lamberts-lost-tooth
12-18-2007, 05:59 AM
Steelers plagued by tackling problems
By Scott Brown
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
All Mike Tomlin needs to do to get the attention of his defensive players is to show them tape from the Steelers' 29-22 loss to the Jaguars -- and then show them film of Steven Jackson.
Jackson is one of the best running backs in the NFL, and he just happens to play for the Rams, the Steelers' next opponent.
"They've got a running back capable of doing what Fred Taylor did to us," Tomlin said Monday at his weekly news conference.
Taylor gashed a reeling defense for 147 rushing yards and a touchdown Sunday, raising numerous questions such as, why are the Steelers suddenly struggling with basic tackling, and how do they fix the problem?
"I wish I had something profound and interesting (to say). I don't," Tomlin said. "We've got to tackle better."
That needs to start Thursday night in St. Louis, where the Steelers play the Rams.
Jackson is big and physical, and the 6-foot-2, 231-pounder is a more-than-capable receiver out of the backfield. He has come on after a slow start to the season and is averaging 105 rushing yards in the Rams' last four games.
The Steelers, meanwhile, have regressed when it comes to defending the run.
They have allowed two running backs to rush for more thasn 100 yards in their last five games after not allowing a 100-yard rusher during a streak that spanned 34 games.
The Steelers no doubt miss defensive end Aaron Smith, who is out for the season with an arm injury, but Tomlin likes excuses as much as he does penalties against his team. Plus, the absence of Smith doesn't explain the tackling by the Steelers in the loss Sunday, which could best be described as shoddy.
"We weren't tackling bad at the beginning of the year, so it shouldn't be a problem now," inside linebacker James Farrior said. "I think it's more mental than anything. It's getting late in the season, guys' bodies are beat up, they're tired, and you lose a little bit of focus when you've got all of those things and we've just got to get back to focusing."
It's not like the Steelers, who could be without starting outside linebacker Clark Haggans and defensive end Travis Kirschke against the Rams because of injuries, have many options.
NFL teams don't tackle during practice because of the risk of injury (among other reasons), so the Steelers can't really simulate that aspect of the game.
One veteran Steeler said players are able to hone their tackling skills in the days leading up to a game by making sure they are in good position to make a tackle when they are scrimmaging.
"As long as you take the proper technique, you don't (have to) take the guy to the ground," safety Tyrone Carter said on how players can work on tackling in practice. "You've got to get yourself in position to make the play."
Tomlin agreed.
"So much of tackling is being in proper position," Tomlin said, "but it's nothing we can't solve, to be quite honest with you."
That the Steelers have problems that need to be solved on defense this late in the season is perplexing. It's also a source of frustration to the coaches and players.
"When you work hard and teams don't outplay you and give you give them everything they got, that's the hurting part because they didn't earn it; we gave it to them," Carter said. "For the past two weeks that's what we've been doing. We've got to find answers."
Notes: The Steelers probably will be without starting left tackle Marvel Smith when they play the Rams. Smith left the game in the fourth quarter and didn't return because his back was giving him trouble. ... LaMarr Woodley will start at left outside linebacker if Haggans doesn't play, and Max Starks will start at left tackle if Smith is unable to go. ... The knee injury that forced cornerback Ike Taylor to leave Sunday's game in the fourth quarter is believed to be a minor one, Tomlin said. ... Strong safety Troy Polamalu and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger are expected to be fine for the game against the Rams. Polamalu had missed three consecutive games with a knee sprain before making 10 tackles against the Jaguars. Roethlisberger has been nursing a sore (throwing) shoulder, and he got planted on it several times by the Jaguars.
By Scott Brown
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
All Mike Tomlin needs to do to get the attention of his defensive players is to show them tape from the Steelers' 29-22 loss to the Jaguars -- and then show them film of Steven Jackson.
Jackson is one of the best running backs in the NFL, and he just happens to play for the Rams, the Steelers' next opponent.
"They've got a running back capable of doing what Fred Taylor did to us," Tomlin said Monday at his weekly news conference.
Taylor gashed a reeling defense for 147 rushing yards and a touchdown Sunday, raising numerous questions such as, why are the Steelers suddenly struggling with basic tackling, and how do they fix the problem?
"I wish I had something profound and interesting (to say). I don't," Tomlin said. "We've got to tackle better."
That needs to start Thursday night in St. Louis, where the Steelers play the Rams.
Jackson is big and physical, and the 6-foot-2, 231-pounder is a more-than-capable receiver out of the backfield. He has come on after a slow start to the season and is averaging 105 rushing yards in the Rams' last four games.
The Steelers, meanwhile, have regressed when it comes to defending the run.
They have allowed two running backs to rush for more thasn 100 yards in their last five games after not allowing a 100-yard rusher during a streak that spanned 34 games.
The Steelers no doubt miss defensive end Aaron Smith, who is out for the season with an arm injury, but Tomlin likes excuses as much as he does penalties against his team. Plus, the absence of Smith doesn't explain the tackling by the Steelers in the loss Sunday, which could best be described as shoddy.
"We weren't tackling bad at the beginning of the year, so it shouldn't be a problem now," inside linebacker James Farrior said. "I think it's more mental than anything. It's getting late in the season, guys' bodies are beat up, they're tired, and you lose a little bit of focus when you've got all of those things and we've just got to get back to focusing."
It's not like the Steelers, who could be without starting outside linebacker Clark Haggans and defensive end Travis Kirschke against the Rams because of injuries, have many options.
NFL teams don't tackle during practice because of the risk of injury (among other reasons), so the Steelers can't really simulate that aspect of the game.
One veteran Steeler said players are able to hone their tackling skills in the days leading up to a game by making sure they are in good position to make a tackle when they are scrimmaging.
"As long as you take the proper technique, you don't (have to) take the guy to the ground," safety Tyrone Carter said on how players can work on tackling in practice. "You've got to get yourself in position to make the play."
Tomlin agreed.
"So much of tackling is being in proper position," Tomlin said, "but it's nothing we can't solve, to be quite honest with you."
That the Steelers have problems that need to be solved on defense this late in the season is perplexing. It's also a source of frustration to the coaches and players.
"When you work hard and teams don't outplay you and give you give them everything they got, that's the hurting part because they didn't earn it; we gave it to them," Carter said. "For the past two weeks that's what we've been doing. We've got to find answers."
Notes: The Steelers probably will be without starting left tackle Marvel Smith when they play the Rams. Smith left the game in the fourth quarter and didn't return because his back was giving him trouble. ... LaMarr Woodley will start at left outside linebacker if Haggans doesn't play, and Max Starks will start at left tackle if Smith is unable to go. ... The knee injury that forced cornerback Ike Taylor to leave Sunday's game in the fourth quarter is believed to be a minor one, Tomlin said. ... Strong safety Troy Polamalu and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger are expected to be fine for the game against the Rams. Polamalu had missed three consecutive games with a knee sprain before making 10 tackles against the Jaguars. Roethlisberger has been nursing a sore (throwing) shoulder, and he got planted on it several times by the Jaguars.