lamberts-lost-tooth
12-31-2007, 06:27 AM
Steelers' run defense showing some weakness
By John Harris
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, December 31, 2007
BALTIMORE
First, the good news.
Sunday's 27-21 stinker against the Baltimore Ravens isn't a confidence-breaker for the Steelers.
Bad loss or no bad loss, the Steelers will play host to Jacksonville in a first-round playoff game Saturday night at Heinz Field.
"This game didn't mean anything," linebacker James Farrior said.
Oh, yes it did.
That's the bad news.
The Steelers still can't stop the run.
Baltimore's traditionally anemic offense -- led yesterday by a rookie quarterback and second- and third-string running backs -- totaled 180 rushing yards and averaged 4.5 yards per carry against the NFL's top-rated defense. It was the most rushing yards the Ravens have gained against the Steelers.
Two games ago, Jacksonville gashed the Steelers for 224 yards on the ground and 5.3 yards per carry. It was the most rushing yards the Jaguars had gained against the Steelers.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has detected a disturbing pattern with his normally rock-solid defense that he believes is cause for concern rather than panic.
But being that the Steelers are, in Tomlin's words, what they put on tape, the performance of the run defense hasn't reached the critical stage -- yet.
"Specifically, I've got to look at the tape," Tomlin said. "But it looked to me like we were out of gaps at times when trying to apply pressure. That's the high risk and reward of applying pressure.
"We need to be where we're supposed to be. We need to tackle better."
Tomlin said the same thing following the Jacksonville loss -- the lack of gap integrity and the inability of the 11 defensive players to all be on the same page.
If Tomlin has to repeat himself again following the playoff opener, the Steelers' season will be over.
"We've got to get back to the fundamentals and make sure we're in our proper gaps when we apply pressure," Tomlin said. "If we can't do a good job of that, then we need to play straight defense."
Any kind of defense will be an improvement over what the Steelers put out on the field yesterday.
Improved technique won't matter if the Steelers are getting beaten at the point of attack, as they were against Baltimore's offensive line.
"Their front was just moving the ball. It doesn't matter who's in the game," linebacker Clark Haggans said of the Ravens' nondescript running back tandem of Musa Smith and Cory Ross, who combined for two touchdowns. "You could have somebody's grandma in the game, and if you ain't in the gap, as long as she can run the ball, she's gonna hit the open gaps. When 11 guys ain't all on the same page, that's what happens."
Defensive end Brett Keisel said opposing backs have been "running patiently" instead of "attacking the hole" and waiting for plays to develop.
"But we've also helped them by missing some tackles," Keisel said. "We need to get back to smashing the run. That's what we do best."
Stay tuned.
By John Harris
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, December 31, 2007
BALTIMORE
First, the good news.
Sunday's 27-21 stinker against the Baltimore Ravens isn't a confidence-breaker for the Steelers.
Bad loss or no bad loss, the Steelers will play host to Jacksonville in a first-round playoff game Saturday night at Heinz Field.
"This game didn't mean anything," linebacker James Farrior said.
Oh, yes it did.
That's the bad news.
The Steelers still can't stop the run.
Baltimore's traditionally anemic offense -- led yesterday by a rookie quarterback and second- and third-string running backs -- totaled 180 rushing yards and averaged 4.5 yards per carry against the NFL's top-rated defense. It was the most rushing yards the Ravens have gained against the Steelers.
Two games ago, Jacksonville gashed the Steelers for 224 yards on the ground and 5.3 yards per carry. It was the most rushing yards the Jaguars had gained against the Steelers.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has detected a disturbing pattern with his normally rock-solid defense that he believes is cause for concern rather than panic.
But being that the Steelers are, in Tomlin's words, what they put on tape, the performance of the run defense hasn't reached the critical stage -- yet.
"Specifically, I've got to look at the tape," Tomlin said. "But it looked to me like we were out of gaps at times when trying to apply pressure. That's the high risk and reward of applying pressure.
"We need to be where we're supposed to be. We need to tackle better."
Tomlin said the same thing following the Jacksonville loss -- the lack of gap integrity and the inability of the 11 defensive players to all be on the same page.
If Tomlin has to repeat himself again following the playoff opener, the Steelers' season will be over.
"We've got to get back to the fundamentals and make sure we're in our proper gaps when we apply pressure," Tomlin said. "If we can't do a good job of that, then we need to play straight defense."
Any kind of defense will be an improvement over what the Steelers put out on the field yesterday.
Improved technique won't matter if the Steelers are getting beaten at the point of attack, as they were against Baltimore's offensive line.
"Their front was just moving the ball. It doesn't matter who's in the game," linebacker Clark Haggans said of the Ravens' nondescript running back tandem of Musa Smith and Cory Ross, who combined for two touchdowns. "You could have somebody's grandma in the game, and if you ain't in the gap, as long as she can run the ball, she's gonna hit the open gaps. When 11 guys ain't all on the same page, that's what happens."
Defensive end Brett Keisel said opposing backs have been "running patiently" instead of "attacking the hole" and waiting for plays to develop.
"But we've also helped them by missing some tackles," Keisel said. "We need to get back to smashing the run. That's what we do best."
Stay tuned.