Are defenses catching up?

[feltdizz]

Relatively we're 30th in the league, 22PPG behind the best.

This doesn't cover the absolute stench of our offense.

Steelers have played 5 games: SF, Browns, Raiders, Texans and Baltimore who have a combined record of 18 wins and 11 losses (.620)

Miami has played 6 games: Chargers, Patriots, Denver, Buffalo, Giants, Panthers who have a combined record of 8 wins and 25 losses. (.240)

Miami has played 4 teams with a combined 3 wins and 21 losses.. lol.

I think once you step back you will see Miami, while good, has played some of the worst teams in football to start the season. We shall see if they are legit when they actually face a few good teams these next few weeks.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

Today Jason Whitlock posted that the NFL is currently in the Era of Mediocrity and that the entire game has been dumbed down for/by the current group of players.

I agree. If you look beyond the top two or three QBs, you will still see some elite plays throughout a game, but you will also see a ton of very poor throws, bad decisions, and overall bad play from the position. If you just see the highlights, it is easy to piece together a reel of ten plays in which a QB can look like a pro bowler, but if you watch every play, you will see a lot of plays that show you how low the bar can be set for QB play. A player like Josh Dobbs is one of many examples of this.

[Oviedo]

Watched a lot of rock fights today.. lol.

21 teams scored 20 points or less this week.

Maybe its time to adjust the view of how to win in the NFL in 2023.

Maybe we aren't so bad...just below average

So called "power house" offensive teams laid eggs this past weekend

[Eich]

Maybe we aren't so bad...just below average

So called "power house" offensive teams laid eggs this past weekend

Yeah, I was surprised by KC (19 against Donks), SF (17 against Clowns), Philly (14 against Jets), Bills (14 against Giants), Bungles (17 against Seahags)

None of these teams busted 20

[T.Ferguson]

I agree. If you look beyond the top two or three QBs, you will still see some elite plays throughout a game, but you will also see a ton of very poor throws, bad decisions, and overall bad play from the position. If you just see the highlights, it is easy to piece together a reel of ten plays in which a QB can look like a pro bowler, but if you watch every play, you will see a lot of plays that show you how low the bar can be set for QB play. A player like Josh Dobbs is one of many examples of this.

There is a ton of inconsistent play from the QB position now, it feels like half the starters in the league are backups that just happen to be starters. It also looks like fundamentals in general have gotten worse in the NFL and this applies to QB play as well.

[NorthCoast]

There is a ton of inconsistent play from the QB position now, it feels like half the starters in the league are backups that just happen to be starters. It also looks like fundamentals in general have gotten worse in the NFL and this applies to QB play as well.

Agreed. The era of Manning, Roethlisberger, Brees, Rivers is over and we are seeing the result. Guys that will flash in a given game but can't overcome problems on their offense when they come up (excluding Mahomes).

[feltdizz]

Yeah, I was surprised by KC (19 against Donks), SF (17 against Clowns), Philly (14 against Jets), Bills (14 against Giants), Bungles (17 against Seahags)


None of these teams busted 20

Only one that surprised me was Buffalo vs Giants. Well, the Browns winning did surprise me but I?m not surprised they played Purdy well on defense.

KC played a division rival so not surprised by that score. Jets D is legit and makes every QB look bad and Bengals are far from legit this season. Actually surprised they won.

[hawaiiansteel]

Bengals are far from legit this season. Actually surprised they won.

the Bengals only had 214 net yards of offense, the Seahawks outgained them by about 170 yards.

[feltdizz]

the Bengals only had 214 net yards of offense, the Seahawks outgained them by about 170 yards.

nothing worse than a QB not throwing a pass on the past play of the game. Just give your team a chance. A sack guarantees a loss.

[Lonbull]

Just throwing this out there - all of these Stats do NOT include the Steelers game.

49ers Defense averages 16 points a game -- Steelers Offense scored 7
Browns Defense averages 12.75 points a game - Steelers Offense scored 13
Raiders Defense averages 21.6 points a game - Steelers Offense scored 23
Texans Defense averages 21 points a game - Steelers offense scored 6
Ravens Defense averages 14.8 points a game - Steelers offense scored 15

As a fan I'm seeing an Offense that isn't playing well at all......however the more I see of other teams -- I'm starting to think our offense is both Bad - but Average.

L.B.

[feltdizz]

both teams tonight left the RZ with no points.

I wonder how many points have been left on the field since everyone is always going for it on 4th down now.

I have Herbert in fantasy and need like 20 points. Usually that’s possible but this year, not so much.

[NorthCoast]

both teams tonight left the RZ with no points.

I wonder how many points have been left on the field since everyone is always going for it on 4th down now.

I have Herbert in fantasy and need like 20 points. Usually that’s possible but this year, not so much.

Analytics aren't just for offenses...

[Captain Lemming]

Currently, only 11 teams are averaging 23 PPG or more.

Last year, 13 teams averaged 23+ PPG.

In 2021, 16 teams.

In 2020, 22 teams.

This can't sit well with the powers that be, but what more can they do to make it easier for offenses to succeed? All the rules favor them now, it seems.

What's the next offensive innovation/adjustment to swing things back?

Somebody was saying you dont have to follow the Chiefs template that some seemed to think is the only path to success.

You dont need your QB to be extremely prolific. You can win with defense, run game, and effective passing and clutch QB play.

[feltdizz]

Somebody was saying you dont have to follow the Chiefs template that some seemed to think is the only path to success.

You dont need your QB to be extremely prolific. You can win with defense, run game, and effective passing and clutch QB play.

yeah, the league is changing before our eyes and funny enough, Windy's criticism of Tomlin being outdated now looks like Tomlin may have been ahead of the curve in understanding where the league was headed.

We are seeing low scoring games, A WHOLE LOT OF THEM.

I wish I could find the blog post of a Steeler fan talking about how happy he was to not be tortured by watching our bad offense during the bye.
first game:

Game 1) CLE vs SF: Bad offenses, sacks and INT's.
Game 2) NYJ vs PHL: Bad offenses, INT's and sacks.
Game 3) Giants vs Buff: Bad offenses, INT's...
Game 4) DAL vs Chargers: Bad offe.. you get the point.

[WindyCitySteel]

yeah, the league is changing before our eyes and funny enough, Windy's criticism of Tomlin being outdated now looks like Tomlin may have been ahead of the curve in understanding where the league was headed.

The best teams can still score a lot, there are just fewer teams who can probably win a Super Bowl now, and the Steelers are not one of them. You can't win a Super Bowl when outside of 3-4 splash plays a game -- 1 on offense -- you get totally dominated on both sides of the ball.