Steelers Red Zone Defense

[Buzz]

...regressed more than any other in the NFL in 2017.

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2018/05/steelers-red-zone-defense-had-worst-regression-in-2017/

Turning that around will need to be a point of emphasis in 2018.

[Slapstick]

I saw that as well.

And, yes....

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

Funny (to me anyway, ha ha) that it's the red zone that suffered the most when it was the deep backs

more than any other position

that were our Achilles Heel (I thought).

Unless maybe a big part of our RZ decline happened after Shazier got injured?

[Buzz]

Funny (to me anyway, ha ha) that it's the red zone that suffered the most when it was the deep backs

more than any other position

that were our Achilles Heel (I thought).

Unless maybe a big part of our RZ decline happened after Shazier got injured?

According to the article, the decline was especially bad after losing #50. We allowed opponents to score TDs on 17 out their 20 red zone trips in December and January.

[Steel Maniac]

According to the article, the decline was especially bad after losing #50. We allowed opponents to score TDs on 17 out their 20 red zone trips in December and January.

Wow...

And what did we add to try and fix that?

[RuthlessBurgher]

Wow...

And what did we add to try and fix that?

Jon Bostic, Morgan Burnett, Terrell Edmunds, Marcus Allen, Josh Frazier, improved play in year 2 from T.J. Watt, a healthier Stephon Tuitt....

[Buzz]

Jon Bostic, Morgan Burnett, Terrell Edmunds, Marcus Allen, Josh Frazier, improved play in year 2 from T.J. Watt, a healthier Stephon Tuitt....

Sounds good. However, it's unlikely that we get through the season without losing a player or two from our D due to injury, so my concern is with depth, especially at LB.

[Slapstick]

I think that the Steelers may believe that they have enough bodies at ILB...it will just be a matter of competition in camp and the preseason...there is depth, but it is so far untested...

[Buzz]

I think that the Steelers may believe that they have enough bodies at ILB...it will just be a matter of competition in camp and the preseason...there is depth, but it is so far untested...

Bodies and depth are two different things. I'm sure we'll have enough bodies at LB to fill out the roster at the start of the season. But I don't care to see us repeat what happened last year -- having to bring bottom-of-the-barrel talent off the street to fill a starting role.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

Last year we had the unfortunate circumstance of losing a pro-bowl player and his backup within just a few plays. Without the ability to see Matakevich as the starter at the end of the year and playoffs, we are no further in knowing what he is than we were heading into 2017.

The only two things we do know about the depth at ILB is that 1) Sean Spence is not an option and 2) The Steelers do not believe that LJ Fort is a viable option otherwise he would have been starting ahead of Spence.

[Buzz]

Last year we had the unfortunate circumstance of losing a pro-bowl player and his backup within just a few plays. Without the ability to see Matakevich as the starter at the end of the year and playoffs, we are no further in knowing what he is than we were heading into 2017.

The only two things we do know about the depth at ILB is that 1) Sean Spence is not an option and 2) The Steelers do not believe that LJ Fort is a viable option otherwise he would have been starting ahead of Spence.

Exactly. Based on what we know, if Bostic goes down to injury, we may well be screwed.

I'm not thrilled about the depth at OLB, either. Maybe the rookie FA from Toledo will turn into something.

[Northern_Blitz]

The only two things we do know about the depth at ILB is that 1) Sean Spence is not an option and 2) The Steelers do not believe that LJ Fort is a viable option otherwise he would have been starting ahead of Spence.

I'm generally of the opinion that the Steelers FO doesn't make stupid decisions. But, I do not understand how they could put Fort on the roster and then start Spence when Shazier went down.

[feltdizz]

I'm generally of the opinion that the Steelers FO doesn't make stupid decisions. But, I do not understand how they could put Fort on the roster and then start Spence when Shazier went down.

I guess he didn't know the whole playbook

I like what I saw from Fort in limited action too.

We also didn't use Blount when we had him, didn't use Keion Lewis and cut JH a few times. We don't always get it right.

[Buzz]

I guess he didn't know the whole playbook

Really? By December?

If that's the case, it doesn't reflect well on the player ... and probably not on the coaching staff, either.

[feltdizz]

Really? By December?

If that's the case, it doesn't reflect well on the player ... and probably not on the coaching staff, either.

or he just isn’t who they thought he was...

pretty sure part part of the reason Antonio Brown didn’t dress a few games his first year was because he didn’t know the route tree as well as Sanders.

Its hard to believe Antonio Brown had 1 catch for -1 hard in the SB vs GB... and this was the same game Emmanuel Sanders went down with an injury.

Fort has been with 6 teams so far. Mostly as a LB/FB. I think he is the one of those guys who is a camp body but hasn’t put it together yet. Pretty sure it was his first year on an actual roster.

Maybe he is our next JH and breaks out this year?