#1 Defense By Smoke & Mirrors

[GoFor7]

Originally Posted by teegre

The defense gave up 3 points!!!

And you're blaming the defense!?! Come on, man.

[Note: 7 points came from ST. 3 points came of a Wallace fumble in the red-zone.]

This is a typical knee-jerk reaction from Steeler fans whenever something critical is said of the defense.

Did the defense lose the game? Absolutely not. In fact, they held strong when they were put in a bad position early in the game. But in order to beat Baltimore without Ben, splash plays were needed. Do you really think Byron Leftwich was going to lead the offense on 80-90 yard scoring drives all night? Do you think Charlie Batch will do that against Cleveland? Now, the same could be said of special teams in the return game. Ever since the Giants game the return unit has gone downhill and Tomlin has looked rather silly for firing Everest.

An offense with Ben Roethlisberger, Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown, Heath Miller, Maurkice Pouncey, Rashard Mendenhall and other studs should do better than 17th in scoring, yes. Absolutely. That's not controversial, it's fact.

You know, all those points the Patriots have been scoring in the past few weeks aren't just on Tom Brady. They've been getting scores from their defense (which is statistically inferior to the Steelers' defense) and their special teams. The Steelers' defense needs to return to its old ways of making splash plays. And that is not controversial, it's fact.

Some competence on special teams would be nice too.

[harrison'samonster]

Originally Posted by GoFor7

This is a typical knee-jerk reaction from Steeler fans whenever something critical is said of the defense.

Did the defense lose the game? Absolutely not. In fact, they held strong when they were put in a bad position early in the game. But in order to beat Baltimore without Ben, splash plays were needed. Do you really think Byron Leftwich was going to lead the offense on 80-90 yard scoring drives all night? Do you think Charlie Batch will do that against Cleveland? Now, the same could be said of special teams in the return game. Ever since the Giants game the return unit has gone downhill and Tomlin has looked rather silly for firing Everest.



You know, all those points the Patriots have been scoring in the past few weeks aren't just on Tom Brady. They've been getting scores from their defense (which is statistically inferior to the Steelers' defense) and their special teams. The Steelers' defense needs to return to its old ways of making splash plays. And that is not controversial, it's fact.

Some competence on special teams would be nice too.

I think I agree with a lot of what you are saying. This D has been getting better all year, and against the Ravens they were at there best so far.

I would like to see more big plays from the D as well. Think, just one turnover for a TD or putting us in the Redzone and we could have won that game. Remember Harrison jumping over LT against the Chargers after a pick, or returning the pick against the Cardinals, or all of Polamalu's big splash plays. That is something a D needs every once and a while, and we're not getting it.

However, special teams and the offense were just as much to blame for not coming up with a big play when it counted. Holmes was great at getting one or two big plays when needed (punt returns and in receiving). I know BB wasn't in there, but we still had play-makers in there.

When it's all said and done though, woulda coulda shouldas can go on and on, and I'm very hopeful about this team. They are starting to look great.

[teegre]

Originally Posted by GoFor7

This is a typical knee-jerk reaction from Steeler fans whenever something critical is said of the defense.

Did the defense lose the game? Absolutely not. In fact, they held strong when they were put in a bad position early in the game. But in order to beat Baltimore without Ben, splash plays were needed. Do you really think Byron Leftwich was going to lead the offense on 80-90 yard scoring drives all night? Do you think Charlie Batch will do that against Cleveland? Now, the same could be said of special teams in the return game. Ever since the Giants game the return unit has gone downhill and Tomlin has looked rather silly for firing Everest.
.

Interesting.

My "knee-jerk" reaction is to someone complaining about a defense that gave up 3 points.

My "knee-jerk" reaction is to someone who won't be satisfied unless the defense pitches a shut-out... and even then some people would still complain: "The defense gave up zero points, but I expect better."

So, Yes, you can call my reaction "knee-jerk" because I find it utterly baffling that someone is blaming the defense for a loss against the Ravens.

I would have the same reaction if someone looked at Jessica Alba and stated, "I don't like the color of her lip gloss."

And, as far as the defense "making up for the loss of BB", how about the offense making up for the loss of Troy(& for an injured Harrison)? The defense did its job... even the color of its lip gloss was not to some people's liking.

[GoFor7]

Originally Posted by harrison'samonster

However, special teams and the offense were just as much to blame for not coming up with a big play when it counted. Holmes was great at getting one or two big plays when needed (punt returns and in receiving). I know BB wasn't in there, but we still had play-makers in there.

If fans want to see more from their offense, aside from the defense giving them shorter fields, the offense needs to strike quickly more often. The Steelers are of the mentality that the offense should babysit the defense by possessing the football. As we've seen before (and as some of us simply refuse to accept), time of possession means nothing if you aren't scoring. If you had to choose, would you rather have 3 points after 10 minutes or 7 points after 10 seconds? The Steelers offense should try to score more points faster and worry about possession in the 4th quarter.

As for special teams, it's just a complete joke. They overrun the kick returner on kick coverage and they can't block without getting a penalty in the return game.

[GoFor7]

Originally Posted by teegre

Interesting.

My "knee-jerk" reaction is to someone complaining about a defense that gave up 3 points.

My "knee-jerk" reaction is to someone who won't be satisfied unless the defense pitches a shut-out... and even then some people would still complain: "The defense gave up zero points, but I expect better."

So, Yes, you can call my reaction "knee-jerk" because I find it utterly baffling that someone is blaming the defense for a loss against the Ravens.

I would have the same reaction if someone looked at Jessica Alba and stated, "I don't like the color of her lip gloss."

And, as far as the defense "making up for the loss of BB", how about the offense making up for the loss of Troy(& for an injured Harrison)? The defense did its job... even the color of its lip gloss was not to some people's liking.

Wow..... you really don't get it.

[harrison'samonster]

all though, being good at TOP to me means keeping your offense balanced and the opposing D off-balance. It also keeps defenses from getting aggressive and "teeing off" against our O-line and QB.

As far as these close games go, we need one of the 3 phases of the team to step up and make big plays (not just to keep us in a game, but to win the game at the end).

[lipps83]

Originally Posted by ricardisimo

And they are something like 13th in points allowed. If you prefer, we can look at the Colts instead, who are 5th in TOP. Let's hear your take on their defense.

The Baltimore Ravens are dead last in TOP. Look at their defense and tell me how this equates.

That fits in perfectly with what I am saying. Stats don't and never will, tell the whole story.

In my opinion, the Steelers having the statistical #1 defense does not mean that they actually have the best defense in the NFL.

If you want to say they are the best because they are #1 in total yards, that is fine. You are allowed to do that.

Just as I am allowed to say that they are not the best defense because they cannot create turnovers at all and can barely put any pressure on the opposing QB. Not to mention all the 4th quarter leads we have lost this year because of this same stout defense.

[teegre]

Originally Posted by GoFor7

Wow..... you really don't get it.

Please, enlighten us Yinzers, because we do not get how giving up 3 points equals the defense sucking.

Seriously... explain.

Q: If the defense pitched a shut-out, would you STILL complain? I am seriously asking, because if your answer is "Yes" then I truly have no idea why you'd be complaining. (I barely understand why you'd scoff at the defense giving up only 3 points). So, again, explain to us Yinzers.

[Danny136200]

Originally Posted by lipps83

They are sacrificing putting pressure on the QB to make mistakes to drop more into coverage and stop the pass.

And that is exactly what is needed to win in this league. Disciplined coverage at the back, nothing fancy. the defense has been doing there job since the first five weeks, not giving up points, getting off on third down, and such.

[Danny136200]

Originally Posted by lipps83

That fits in perfectly with what I am saying. Stats don't and never will, tell the whole story.

In my opinion, the Steelers having the statistical #1 defense does not mean that they actually have the best defense in the NFL.

If you want to say they are the best because they are #1 in total yards, that is fine. You are allowed to do that.

Just as I am allowed to say that they are not the best defense because they cannot create turnovers at all and can barely put any pressure on the opposing QB. Not to mention all the 4th quarter leads we have lost this year because of this same stout defense.

Tell me, how have they done in the past five games in the 4th quarter?