Steelers D Looks Tired

[flippy]

It’s been a while since I’ve been excited to see our D take the field.

I think it’s also the untimely turnovers that have cost us 2 or 3 games.

I wonder why we aren’t spending more time griping about these turnovers. That’s the real problem with this team.. not timeouts or challenges.

I’m still excited to watch this team even tho they aren’t winning right now.

Crazy seeing the Browns get destroyed by a team we probably should’ve beat if not for a late fumble.

I think there's 2 other big problems. TOP and the O not converting TOs into points.

We aren't converting 1st downs and maintaining any TOP to help keep the D fresh. There's no continuity and we can't establish a running game. And I think Conner can be a bright spot for us.

And just last game, MR got the ball in the redzone and we kicked 2 FGs and did nothing. The D needs to start scoring for us.

[Northern_Blitz]

I'm sure it's been pointed out, but for two untimely fumbles this team could very well be 4-1.
Thinking about all the offensive woes and defensive changes, they are not far away from the winners column sans a few plays.

I think that's true.

But, that's because our D has been generating turnovers like mad.

If we were even in the turnover ratio...well, we probably wouldn't have a worse record, but the point differential would be worse.

[Northern_Blitz]

This season feels like the polar opposite of last. Last year, the offense was explosive and the defense, special teams sucked. This year the offense is terrible and I’m not complaining anymore about the defense or Boswell.

Yep. It sucks that we couldn't get both at the same time.

Maybe next year when Ben comes back.

I remember a few seasons ago, Alex K at the depot said it was probably our "last best chance" to win the SB.

I didn't believe it at the time because the O was amazing and I thought that the D would get better.

I didn't see the exodus of talent on O coming (I thought we'd be OK without Bell, I didn't think AB would go crazy, and I guess part of me thought Ben kind of indestructible).

[Northern_Blitz]

I think there's 2 other big problems. TOP and the O not converting TOs into points.

We aren't converting 1st downs and maintaining any TOP to help keep the D fresh. There's no continuity and we can't establish a running game. And I think Conner can be a bright spot for us.

And just last game, MR got the ball in the redzone and we kicked 2 FGs and did nothing. The D needs to start scoring for us.

It sucks that our O is so bad in an era when all the rules favor the offense.

[Oviedo]

I think there's 2 other big problems. TOP and the O not converting TOs into points.

We aren't converting 1st downs and maintaining any TOP to help keep the D fresh. There's no continuity and we can't establish a running game. And I think Conner can be a bright spot for us.

And just last game, MR got the ball in the redzone and we kicked 2 FGs and did nothing. The D needs to start scoring for us.

Sounds like the performance of a team playing their 2nd and 3rd string QBs

[tiproast]

I'm sure it's been pointed out, but for two untimely fumbles this team could very well be 4-1.
Thinking about all the offensive woes and defensive changes, they are not far away from the winners column sans a few plays.

I agree that if those two fumbles hadn't occurred, then two losses might have been wins.

What I don't see is how changing two losses to wins makes a 1-4 record into 4-1. Wouldn't it be 3-2?

[flippy]

Sounds like the performance of a team playing their 2nd and 3rd string QBs

Ben didn't look any better.

[NorthCoast]

I agree that if those two fumbles hadn't occurred, then two losses might have been wins.

What I don't see is how changing two losses to wins makes a 1-4 record into 4-1. Wouldn't it be 3-2?

You're right... sloppy math and optimism got in the way

[papillon]

It sucks that our O is so bad in an era when all the rules favor the offense.

No continuity this year at the QB position. It's difficult to execute consistently when the QB changes from week to week. We've played 5 games and have had 3 different QBs play and in a couple weeks we'll be changing frmo the current QB back to the second QB. If we can get a QB to stay healthy and play multiple games in a row, I think the team will win games and the offense will look better.

Pappy

[Northern_Blitz]

No continuity this year at the QB position. It's difficult to execute consistently when the QB changes from week to week. We've played 5 games and have had 3 different QBs play and in a couple weeks we'll be changing frmo the current QB back to the second QB. If we can get a QB to stay healthy and play multiple games in a row, I think the team will win games and the offense will look better.

Pappy

I hope you're right that it's only lack of continuity (which certainly seems important) and not lack of talent at QB.

[SteelBucks]

I hope you're right that it's only lack of continuity (which certainly seems important) and not lack of talent at QB.

Ben > Mason > Duck

Continuity is important but I don’t think any team can overcome this. We’re down to our third string undrafted QB. Not to mention the other injuries on offense.

[Steel Maniac]

No offense functions when the O-line play is bad. Offense sucked with Ben as well.

[Mr.wizard]

The O-line play hasnt been bad we just are facing stacked boxes and all out blitzes on the regular. The inexperience at QB is the reason for the lack of offensive production.

[SteelBucks]

No offense functions when the O-line play is bad. Offense sucked with Ben as well.

Ben played less than 6 quarters and, yes, the OL started the season bad. I seriously doubt their record would be 1-4 if Ben was healthy.

[Eich]

Ben > Mason > Duck

I'm not convinced yet that Mason is all that much better than Duck. Not a big enough sample size. I will say that I feel like Duck has more confidence and energy than Mason. Mason seems more cerebral.

And Bad-Ben, which we've had from time to time, could be right in that mix.

Good Ben > Mason >= Duck

Mason >=Duck > Bad Ben