3 games in, thoughts on Butlers D?

[SteelCrazy]

We got ours butts handed to us tonight. A rookie QB was audibling and cutting us deep with the screen.

There was no trying to confuse him or pressure of any kind. We played a two down linemen D with an extra DB and got crushed.

The offense ran by Philly was a variation of the Patriots offense that has blistered us for years. Our Defense tonight was almost as vanilla has a preseason D.

For a rookie to know when to audible out and succeed says more about the defense he played then himself, especially 3 games in....

[Shoe]

I'm willing to chalk this one up as an abberation, cuz the defense did get better last year and we do have better talent this year. But he's going to have to find a way to get pressure, or it will make no difference. (I'm hoping that's the reason the young kid Hargrave is starting... I'm hoping they think if they get him in early, he'll be ready to make plays by November.)

To be honest, I bang on Shazier as a china doll, but he is everything to our front 7 right now. What I mean is that he is the ONE guy capable of making a play (i.e. a turnover). No one else on our whole D, is really capable! Maybe Gay.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

I'm willing to chalk this one up as an abberation, cuz the defense did get better last year and we do have better talent this year. But he's going to have to find a way to get pressure, or it will make no difference. (I'm hoping that's the reason the young kid Hargrave is starting... I'm hoping they think if they get him in early, he'll be ready to make plays by November.)

Pass rushing talent is worse this year ... maybe Dupree will heal up and that will change. And I sure hope Hargrave is ready to make plays before November, because if this team keeps playing D like they have been, they may be out of the running by November.

[Djfan]

We have a D?








(just kidding. Calm down.)

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

A lot of the D is either on the bench or beat up real bad. Until they get better, the O has to be perfect for us to win games.

We did do pretty well in the first two ... just gave up 2 TDs total?

[Starlifter]

zero pressure in three games. scheme, injuries, poor drafting, who knows the cause? this is a results business and the results are pretty graphic. It will be interesting to see if a team that is supposed to be a super bowl contender is ranked 32nd in the league after three games against the pass.

I don't have the answers. If I did, I wouldn't be typing here - I'd be coaching in the NFL.

But if the guys in charge don't come up with answers quick - 'ol Brady and the Pats are going to lay a 60 burger on us.

[NorthCoast]

The Defense is who we thought they were.

More disturbing from this game is the most prolific offense the last year was completely flummoxed by an upstart defense in the NFL. The 'wide9' DL had the OL backing up almost the entire day. If they don't find the cure, wait for opponent copycat game plans to start appearing early and often.

[Steelhere10]

My thought is that I could call a better game. All he doing is calling zone coverages. He did a better job last year.

[NJ-STEELER]

They are set up to fail inthis scheme.

We spend 2 high picks on what turns out to be stud DL. Draft them that high for theist measureablrs (size,strength,speed,quickness,agility) and then tell them to maintain 2 gaps instead of coming off the ball ,not putting forth the best use of those skills that got them taken so high

You take the 2 And have them try and rush the passers with a 3 man front while going up vs. 5/6

[Mr.wizard]

I was hoping he would change it up at halftime, he did not. Most of the night he was using only 2 down lineman and 4 linebackers, trying to confuse Wentz with zone coverage's, clearly it wasn't working. I was hoping we where going to see some man press coverage with some blitzes, the Eagles do not really have any big playmakers at wide out and we didn't challenge them at all.

[Jooser]

Through 3 games, the D has 1 sack, and that belongs to Arthur Moats. 38 year-old JH had a few near misses, but the rest of the D looked out matched, tired, winded and completely out of position all day. I may be wrong, but it this could be a long season ahead of us. Meanwhile, the Rats are in first place.

[Sword]

My thought is that I could call a better game. All he doing is calling zone coverages. He did a better job last year.

You would have had my vote!!! probably most people on this forum would have called a better game....

[Ghost]

3 games and 3 300 yard passers with a WR getting 100+ yards each game. The bend don't break worked for 2 games (both teams with losing records) and was a complete bust yesterday. The Eagles didn't have a single three and out drive. They scored on 6 of their first 7 possessions. That is horrific. I think Chickillo was the only D player to even touch Wentz. The lack of pressure is disturbing. QBs are mostly just sitting back there with sometimes unlimited time.

Smith for KC lit it up week 1 (363 yards) but has been mediocre the next 2 weeks (186, 237). It will be interesting to see if the Steelers D can keep the last 2 game trend or if he throws for a ton of yards.

I'm hopeful this was just one of those days. Watch the film once, then throw it away, forget it and move forward. Nice to go 3 out 4 before the bye (Chiefs, Jets, Dolphins and then Pats).

[feltdizz]

i think this is one of the frustrating things we have to deal with since Butler is pretty much a DL disciple.

one thing I noticed in preseason is our back ups and practice squad looked pretty bad vs other teams. So when we have injiries i think we will see gkaring holes in the D.

i dont know what they are doing in practice all week. we still look like we are vanilla and hoping for a mistake instead of causing them with pressure.

[pittpete]