opportunistic, couldn't stop an O when they needed to, allowed too many RZ TDs...etc and so on. While this D has it's issues what I have seen is a D coming up with big plays at the right time, making opposing QBs uncomfortable, and minimizing the damage when an O walks on them down the field. IMO, with our O...this D is good enough to win a SB with.

I agree 100%.

[feltdizz]

I agree. The difference this year is that individuals are making plays and causing turnovers.

The scheme was sound with LeBeau, but players didn't take advantage of turnover opportunities...

Here, it seems the scheme, especially in the passing game between the 20s, isn't as sound...but the players are taking advantage of those turnover opportunities, especially in the red zone...

nah, I think the scheme was sound with LeBeau when we had amazing players at key positions..

but once they aged the scheme was garbage.

this year the scheme is working more often than not even though we are less talented.

[Slapstick]

nah, I think the scheme was sound with LeBeau when we had amazing players at key positions..

but once they aged the scheme was garbage.

this year the scheme is working more often than not even though we are less talented.

I disagree. The scheme worked great when we had players who knew what they were doing. In 2012, we had the top defense in terms of yards, which reflects the soundness of the scheme. But, we were not sacking the QB or causing turnovers, which is a reflection of the players not making plays.

Then, in 2013 and 2014, we lost some key people, and the lack of knowledge of the scheme was reflected in both the play and the stats...

[papillon]

nah, I think the scheme was sound with LeBeau when we had amazing players at key positions..

but once they aged the scheme was garbage.

this year the scheme is working more often than not even though we are less talented.

No scheme will work with old players, regardless of how well they know the defense. I'm not sure I'd call this defense "working", what I will say about this defense is that they are making big plays at the right time (which is something the aging defense could not do) and that helps to hide quite a few warts.

Pappy

[NorthCoast]

In preseason, virtually everyone agreed the 2015 Steelers would go only so far as the offense would carry them. I don't see how that picture has changed since the beginning of the season. Yes, the defense has had an uptick but nothing that I would describe as playoff worthy.

A mediocre defense and a top 5 offense; they go only so far as Roethlisberger can carry them.