ONE thing we lack is...

[maddog78]

We could have playmakers on defense if they weren't coached to "tackle the catch" and play "read and react" contain on the DL.

LeBeau wants to play prevent and limit the big play, which does exactly that for the defense, too. Woodley is hurt and Harrison and Troy have both been hurt and are aging, too. Everyone else is playing scared and trying to wrap up after the catch, like they've been told.

[Darkstorm05]

If you don't think Clark is a playmaker, there's no hope for you. The perfectly timed hits he's laid in on receivers has changed the course of games. Victor Cruz getting blown up in the Giants game was a huge play for us. Go back and watch the Redskins game, and look at all the dropped balls because the WR's were too busy looking around for the guy that was going to splatter them all over the field. Nobody else remember Clark taking out Wes Welker when he tried to come across the middle?

[TRH]

we have 'playmakers'. No worries there.
But things we're missing??

1 - special teams play "penalty free" (or close to it)
2 - a "leader of men" on the field (a Ray Lewis, a Joey Porter, a Clay Matthews, etc)
3 - a good, consistent running back (none of the 3 have really excelled)
4 - health (i've never seen so many injuries)
5 - putting pressure on QB's/pass rush (what the hell happened to our pass rush??)
6 - defense "stripping" balls/fumbles (watch other teams try and "claw" and knock the ball out...we don't)
7 - INT's. Ever see so many passes fall right in defenders hands...only to fall to the ground??

We have playmakers. But we're missing all those things....badly. The only area i see us really needing a "playmaker" is on the defensive line. A case could also be made for us having a good LB's crew - but we're getting very few "big plays" out of them, either.

[Stairway to 7]

Pass rusher and a feature back. Enough of this RBBC crap. You got four RB's you 'aint got one.

We never get TO's these days, that is killing us, every single drive the defense has to make a stop on downs, and with short field it's not always possible, also we never hand the ball to our offense inside their 30 yard line or so.

Punter, this guy stinks man, I watch guys routinely booming it 60 yards and this guy struggles to get it anywhere.

[steeltheone]

Originally Posted by Darkstorm05

If you don't think Clark is a playmaker, there's no hope for you. The perfectly timed hits he's laid in on receivers has changed the course of games. Victor Cruz getting blown up in the Giants game was a huge play for us. Go back and watch the Redskins game, and look at all the dropped balls because the WR's were too busy looking around for the guy that was going to splatter them all over the field. Nobody else remember Clark taking out Wes Welker when he tried to come across the middle?

Clark is a monster hitter but his coverage skills are very average. Playmakers are game changers...very few are.

[desertsteel]

Originally Posted by Darkstorm05

If you don't think Clark is a playmaker, there's no hope for you. The perfectly timed hits he's laid in on receivers has changed the course of games. Victor Cruz getting blown up in the Giants game was a huge play for us. Go back and watch the Redskins game, and look at all the dropped balls because the WR's were too busy looking around for the guy that was going to splatter them all over the field. Nobody else remember Clark taking out Wes Welker when he tried to come across the middle?

Yeah I acknowledge Clark's plays. But I'm talking about game changing, momentum turning plays at crucial times in the game. Those are absent.

[Stairway to 7]

Originally Posted by desertsteel

Yeah I acknowledge Clark's plays. But I'm talking about game changing, momentum turning plays at crucial times in the game. Those are absent.

We just don't get that pick SIX, or that TO deep in THEIR half of the field. And we constantly lose the field posi game because the punter is terrible.

[Rockonsteel]

Originally Posted by TRH

we have 'playmakers'. No worries there.
But things we're missing??

1 - special teams play "penalty free" (or close to it)
2 - a "leader of men" on the field (a Ray Lewis, a Joey Porter, a Clay Matthews, etc)
3 - a good, consistent running back (none of the 3 have really excelled)
4 - health (i've never seen so many injuries)
5 - putting pressure on QB's/pass rush (what the hell happened to our pass rush??)
6 - defense "stripping" balls/fumbles (watch other teams try and "claw" and knock the ball out...we don't)
7 - INT's. Ever see so many passes fall right in defenders hands...only to fall to the ground??We have playmakers. But we're missing all those things....badly. The only area i see us really needing a "playmaker" is on the defensive line. A case could also be made for us having a good LB's crew - but we're getting very few "big plays" out of them, either.

First off, I think the OP originally said specifically, DEFENSIVE playmakers. We know we have playmakers on offense, they just underachieve for whatever reason.

And second, the above highlighted items, are the exact plays that make DEFENSIVE playmakers, DEFENSIVE playmakers. And since, you acknowledge that said items are missing, that would suggest that the Steelers are lacking in the DEFENSIVE playmakers department. Just sayin'....

Rockon

[Steelerfreak58]

The last few years the Steelers won most of the close games. We play down to teams levels we have been doing that for years now. It is nothing new or shocking really. The team never puts its foot on other teams throats and keeps them down. This year a lot of games have been playing from behind.

This year we are losing those close games. That is the difference. Loss to Oakland, Titans (OT), Browns, all came down to last minutes of the games. KC (OT win but still a sad game). You keep things close in the 4th quarter in this league with the way the rules have changed to help Offenses you are in trouble.

Injuries have decimated the team.

New offensive system in place.

People dropping passes and picks....

O-Line being a musical chairs guessing game...

So many reasons as to why this is a mediocre team.

[TRH]

Originally Posted by Rockonsteel

First off, I think the OP originally said specifically, DEFENSIVE playmakers. We know we have playmakers on offense, they just underachieve for whatever reason.

And second, the above highlighted items, are the exact plays that make DEFENSIVE playmakers, DEFENSIVE playmakers. And since, you acknowledge that said items are missing, that would suggest that the Steelers are lacking in the DEFENSIVE playmakers department. Just sayin'....

Rockon

actually, no, thats not really a good 'synopsis' of what i said.......

I'm aware we have "playmakers" on defense. Woodley, Troy, Timmons, Ike...all these guys are playmakers. But there's not much, if any, execution on the field. INT's are not being made. Strip fumbles are not being caused. Beating offensive blockers isn't being done. Etc. Etc. Etc.
There's key things we're missing on both sides of the ball.