juju voodoo

[Shawn]

Or, they are correct...

Go back and watch the Pats game. What has really changed since then?

[Shawn]

we gave up 20 passing TD's last year. Only 4 teams gave up less through the air.

I think every team gets "torched" by gy good QB's.

That's what makes them good.

Are we there? That point where we just assume we will get torched by Brady? Nothing can be done? It's acceptable since everyone else is getting torched by Brady? If the Steelers can't keep the Pats under 30, they can't win. Juju doesn't change that.

[feltdizz]

I think much like Sean Davis a second round DB could help us late in the season against Brady. Isn't that what this is about? Winning now while we have Ben? By the time JuJu comes into his own (and I believe he will) who will be throwing him the ball?

No, I think JuJu is going to help us THIS year as well. Your timeline doesn't make any sense.

check out what Heward Bey has to say about JuJu in the slot:
He forces a defense to respect more possibilities. With a smaller slot receiver like Eli Rogers coming down like he's blocking, it's easier for a linebacker to ignore that receiver or react to a pass play that they thought was a run, Heyward-Bey said

"Now if I've got somebody like Anquan Boldin, I'm about to be messed up. He's blocking me and I'm coming up 'Boom' and I flipped you. That's a whole different story," Heyward-Bey said. "And that's why if you've got somebody like JuJu, couple years ago somebody like Justin Brown, here, bigger guys in the slot, Marques Colston out in New Orleans ... that's a matchup problem.”

"It's one thing I bring to the table," Smith-Schuster said. A bigger guy, one guy who likes to block inside. I did that in college and I think it helps out a lot being able to contribute to this team for me to be a slot dude. And instead of switching out to put a bigger dude in, I'm already in.

"So that would be nice.”

[squidkid]

we were 17th in yards allowed
same for ints
only 6 teams allowed more receptions
only 9 teams got passed on more(teams new they could exploit our secondary)

eh, most times you can find some stats that support your claim. this secondary falls into the mediocre category. whether its because they cant cover or there is no pressure or bad scheme or a combination of them all. what wasnt the problem with our defense last year was not having a solid 4th wr. this year, having a 3rd string qb wont be the reason our defense falls short(if they do) either.

[squidkid]

Or, they are correct...

then why draft 2 dbs and sign 1 in FA if they didnt need secondary help?

[feltdizz]

Are we there? That point where we just assume we will get torched by Brady? Nothing can be done? It's acceptable since everyone else is getting torched by Brady? If the Steelers can't keep the Pats under 30, they can't win. Juju doesn't change that.

Burns and Davis with a year under their belt, Sutton playing man/ bump and run, Golson contributing.. AND JuJu creating another mismatch underneath along with Bryant and AB and Bell.

We damn sure can beat the Pats and keep their defense on the field for longer stretches if our offense doesn't go 3 and out and actually scores TD's instead of FG's.

Stopping Brady from getting his? That's much harder to do, almost impossible but if we play more man/bump and run we should be able to cause some problems for them.

You don't just beat NE with defense. Your offense has to score TD's and not turn the ball over.

[feltdizz]

we were 17th in yards allowed
same for ints
only 6 teams allowed more receptions
only 9 teams got passed on more(teams new they could exploit our secondary)

eh, most times you can find some stats that support your claim. this secondary falls into the mediocre category. whether its because they cant cover or there is no pressure or bad scheme or a combination of them all. what wasnt the problem with our defense last year was not having a solid 4th wr. this year, having a 3rd string qb wont be the reason our defense falls short(if they do) either.

I think you have to look at situational stats too. How was our pass defense once Burns, Davis and Hargrave were full time starters? How about once Dupree came back into the line up?

Captain Lemming posted how Buffalo's QB had a 104 passer rating. What he failed to mention was 80% of his production came on 2 late drives when we were in prevent D. Our defense was pretty impressive the second half of the season until we played the Pats.

[Slapstick]

Go back and watch the Pats game. What has really changed since then?

Again, don't become a prisoner of the moment after that one game...

[Shawn]

I think you have to look at situational stats too. How was our pass defense once Burns, Davis and Hargrave were full time starters? How about once Dupree came back into the line up?

Captain Lemming posted how Buffalo's QB had a 104 passer rating. What he failed to mention was 80% of his production came on 2 late drives when we were in prevent D. Our defense was pretty impressive the second half of the season until we played the Pats.

I agree the situation is that Brady is going to shred this D once again UNLESS our third round DB and Golson are MAJOR factors. Say what you wish but the Pats got even better this offseason. US? Ehh well at least we are healthy and drafted a slot WR.

[Steel Maniac]

I'm just not happy with Williams at LB. I just don't see him being what we constantly need.

[8467thekraken]

I agree the situation is that Brady is going to shred this D once again UNLESS our third round DB and Golson are MAJOR factors. Say what you wish but the Pats got even better this offseason. US? Ehh well at least we are healthy and drafted a slot WR.

Odd how Juju is perceived merely as a slot receiver.

In time, I think he could be a very nice chess piece.

[Steelerphile]

I agree the situation is that Brady is going to shred this D once again UNLESS our third round DB and Golson are MAJOR factors. Say what you wish but the Pats got even better this offseason. US? Ehh well at least we are healthy and drafted a slot WR.

Actually who did you and Captain want instead of JuJu? I want to know so I can see how these guys do in comparison to Sutton. Keep in mind a rookie DB, any one, is rarely a highly impactful player. I don't think that enough credence is given to the development that Davis and Burns should make. These guys are not going to be exactly the same as they were last year. As least give it some time before the doomsayer decide everything will just be the same. I am still optimistic that the secondary will step up higher this year, but pressure is going to be a needed commodity. And the receiving corps could definitely use a player like JuJu. If they drafted another typical, non physical receiver, I would disagree with receiver also.

Our "third round DB", I gather you, Captain Lemming, and "kid" and everyone against drafting JuJu are writing off Cameron Sutton. I think he might have been drafted higher if he didn't have a fractured fibula. I really like this guy and think he will be a factor. He is a very smart young man with good skills. He apparently wasn't someone that you thought well of before the draft so he is getting short shrift. I am going to track this. How the guys you and Captain wanted so desperately in the second round stack up against the "3rd round DB" Cameron Sutton going forward.

[Shawn]

Actually who did you and Captain want instead of JuJu? I want to know so I can see how these guys do in comparison to Sutton. Keep in mind a rookie DB, any one, is rarely a highly impactful player. I don't think that enough credence is given to the development that Davis and Burns should make. These guys are not going to be exactly the same as they were last year. As least give it some time before the doomsayer decide everything will just be the same. I am still optimistic that the secondary will step up higher this year, but pressure is going to be a needed commodity. And the receiving corps could definitely use a player like JuJu. If they drafted another typical, non physical receiver, I would disagree with receiver also.

Our "third round DB", I gather you, Captain Lemming, and "kid" and everyone against drafting JuJu are writing off Cameron Sutton. I think he might have been drafted higher if he didn't have a fractured fibula. I really like this guy and think he will be a factor. He is a very smart young man with good skills. He apparently wasn't someone that you thought well of before the draft so he is getting short shrift. I am going to track this. How the guys you and Captain wanted so desperately in the second round stack up against the "3rd round DB" Cameron Sutton going forward.

lol...I love when certain members like yourself put words in my mouth and make incorrect deductions. First, I like Sutton...he was considered a first round talent by some before last season. He has upside. Second, I also like JuJu, as I think he can be a Ward like player. But, IMO we needed two-three quality DBs. The only way we needed one is if we are happy with Cockrell and Mitchell as the guys who will close out the Ben years and/or think Golson will actually get through a camp without a catastrophic injury. This was the year to stock up because DBs were plentiful. You want to know who I wanted? Moreau. That was a better pick than JuJu for our needs at this time. Even with the pec tear I would have taken Moreau. First round talent in the third and would be ready mid season at the latest. Moreau and Sutton? That's strong. How about Witherspoon, there's your big fast DB and he would compete against Cokrell day 1. Then you grab a guy like Noah Brown much later and at a much better value for that fierce blocking mismatch kind of WR.

[Shawn]

Odd how Juju is perceived merely as a slot receiver.

In time, I think he could be a very nice chess piece.

Its not at all odd since he isn't beating out Bryant or Brown. We have already got Bryant packed up and out the door assuming we won't sign him. Don't be so quick. If JuJu isn't a slot for the foreseeable future then he will only sniff the field in 4-5 WR sets and in situational ball...barring injury of course. Yes of course if Bryant leaves JuJu moves outside. But this chess piece you speak of...how does that work? Do you mean take Bryant off the field? Brown off the field? Put him in the backfield? I'm not sure what you envision.

[Slapstick]

The chess piece analogy is easy...Smith-Schuster won't beat out AB and he probably won't beat out Bryant...

But, put him in the slot with AB and Bryant on the outside and Bell in the backfield...he can either run a route, mismatched on either a smaller DB or a slower LB, or he can block down on either of those players and give Bell some more room inside to run...