Why Are the Steelers...

[feltdizz]

Fair enough...so I think it goes back to preparation, both from a personnel perspective and a coaching perspective. The Patriots seem to find ways to plug in big holes and makeup for shortcomings of backups. For pete's sake, they used a WR as a cornerback for a prolonged stretch. Obviously the argument still persists, their loss is not as big as the loss of Shazier. We can keep coming back to that. But this all lends to my initial post that the position coaches should know if we are exposed if a key player like Shazier goes down. You can't have All Pros as backups at every position, but to me its a failure to not have someone competent enough to at least 'keep the lights on.' I know, I know, the backup got hurt too. Which further pushes my next point.

Many are saying you can't replicate what Shazier does. Fine. Well, then you make adjustments, which was my next thought. So I'll ask again, some defensive X's and O's genius on this board should hopefully be able to enlighten us all on what can be done.

I refuse to believe the tired argument (read: EXCUSE) that Shazier's loss was too big to overcome. Good and prepared teams find ways.

honestly, I think we just got beat by a better team. Only thing I think we could have done better is tackle better and have more discipline when it came to play action.

I think we all wanted Bortles to beat us but we really didn't look like we were convinced he would throw the ball that much.

From the opening kick off it was obvious that these Jags are STRONG. You can't tackle high or arm tackle. So many yards after contact. IT was embarrissing

[Slapstick]

Fair enough...so I think it goes back to preparation, both from a personnel perspective and a coaching perspective. The Patriots seem to find ways to plug in big holes and makeup for shortcomings of backups. For pete's sake, they used a WR as a cornerback for a prolonged stretch. Obviously the argument still persists, their loss is not as big as the loss of Shazier. We can keep coming back to that. But this all lends to my initial post that the position coaches should know if we are exposed if a key player like Shazier goes down. You can't have All Pros as backups at every position, but to me its a failure to not have someone competent enough to at least 'keep the lights on.' I know, I know, the backup got hurt too. Which further pushes my next point.

Many are saying you can't replicate what Shazier does. Fine. Well, then you make adjustments, which was my next thought. So I'll ask again, some defensive X's and O's genius on this board should hopefully be able to enlighten us all on what can be done.

I refuse to believe the tired argument (read: EXCUSE) that Shazier's loss was too big to overcome. Good and prepared teams find ways.

Again, the adjustments take time...Donta Hightower was lost early in the season and the Pats** D looked like hot garbage...but, in the second half of the season, they buttoned it down and are now playing in the SB...

The Steelers primary backup was also injured at the same time as Shazier...leaving them scrambling after the trade deadline to find and acclimate a player into the defensive system. They did about as well as was possible given the circumstances. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out.

Even if Matakevitch has weaknesses in his game, the staff would have been aware of that ahead of time and planned for it...

[Steel Maniac]

honestly, I think we just got beat by a better team. Only thing I think we could have done better is tackle better and have more discipline when it came to play action.

I think we all wanted Bortles to beat us but we really didn't look like we were convinced he would throw the ball that much.

From the opening kick off it was obvious that these Jags are STRONG. You can't tackle high or arm tackle. So many yards after contact. IT was embarrissing

Feltz, so we just got beat by a better team? Okay...that's a logical conclusion to come to.
Amazing how the Jags (with a newly put together staff) could just take two years to make a better team then what we've been trying to put together in 6 years. It's sad.

[feltdizz]

Feltz, so we just got beat by a better team? Okay...that's a logical conclusion to come to.
Amazing how the Jags (with a newly put together staff) could just take two years to make a better team then what we've been trying to put together in 6 years. It's sad.

Sometimes it happens. Teams get hot, they get a player and ride the wave, etc.

We are also talking about a franchise who has been a thorn in Ben’s ass since he entered the league.

Jags were the one team besides the Pats I didn’t want to face in the playoffs.

I’m pretty sure their D has returned about 4 INT’s for TD’s vs Ben in our house.

Whats sad sad is I think our players truly bought we were better than the Jags and the only reason we lost was because of Ben’s INT’s the first time around.

One criticism I have is building a defense based on speed and playing man to man to beat the Pats. I always believed it was a mistake to buy into the “passing league” or have to be able to do both and I think we have gone too far from the smashmouth, stop the run D that was our identity since the 70’s. It’s still football and I don’t care how much you pass. If you get punched in the mouth a few times it’s going to beat lost teams. Unless you have a Big Ben who can take hits I think that’s the best way to beat any team in the NFL.

oh, and it’s not really amazing IMO. The NFL is all about parody and if you lose for years eventually if you get a competent staff you should be able to put together a great team since you have tons of high draft picks.

Its much harder to build a Steeler or Pats team since they are always drafting late in the first.

[Buzz]

Again, the adjustments take time...Donta Hightower was lost early in the season and the Pats** D looked like hot garbage...but, in the second half of the season, they buttoned it down and are now playing in the SB...

The Steelers primary backup was also injured at the same time as Shazier...leaving them scrambling after the trade deadline to find and acclimate a player into the defensive system. They did about as well as was possible given the circumstances. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out.

Even if Matakevitch has weaknesses in his game, the staff would have been aware of that ahead of time and planned for it...

Not buying your explanation. When Matakevich was healthy enough to play again, they had him on the field for STs, but not as a starter at the Mack (the notion that he was healthy enough to play STs but not play D makes no sense; tackling on STs is just as hard on your shoulder as tackling on defense). They brought Spence in as the starter at Mack -- he was better for the role than anyone they had on the roster (but as we saw, he wasn't very good; not surprising for a guy who was home on his couch). To me, it's all strong evidence they never had a good contingency plan in case Shazier went down for an extended time.

[feltdizz]

Not buying your explanation. When Matakevich was healthy enough to play again, they had him on the field for STs, but not as a starter at the Mack (the notion that he was healthy enough to play STs but not play D makes no sense; tackling on STs is just as hard on your shoulder as tackling on defense). They brought Spence in as the starter at Mack -- he was better for the role than anyone they had on the roster (but as we saw, he wasn't very good; not surprising for a guy who was home on his couch). To me, it's all strong evidence they never had a good contingency plan in case Shazier went down for an extended time.

Half the time you don’t even tackle someone on ST’s.

Its way different than colliding with OL 80 times a game.

How can you dispute this?

[Buzz]

Half the time you don’t even tackle someone on ST’s.

Its way different than colliding with OL 80 times a game.

How can you dispute this?

How can you dispute that if his shoulder really isn't healed up, even one tackle on STs could be enough to really hurt it bad? He's either ready to tackle or he's not.

Read the articles from the weeks after Shazier's injury. Coaches were saying TM is ready to play, but they're not sure if they want to use him on D. C'mon, if he's really considered to be the primary backup to Shaz, you use him. The biggest problem was not TM's shoulder, it was his lack of speed. He's a good backup for VW. But not for Shazier's spot. If they keep Spence around next year, he'll be ahead of Matakevich on the depth chart at the Mack, you watch and see.

[feltdizz]

How can you dispute that if his shoulder really isn't healed up, even one tackle on STs could be enough to really hurt it bad? He's either ready to tackle or he's not.

Read the articles from the weeks after Shazier's injury. Coaches were saying TM is ready to play, but they're not sure if they want to use him on D. C'mon, if he's really considered to be the primary backup to Shaz, you use him. The biggest problem was not TM's shoulder, it was his lack of speed. He's a good backup for VW. But not for Shazier's spot. If they keep Spence around next year, he'll be ahead of Matakevich on the depth chart at the Mack, you watch and see.

I'm no fan of Matakevich so I wouldn't be surprised if he isn't around or low on the depth chart. However, there is a distinct difference from maybe making a tackle on ST's vs having to use your shoulder vs OL on 99.9% of the plays on defense.

[Buzz]

I'm no fan of Matakevich so I wouldn't be surprised if he isn't around or low on the depth chart. However, there is a distinct difference from maybe making a tackle on ST's vs having to use your shoulder vs OL on 99.9% of the plays on defense.

If he's the best mack LB on the roster, and he's healthy enough to play, you put him in on D. If not for every play (because of durability concerns with the shoulder), then for at least a few plays in important spots. How often did they put TM in on D once Spence came on board? How often did they put TM in on D vs. the Jags, when they knew the season was on the line, when one stop in a crucial place could've been the difference between advancing or going home? Not one play. On the field all game for STs, not at all on D.

[Northern_Blitz]

Feltz, so we just got beat by a better team? Okay...that's a logical conclusion to come to.
Amazing how the Jags (with a newly put together staff) could just take two years to make a better team then what we've been trying to put together in 6 years. It's sad.

I think that part of the problem is that we build our team to beat the Pats (who we played well against even without Shazier).

Then, we played a team that is the exact opposite of the Pats in the playoffs.

The Jags match up well with us. It's like how we match up well with the Chiefs (who we beat in their house last year in the divisional round and this year when they were undefeated).

[Slapstick]

If he's the best mack LB on the roster, and he's healthy enough to play, you put him in on D. If not for every play (because of durability concerns with the shoulder), then for at least a few plays in important spots. How often did they put TM in on D once Spence came on board? How often did they put TM in on D vs. the Jags, when they knew the season was on the line, when one stop in a crucial place could've been the difference between advancing or going home? Not one play. On the field all game for STs, not at all on D.

Yes. Because he was hurt. He had a torn labrum in his shoulder. He had successful surgery to repair it earlier in the month.

It is possible to play football with a torn labrum and not make it any worse. The problem would be lining up on defense on a regular basis and consistently using that arm to shed blocks and make tackles. Playing a few snaps on Special Teams is completely different.

[feltdizz]

I think that part of the problem is that we build our team to beat the Pats (who we played well against even without Shazier).

Then, we played a team that is the exact opposite of the Pats in the playoffs.

The Jags match up well with us. It's like how we match up well with the Chiefs (who we beat in their house last year in the divisional round and this year when they were undefeated).

It was one of my concerns. All this focus on beating the Pats but what about the other teams? Everyone doesn’t dink and dunk us to death.

Also have to blame the coaches for going man to man vs Bortles. Why? He is known to run for first downs instead of passing for them and running with your back turned left us open underneath.

Passing league my ass, it’s a do what works league IMO.

[Buzz]

Yes. Because he was hurt. He had a torn labrum in his shoulder. He had successful surgery to repair it earlier in the month.

It is possible to play football with a torn labrum and not make it any worse. The problem would be lining up on defense on a regular basis and consistently using that arm to shed blocks and make tackles. Playing a few snaps on Special Teams is completely different.

Completely different. You're right -- you never have to shed blocks and make tackles on special teams.

[Eddie Spaghetti]

matakaveich is a stiff and the coaches actions after 50 went down bear that out to anyone who looks objectively at the situation and not try to fluff every move the steelers make

depth at ILB was a problem going into the season as many here said and the plan by the FO/coaching staff was shockingly insufficient

having a slow ineffective player like matakaveich as the top back up was dumb as hell and it blew up in their faces

[Slapstick]

Completely different. You're right -- you never have to shed blocks and make tackles on special teams.

...for 10 snaps instead of 50+...