DEFENSE LOST THIS ONE!!

[Virginia Steeler]

Originally Posted by HometownGal

I don't necessarily put the blame for the Steelers loss solely on the D's shoulders. The entire team, as well as the coaching staff, shares in the defeat, imho.

Yes- the D didn't play up to the standard of the first 4 games this season, but the nail in our coffin came shy of the end of the first half when Mahan screwed up the snap to Ben and the fumble resulted in a Broncs' TD. From that point on, the D only gave up 1 more TD until the game winning FG.

The fumble was not caused by the bad snap...the ball got knocked out of Ben's hands....I put the blame on the O Line for poor blocking and Ben for not hanging on to the ball.

[VolatileMan]

Honestly there is enough blame to go around between the defensive play and the offensive turnovers, but what really sticks in my craw is that last TD drive by Denver. We had them at 3rd and long three times and they got a first down each friggin time!!

Just one stop on one of those 3rd and longs and we win the game!

Just my $.02
VolatileMan

[TapOut64]

Their secondary does make average QB's look good.

[Davison_K]

Originally Posted by steelkills

Bottom line is, if the so-called best D in the league can make one stop we win, Ben got us where we needed to be at the end and the D did not deliver, and only one pick was his fault, and what makes the 2 win broncos any better than the bills, i dont see it sry.

The defense didn't have a chance to make a stop on that fumble, had we driven down the field and scored it would have been the difference. Or even punted. Christ, he ran 3/4 the f***ing field.

[SteelDogFan]

I have to agree with this one also. I f your offense in the NFL puts up 28 points you should win the game. To me Dick was not aggressive enough in his blitzes. Most of the night we rushed only five maybe six. Cutler had to much time to through the ball.

We shut down their run and they did not have Walker. He should of had the linebackers pin their ears back go rush. That was the only problem i saw. lack of a pass rush. The Steelers need to draft a pass rushing defensive end and not just a whole stuffer. When they are in the cover-two Harrison should go to the bench and and there should be four D-linemen on the field.

[Haiku_Dirtt]

Originally Posted by SteelerFanInCA

If the D cuts down half those points we win.

Well. Technically only four points.

[Atlanta Dan]

Gene Collier of the P-G agrees in today's column:

"It was several individuals, but we don't stand as individuals, we stand as a team," Tomlin said at the weekly media mingle. "As a team, we fell short, assignment-wise. We'll make corrections and move on."

Wonder which individuals?

One in particular, coming late in the third quarter on Denver's fourth touchdown drive, sent three receivers to the left of the formation, somehow confronting only one Pittsburgh defender. Technically, Troy Polamalu was lined up on that side as well, but in more of a blitzing attitude, seeming to change his mind at the snap and chase one-to-three wideouts toward the boundary.

Too late.

Jay Cutler zipped a flat pass to Brandon Marshall, who pedaled 22-yards through the sideline traffic all the way to the 1, where safety Ryan Clark managed to keep him out of the end zone...

"Troy was not supposed to blitz on that play," Tomlin corrected. "We got misaligned and they out-leveraged us and got a significant gain. A lot of times when you give up plays defensively, don't get me wrong, you want to give credit to your opponent for executing, but their success is usually your failure, and there were instances in this football game where we were not where we were supposed to be. That is just the reality of it.

Sounds like Troy may have been one of the suspects

Collier seems to be ready to push the panic button if teh Steelers lose again this Sunday

A week from Monday, this season will be half over. If some of these defensive issues aren't resolved, maybe more than half.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07297/827911-150.stm

[Steeldude]

Originally Posted by steelkills

Ben did a great job to pull it together. Tied the game after beong down on the road under enormous pressure. threw a couple pics that were questionably his fault and a fuble that wasnt. I remeber a couple a weeks ago a guy by the name of ROMO threw 5 picks in a game and guess what, the Cowboys STILL ONE!!! No boys and girls this one was clearlt on the D, they showed absolutly nothing all game, no pass rush or pass coverage. Once again we look like the team of the days with chard scott and toast washinton.

steelkill, you must have missed the steelers' O-line in action. this was clearly lost on both sides of the ball, BR included.

[Steeldude]

Originally Posted by TapOut64

Their secondary does make average QB's look good.

i would blame lebeau's odd schemes. like his 2-3-6 formation for example.

if the steelers fail to generate a pass rush then the secondary is going to struggle.

[steelkills]

Originally Posted by ?teeldude

steelkill, you must have missed the steelers' O-line in action. this was clearly lost on both sides of the ball, BR included.

No I didnt miss the O-line, It was putrid. Reguardless, even with the poor start,and SHITE O line play, ben still put us in the positon on the road under geat pressure to go into OT, but the D blew it, they sucked at everything but stoppin the run all night.