Our pass defense.....

[Danny136200]

Is awesome; and has been performing awesome since that week 1 debacle. Now, in two weeks, comes the real test. Can we slow down the pats? or was the pass defense beneficiary to playing bad QBs and the fact that teams can actually run on a Steeler defense. We shall see...

[MDSteel15]

And why is that? Because the front is doing their job which alows them to do theirs!!!

[steelfury02]

I'll go with Post-Gazette's opinion piece - "Mssr Fitzgerald and Brady will be coming to 'pass' judgment in the next few weeks." And really, the Ravens and Cincy both have a nice passing attack. We have quite the gauntlet these next 4 games. If we go 3-1 I will be thrilled. THESE games are the measuring stick, and if our D-line and O-line do their part we'll be fine.

Not to make an excuse for our O - but we've seen what I feel are less talented teams do to the Pats defense and we've already beaten the team that has handled the Ravens so voila. 3-1 Is very doable. I really want this win at Arizona to soften the sting of any following losses. If we lose @ Arizona things aren't lookin very good IMHO.

[shaner82]

I think we're in trouble against the Pats. Our pass defence is still very susceptible to short passes, which Brady will take advantage of all day long. Our run defence has been weak this year as well. We've played a few bad teams so far and I really think it's making us look better than we are. I also think to try to keep up with the Pats, Ariens and Ben are going to go deep every 4th or 5th play, which will just cause more 3 and outs.

I hope I'm wrong, but I just don't see this team making the playoffs. I think some big changes are needed in the off season.

[SmashmouthFootball]

The Defense has done a really good job even though they've been put in terrible positions with turnovers from the offense a lot of times.

Listen, in this day and age of the NFL, it's impossible to shut any team with a quality passing attack down. The defense is going to give up TD's at times because the only way to defend certain things often results in officials eagerly throwing flags.

The key for the defense is to be strong early and be strong late. If they are strong early, the offense needs to back them up by giving them a lead to play with. Often in games it comes down to whether you can get a stop on that no-huddle, two-minute drill offense or not. The best way to shut that down is to simply make a big play at some point. We have the personnel to make those timely plays, it all comes down to if they step up at the right time.

[Danny136200]

Originally Posted by steelfury02

I'll go with Post-Gazette's opinion piece - "Mssr Fitzgerald and Brady will be coming to 'pass' judgment in the next few weeks." And really, the Ravens and Cincy both have a nice passing attack. We have quite the gauntlet these next 4 games. If we go 3-1 I will be thrilled. THESE games are the measuring stick, and if our D-line and O-line do their part we'll be fine.

Not to make an excuse for our O - but we've seen what I feel are less talented teams do to the Pats defense and we've already beaten the team that has handled the Ravens so voila. 3-1 Is very doable. I really want this win at Arizona to soften the sting of any following losses. If we lose @ Arizona things aren't lookin very good IMHO.

IDK about the Cardinals, Kevin Kolb has been playing pretty awful this year, and the way the Dline is playing right (pass wise) has been playing very well the past two weeks. I believe that will continue in Arizona. And other the Fitzgerald, they really have no other receivers; the receiving corps that we played in the super bowl three years ago is basically gone and only Larry is playing good right now.

The pats defesne played well against the Cowboys, getting some pressure from their two fat, interior linemen against the Dallas offensive line. IDK if our offensive line is ready for that. We have to use the gameplan that we used against the titans. There were waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too many deep attempts that Ben overthrew (admittingly, they were wide-open), and, of course, he under-threw mike Wallace on a couple of deep passes. These bombs work only if you use the short and intermediate passes, which was under utilized yesterday, and our offense sputtered in the second half because of it.

All in all, I think our pass defense has been playing lights out (they did basically shutdown Hasselbeck, who was playing very well before we came along). and what we did yesterday, even though it was a rookie qb, was pretty impressive. WE have to start forcing turnovers though, we cant rely on forcing three-and-outs.

Thank you for the post people :)

[Danny136200]

Originally Posted by SmashmouthFootball

The Defense has done a really good job even though they've been put in terrible positions with turnovers from the offense a lot of times.

Listen, in this day and age of the NFL, it's impossible to shut any team with a quality passing attack down. The defense is going to give up TD's at times because the only way to defend certain things often results in officials eagerly throwing flags.

The key for the defense is to be strong early and be strong late. If they are strong early, the offense needs to back them up by giving them a lead to play with. Often in games it comes down to whether you can get a stop on that no-huddle, two-minute drill offense or not. The best way to shut that down is to simply make a big play at some point. We have the personnel to make those timely plays, it all comes down to if they step up at the right time.

You are absolutely right. The defense does need to be strong early and late. I think the defense, other than one drive in the thrid quarter that gave the jags some confidence, was lights out. The offence still needs to step up. The running game is getting really really good, with two back capable of starting IMO, but the deep bombs need to quelled a little. I think that is hurting the offense most times, as it is a very low percentage pass and results in a loss down with no gain. the game-plan against the titans was awesome; Arains just needs to tone down on the deep play-calling, which is a tough task since is helplessly addicted to them. And yes, we have play makers on defense, but the steelers have not create many turnovers, but look for that to change, I think we will start forcing turnovers, especially against the weaker opponents that we face after the three game gauntlet starting against the pats.

[ricardisimo]

And I hasten to point out that Gay has been solid. He played a better game than Ike yesterday.

[steelfury02]

As has been discussed before - there is a thin margin between being 9-7 and 12-4. I'm not that confident against Cardinals - simply because of playing down to competition and the fact they are coming off a bye (they are right?)

Do I think they are capable of getting to 5-2 - yup, but I certainly see a scenario where we watch a lead evaporate or get off to a terrible start. Basically - this team is up and down and mystifying. We have some time to find an identity, but we better do so
"While reflecting on a win - which is a much nicer feeling" to paraphrase Tomlin.

Even if we had beaten Houston and were sitting at 5-1 I'd still feel just as uncomfortable because that win wouldn't have soothed any doubts either.

I'm not in the locker room but I feel like this team needs to start rallying around the "too old" theme and the fact that Heinz has come out and said he is done after contract is up (2013). So - the window is officially starting to close for some - I'd hate to see Ward not go out with another ring.

[DanRooney]

It's been outstanding since week 2. Was McFadden the weak link or has Gay and Lewis' play just gotten that much better?