Measurable Improvement on Defense

[NorthCoast]

Checking some NFL rank stats between 2016 & 2017:

Opp. pass yds/gm = #5 (2016=18th
Sacks/gm = #1 (2016=#8 incidentally, sacks were up this season in general (last year's #1 team would only be good for 4th this season)

pts/gm = #7 (2016=#10)
Opp INTs/gm = #9 (2016=#19)

rush yds/gm =#10 (2016=#8 while rush yds have come easier, gladly sacrifice this for the improved sack rate.

While no defense is perfect, I think Butler has done a good job with some very young talent. And this is not an overly expensive unit comparatively speaking (first year contracts).

Congratulations Steeler Defense!

[pittpete]

Looks like calculus which i dropped my senior year..LOL
Needs to limit the passing plays of over 40+ yards.
We gave up 13 on the year

[NorthCoast]

Also wanted to make special note of Mike Hilton. ... tied Burns for total tackles among CBs and led all CBs with 2 INTs, and of course those sacks... 4!

[Slapstick]

I posted about this a couple years ago, but Butler really cut his teeth coaching linebackers under Joe Lee Dunn, who invented the 3-3-5...Dunn’s defense was high risk, but high reward...in that philosophy, every one of the 11 defenders was a possible pass rusher...

I think he’s done a remarkable job combining LeBeau’s Zone Blitz principles with Tomlin’s pass defense preferences...the last piece is this idea that anyone can rush the passer on a given down...I like the combination of disguise and aggressiveness Butler has brought to the table...8 sacks for Vince Williams (our best ILB rusher since Kendrell Bell)...4 more for a 1st year CB...heck, Joe Haden got his first sack since 2011!!

Now, he’s clearly still working out the proverbial kinks...as Pete pointed out, the Steelers have been susceptible to the big pass play...but I’m happy overall with the improvement and results...

[Shoe]

Looks like calculus which i dropped my senior year..LOL
Needs to limit the passing plays of over 40+ yards.
We gave up 13 on the year

Right on point Pete. I'm seeing all these stats about this D, but I've never seen a more porous "great" D. Every time a guy breaks the first level of tackle, he's fvckn gone. How the he1l does that happen so often? Guy catches a slant (against us), he makes a move, and then I just watch him weave his way to the endzone?! I feel so good about this team, but this D is going to be the deathof us if its anything.

[pittpete]

Shoe at times our defense looks totally unstoppable....
I think a lot of the big plays can be narrowed down to players being out of position and poor tackling.
Its disheartening sometimes to watch our offense have a 10 play drive and score a TD and the first play on D we give up a homerun.

[Ernie]

Right on point Pete. I'm seeing all these stats about this D, but I've never seen a more porous "great" D. Every time a guy breaks the first level of tackle, he's fvckn gone. How the he1l does that happen so often? Guy catches a slant (against us), he makes a move, and then I just watch him weave his way to the endzone?! I feel so good about this team, but this D is going to be the deathof us if its anything.

You see those plays happen more in a "Man" defense, which we are playing a lot more of this year.

[NorthCoast]

The Steelers defense has been transitioning this season to include more man-to-man. It's understandable that guys could occasionally be caught out of position if the calls are confused by the players or the players are manipulated by the more savvy QBs. I expect these breakdowns should occur less and less as the players get more experience playing together.

[pittpete]

True Ernie...On the play yesterday(Higgins) we were in a 2 deep zone with the safeties.

[Ernie]

True Ernie...On the play yesterday(Higgins) we were in a 2 deep zone with the safeties.

I know what you are getting at... lol.. Was he in TJ's zone when he caught the pass?

[WB Tarleton]

True Ernie...On the play yesterday(Higgins) we were in a 2 deep zone with the safeties.

And that was the perfect play for it. Split the safeties down the middle.

[Ernie]

WB...

If I remember right that pass was basically a quick slant that was caught well in front of the safeties. Not sure if that's what you meant.

[RuthlessBurgher]

And that was the perfect play for it. Split the safeties down the middle.

Looked like the Fitz TD in SBXLIII.

[Oviedo]

True Ernie...On the play yesterday(Higgins) we were in a 2 deep zone with the safeties.

We need better play from the Safeties. I see us potentially drafting a stud in Round 1

[Slapstick]

We need better play from the Safeties. I see us potentially drafting a stud in Round 1

Or a stud ILB like Rashaan Evans...BPA...