Question marks at every level of the defense

[WindyCitySteel]

I keep reading "expert" and fan opinions about how good the Steeler D will be this season, but I think that's far from a given. There are question marks at all three levels.

IDL: How much/well can Alualu play at 35 coming off injury? Will Tuitt play at all? Will Heyward continue to dominate at his age?

EDGE: Can Highsmith take the next step? Who is the rotational 3rd guy?

ILB: Bush and Jack were both terrible at football last year, was it an aberration? Who are the backups?

CB: Can Witherspoon play well full time? Sutton and Wallace good enough? Schedule loaded with great WRs.

Safety is about the only position that seems stable and solid. If more than one of these questions is answered in the negative, we could see a pretty stinky defense.

[Northern_Blitz]

I think the D will be the stronger side of the ball again.

But I agree that there are some pretty big questions.

DL and ILB are at the top of my list.

I think Highsmith will be a reasonably good #2 guy, but I agree we don't have depth.

I think 'Spoon will be OK, but it's not reasonable to expect him to play at the same per game impact he had last year.

I think we'll be better than last year if we can stay reasonably healthy.

[whisper]

I keep reading "expert" and fan opinions about how good the Steeler D will be this season, but I think that's far from a given. There are question marks at all three levels.

The "experts" have failed to recognize the Pgh D from last year. They keep making references like "Well, you know the Steelers will still have that great defense..." It's as if they have failed to bother to look at the D from last year...dead last vs. the rush. 20th in points given up, 24th in yards. Dead last in avg. yards given up per rush attempt. And most of the problem leading up to those historic, awful stats have the same ? marks leading into the season (as you pointed out).

The D line added one rookie in Leal...a 3rd rounder. Alualu coming off major injury at 35. Cam inching towards mid-30's. Tuitt a complete unknown. The starting ILBs both coming off terrible seasons. How is it a known given the rush D will be vastly improved from that?

And then we have the CBs: not the most-proven unit around.

The talking heads obviously don't really do their research, not even a little bit. Assuming the Steelers' D is top notch is way outlandish.

[Steel Maniac]

Now that the Bucs have closed the door on Ndamukong Suh, I'd like to sniff around him and see what are chances are on a 1 year deal.

[hawaiiansteel]

Now that the Bucs have closed the door on Ndamukong Suh, I'd like to sniff around him and see what are chances are on a 1 year deal.

no thanks, Suh is a dirty player we don't want to be associated with.

thank God you don't make decisions for the Steelers.

[crushedspirit]

How many examples do people need to see before their eyes open? All the success is predicated on what Watt and Heyward can do up front. Every single time teams control those two, the rest of the D becomes a subway turnstile. The upper tiered QBs rarely struggle against this D for a reason.

[Steel Maniac]

How many examples do people need to see before their eyes open? All the success is predicated on what Watt and Heyward can do up front. Every single time teams control those two, the rest of the D becomes a subway turnstile. The upper tiered QBs rarely struggle against this D for a reason.

That's why I'd like to get Suh for a season to give some help to them. We can address the position in next year's draft but Suh would be a decent addition right now.

[hawaiiansteel]

That's why I'd like to get Suh for a season to give some help to them. We can address the position in next year's draft but Suh would be a decent addition right now.

maybe we should also sign Josh Rosen as our QB as you previously suggested.

[crushedspirit]

That's why I'd like to get Suh for a season to give some help to them. We can address the position in next year's draft but Suh would be a decent addition right now.

Bucs just replaced him with Hicks today. Good pick up, if he can stay healthy of course.

[hawaiiansteel]

Bucs just replaced him with Hicks today. Good pick up, if he can stay healthy of course.

yup, great move by the Bucs.

there's a reason why they didn't re-sign Suh. he's washed up and asking for too much $$$.

[NJ-STEELER]

Lots of question marks on the D for sure.

now take a team that didn’t finish #2 overall in defense 2 years ago and lost sone key Components from injuries.

they’ll likely have double the question marks.

[Joel Buchsbaum]

I keep reading "expert" and fan opinions about how good the Steeler D will be this season, but I think that's far from a given. There are question marks at all three levels.

IDL: How much/well can Alualu play at 35 coming off injury? Will Tuitt play at all? Will Heyward continue to dominate at his age?

EDGE: Can Highsmith take the next step? Who is the rotational 3rd guy?

ILB: Bush and Jack were both terrible at football last year, was it an aberration? Who are the backups?

CB: Can Witherspoon play well full time? Sutton and Wallace good enough? Schedule loaded with great WRs.

Safety is about the only position that seems stable and solid. If more than one of these questions is answered in the negative, we could see a pretty stinky defense.

Answers: I don't think Tuitt comes back, and if he does it will less than what we are used to for him. Alualu might be able to play, but then aging he's 35. This should be his last year. Hopefully Leal can add something and Loudermilk will improve form year one to two.

We don't have a 3rd rotational guy. Highsmith isn't double teamed, so its time for him to produce

?? on CB

[whisper]

Answers: I don't think Tuitt comes back, and if he does it will less than what we are used to for him. Alualu might be able to play, but then aging he's 35. This should be his last year. Hopefully Leal can add something and Loudermilk will improve form year one to two.

We don't have a 3rd rotational guy. Highsmith isn't double teamed, so its time for him to produce

?? on CB

You didn't even mention ILB, which being we are a 3-4, we have two instead of 1. We have Bush, who looked like an UDFA last year, and Jack, who played about at the same level. BOTH players need to make a quantum leap from the previous year, what are the odds both will?

At CB, odds are ONE of the players will turn out solid, but the others? Doubtful. Levi has been a steady, if unspectacular, CB in Buffalo his previous seasons. Spoon? Hard to say. Sutton, Maulet, Pierre? Good luck. CB is BOUND to be a weakness, especially with teams like Cinci, Bucs, LV, Fins on the schedule.

[Steel Maniac]

No Tuitt now. How's that D-line looking to you now?

[hawaiiansteel]

do we usually keep 7 DL or only 6 on the final 53 man roster?

right now we have:

NT - Alualu, Adams

DE - Heyward, Wormley, Loudermilk, Leal