Iggles game thread

[whisper]

Maybe we should blitz a little less.

When we keep getting gashed on 3rd and long, you'd think we'd change something up to try to stop the bleeding

I honestly think we should blitz less. Phil Simms has been saying that for many years. Some teams can handle it, and if they can, we get gashed.

[Buzz]

We might need to cut back on the soft zone coverage as well

[BURGH86STEEL]

Maybe we should blitz a little less.

When we keep getting gashed on 3rd and long, you'd think we'd change something up to try to stop the bleeding

I believe I heard the Steelers blitz 51% of the time. That's most in the league. I don't believe the Steelers will be bad on 3rd down every week.

Currently the Steelers are 19th in the league at 42.86%. Baltimore is 18th in the league at 42.55%. Philadelphia is at 37.04%. Buffalo is at 48.94%. Las Vegas is at 50%. Seattle is at 51.85%. All those teams except for the Eagles have winning records. Turnovers played a role in most of the Eagles losses.

I don't know what to make of overall defensive 3rd down %? I guess the results depend on several factors.

[feltdizz]

I think it's more like the Jarvis Jones treatment: never was good enough to be drafted in the 1st round, and that never did change. Gay was a low pick, no valid comparison. Bud was a bum for 3 years, and also a 1st rounder.

Bud was never a bum.

I could see if Edmunds was stinking it up this year but he isn’t. It’s everyone else in the secondary this year and people don’t want to bash their faves so they get lazy and bash Edmunds.

[NorthCoast]

NFL secondaries have a tough job. When they play off, they get torched. When they play tight they get phantom PI calls. Gotta have thick skin and short memory to play the position. I think Edmunds is playing better this season than any previous.

[Starlifter]

4-0. Ugly or not, weak competition or not - I was hoping for 3-1. 4-0 is fantastic!

[Buzz]

4-0. Ugly or not, weak competition or not - I was hoping for 3-1. 4-0 is fantastic!

Agreed. Great start.

[whisper]

I believe I heard the Steelers blitz 51% of the time. That's most in the league. I don't believe the Steelers will be bad on 3rd down every week.

Currently the Steelers are 19th in the league at 42.86%. Baltimore is 18th in the league at 42.55%. Philadelphia is at 37.04%. Buffalo is at 48.94%. Las Vegas is at 50%. Seattle is at 51.85%. All those teams except for the Eagles have winning records. Turnovers played a role in most of the Eagles losses.

I don't know what to make of overall defensive 3rd down %? I guess the results depend on several factors.

Much of the 3rd down stats are not as meaningful as the commentators claim. If your O is always in 3rd and short, of course they will be more successful on 3rd. If defenses put teams in 3rd and long, of course they will be better on 3rd. But they don't mention that. Of course, it feels like Pgh gives up a lot or 3rd and longs, especially really long. More than other teams? I really don't know.

[BURGH86STEEL]

Much of the 3rd down stats are not as meaningful as the commentators claim. If your O is always in 3rd and short, of course they will be more successful on 3rd. If defenses put teams in 3rd and long, of course they will be better on 3rd. But they don't mention that. Of course, it feels like Pgh gives up a lot or 3rd and longs, especially really long. More than other teams? I really don't know.

I think we can all agree that the Steelers need to find ways to get off the field in 3rd and long.

3rd and 9, missed tackle lead to a 75 yard run for Sanders. Not getting off the field on a 3rd and 12 situation lead to another scoring drive for the Eagles. The Eagles converted another 3rd and 8 that lead to another scoring drive. I believe the statistics usually point to defensive success more often than not in those types of 3rd down and distances.

[NorthCoast]

Someone else mentioned this and it shouldn't be overlooked; the Steelers, for the first time in a long time that I remember, completely shut off a very good TE in Ertz. He had 1 completion for 6 yds on six targets. If that was the defensive scheme going in, then it worked very well.

[Starlifter]

Someone else mentioned this and it shouldn't be overlooked; the Steelers, for the first time in a long time that I remember, completely shut off a very good TE in Ertz. He had 1 completion for 6 yds on six targets. If that was the defensive scheme going in, then it worked very well.

That’s a good point. TE’s have been our nemesis for a long time. Both in defending against them, and having one be a major contributor to the offense.

[NorthCoast]

Some things I saw:

= Roethlisberger was spreading it all over the field; eight different receivers with at least one reception. He didn't have much time to throw but that fit his game passing game. He has the third fastest TTT in the league.
= As all the media has been screaming; Claypool had a Pool Party at Heinz field. Wish Roethlisberger would be around for more of his career because the guy looks to be one that could challenge a few of ABs records. Whoever the Steelers scouts are for WRs, they need to get a bonus and raise to keep them in house. They know how to sniff these guys out!
= Dotson had a mixed game filling in for DD; couple of penalties but he had a tough assignment against the likes of PHI Jackson and Hargrave.
= Some nice creativity on offense, with McCloud. Dude is faster than I thought.
= Didn't see as much motion at the snap in this game. maybe this was by design, the few they did run seemed to work.
= Conner did OK against a pretty stiff DL; McFly had a few touches for a few yds. PHI DL was 10th in the league for opponent rush yds per att and it showed. (btw, CLE is 9th so Steelers will face a stout DL next week)
= The bye seemed to have hit the defense hard; I expected to see Wentz on his back a lot more than it was. Dupree was invisible for large parts of this game. Watt did have some good pressures throughout the day.... worried when he went out, but fortunately came back in. Tuitt with some good pressures. Didn't hear Heyward or Alualu name called much.
= Could this be close to DeCastro's end?... dude is struggling with injuries this season.
= All in all, considering the unplanned bye, the Steelers did enough for the W and that's what counts. They won't all be pretty. This league is competitive. KC lost, SF lost, SEA was in a dog fight with a 1 win team. No easy wins...

[NorthCoast]

I should probably also add two others:

= Refs were absolutely terrible for both teams; just bad or wrong calls that affected the outcome of the game. Slay didn't have PI against Washington, and there was no OPI on Claypool's catch. There were a handful of other calls/non-calls as well. Very poor officiating.

= Fitzpatrick; dude better learn how to tackle... I saw shades of M Mitchell out there. Huge hits with no arms. Just bad fundamentals. He doesn't seem to be playing at the same level this season but it could be his assignments.

[NJ-STEELER]

i'M STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW 1 official did not go to the head ref and say "the ball bounced on the ground" before it got overturned on replay