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View Full Version : Steelers' secondary issues disappear



Galax Steeler
12-31-2011, 06:43 AM
As the Steelers marched to the postseason a year ago, their pass defense was inconsistent at best, a major liability at worst and ranked 12th overall in the NFL. Ultimately, it was exposed by Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV.

A year later, it is ranked first in the league heading into the regular-season finale Sunday in Cleveland.

Considering that the Browns possess an anemic passing attack that ranks 23rd in the league and is now led by journeyman backup Seneca Wallace, that ranking does not seem to be in danger of falling.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11365/1200528-66.stm#ixzz1i7EVyeHx

BlacknGoldBabe
12-31-2011, 07:01 AM
Nevertheless, one cannot afford to underestimate the Browns' role as spoilers. They have nothing to lose, and the Steelers have everything to gain.

On the big plus side, our guys are getting the rest that they needed, and should be ready to go.

HERE WE GO STEELERS, HERE WE GO!!!!!!!!!

86WARD
12-31-2011, 07:04 AM
It's still got some issues, but it's definitely improved.

SteelerFanInStl
12-31-2011, 08:52 AM
It's still got some issues, but it's definitely improved.

Agreed. Gay is still not a good coverage guy and Lewis has been spotty. Ryan Clark has had a very good year though and should be going to the Pro Bowl.

Austin87
12-31-2011, 08:52 AM
Gay and Lewis really stepped it up this season. We also have great depth at the CB position for the first time in years.

Edman
12-31-2011, 09:21 AM
With the tightening up of Pass Defense, the Run Defense has taken a couple steps back.

tube517
12-31-2011, 11:03 AM
With the younger guys ready to step up, and Gay playing solid, things can only get better. Just need to get INTs for the playoffs. Great job by C Lake.

BigNastyDefense
12-31-2011, 11:05 AM
I think part of the reason our pass defense has taken a dip in past years is because teams didn't even bother to run against us. Teams came in with the mindset of we have to throw the ball. It didn't help that we seemingly played the Patriots every year and they are one of the premier passing teams in the NFL....playing them often skews your stats for the season.

This year, in week one the Ravens showed that we could be run on at least some, and that's what a lot of teams did. So we weren't passed on as much this year.

However, Ike was a shutdown corner all season, Willie Gay looked much improved, and Lewis also looked very much improved.

XxKnightxX
12-31-2011, 11:25 AM
Secondary greatly improved, no complaints for me here, I think the coaching staff is letting them just play too instead of trying to overscheme things.

That doesnt mean I still want Revis. Call me crazy, but I can see him coming back home. I Love the Timmons pick, but I still wont forget those fucking Jets jumping ahead of us to take him.

Iron Steeler
12-31-2011, 12:31 PM
Secondary greatly improved, no complaints for me here, I think the coaching staff is letting them just play too instead of trying to overscheme things.

That doesnt mean I still want Revis. Call me crazy, but I can see him coming back home. I Love the Timmons pick, but I still wont forget those fucking Jets jumping ahead of us to take him.

Oh man he was sitting in our lap. Damn jets!

cold-hard-steel
12-31-2011, 02:35 PM
Such is life in the NFL.

Steeldude
12-31-2011, 07:58 PM
the steelers have faced some very poor QBs this year. i believe they are better than last year, but they still have a ways to go to prove themselves.

Psycho Ward 86
12-31-2011, 09:35 PM
the steelers have faced some very poor QBs this year. i believe they are better than last year, but they still have a ways to go to prove themselves.

Gotta agree, of the decent to great QB's we faced all year, they all fared pretty well:

Comp Att Pct Yds Avg TD Int Sack Rate

Week 1: Joe Flacco------- 17 29 58.6 224 7.7 3 0 1 117.6
Week 4: Matt Schaub----- 14 21 66.7 138 6.6 1 0 0 100.9
Week 5: Matt Hasselbeck--29 49 59.2 262 5.3 1 1 3 72.0
Week 8: Tom Brady--------24 35 68.6 198 5.7 2 0 3 101.8
Week 9: Joe Flacco--------28 47 59.6 300 6.4 1 0 3 85.4
Week 10: Andy Dalton-----15 30 50.0 170 5.7 2 2 0 61.8
Week 13: Andy Dalton-----11 24 45.8 135 5.6 1 0 3 77.6
Week 15: Alex Smith------18 31 58.1 187 6.0 1 0 0 86.4


Even though the pass defense came through where it matters most against some of these fellas, on 3rd down/the redzone (especially against Brady) it makes you hope that the pass defense isnt a "paper tiger." And i know what some people are thinking: "LOL some of these guys arent good!" Well that's the scary thing, if some of these guys arent even that good, and having pretty good days against us, then that's a worrisome thing to take into the playoffs. We are pretty much guaranteed to have to go against an elite QB in the AFCCG and the Superbowl if we were to get that far.

fansince'76
12-31-2011, 10:38 PM
The struggles to get off the field on 3rd down are still there. See the second Ravens game for the most damaging example. But then, in the new NFL, where you have a complete chucklehead of a commissioner turning it into a 100-yard arena league and playing pass defense (especially) is frowned upon, and so much as touching "marquee" QBs is almost verboten, one can reasonably expect only so much. Playing "shutdown" pass defense is pretty much an impossibility nowadays. Not without drawing a flag, anyway.

suitanim
01-01-2012, 07:06 AM
Disappear is too strong of a word...how about "fade a tad"?

GBMelBlount
01-01-2012, 07:41 AM
Gotta agree, of the decent to great QB's we faced all year, they all fared pretty well:

Comp Att Pct Yds Avg TD Int Sack Rate

Week 1: Joe Flacco------- 17 29 58.6 224 7.7 3 0 1 117.6
Week 4: Matt Schaub----- 14 21 66.7 138 6.6 1 0 0 100.9
Week 5: Matt Hasselbeck--29 49 59.2 262 5.3 1 1 3 72.0
Week 8: Tom Brady--------24 35 68.6 198 5.7 2 0 3 101.8
Week 9: Joe Flacco--------28 47 59.6 300 6.4 1 0 3 85.4
Week 10: Andy Dalton-----15 30 50.0 170 5.7 2 2 0 61.8
Week 13: Andy Dalton-----11 24 45.8 135 5.6 1 0 3 77.6
Week 15: Alex Smith------18 31 58.1 187 6.0 1 0 0 86.4


Even though the pass defense came through where it matters most against some of these fellas, on 3rd down/the redzone (especially against Brady) it makes you hope that the pass defense isnt a "paper tiger." And i know what some people are thinking: "LOL some of these guys arent good!" Well that's the scary thing, if some of these guys arent even that good, and having pretty good days against us, then that's a worrisome thing to take into the playoffs. We are pretty much guaranteed to have to go against an elite QB in the AFCCG and the Superbowl if we were to get that far.

We need more QB pressure which leads to more sacks and more turnovers.

We REALLY need both Harrison and Woodley at 100%.