Steelers have fewest takeaways in NFL since 2011

[Drazo85]

​The Steelers simply do not force takeaways. This is the root of the problem. This game is about flipping the field. Teams can no longer prey on receivers bold enough to go across the middle, giving them a savage beating for their mistake, along with jarring the ball free. Twice in the loss to Baltimore, we saw this effort appearing futile - Troy Polamalu (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/1626/troy-polamalu)delivered a big hit and picked up a flag and, a few plays later, Mike Mitchell (http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/players/71519/mike-mitchell) did in fact dislodge the ball but also picked up a penalty.
It's essentially impossible for a player to hit a receiver...

http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/nfl-pittsburgh-steelers-news/2014/9/14/6147055/steelers-have-fewest-takeaways-in-nfl-since-2011

[X-Terminator]

They don't force takeaways mainly because LeBeau refuses to adjust his scheme to fit today's pussified NFL and their "all offense, all the time" mantra. It is not just a talent issue.

[Mojouw]

They don't force takeaways mainly because LeBeau refuses to adjust his scheme to fit today's pussified NFL and their "all offense, all the time" mantra. It is not just a talent issue.

What adjustments?

[X-Terminator]

What adjustments?

How about not playing 10 yards off the receivers, in essence giving the offense a free completion every time? That would be a good start. The soft zone scheme does not work in today's NFL with the up-tempo offenses that many teams employ. If the opposition wants to play pitch-and-catch, make them earn it.

[Mojouw]

How about not playing 10 yards off the receivers, in essence giving the offense a free completion every time? That would be a good start. The soft zone scheme does not work in today's NFL with the up-tempo offenses that many teams employ. If the opposition wants to play pitch-and-catch, make them earn it.

What DB on this roster would you want in a receiver's face on the line of scrimmage? Maybe Allen can pull that off, but Taylor and Gay have demonstrated that isn't their game.

If they had a pass rush, it wouldn't be an issue. The Browns and the Ravens had something like a combined sub 5 yards per pass average or something ridiculously low. The secondary is doing its job of limiting big plays, forcing the QB to check-down to second options or quick hitting 1st options. The front seven is not holding up their end of getting pressure on the QB. The one time they did against the Ravens, Flacco almost threw a pick right to Allen. Allen couldn't hold on.

Torrey Smith was barely a factor. Flacco never was able to dial up a deep ball to him. Certainly wasn't from not having time due to the pass rush. That is what the Defense is designed to do. However, the Steelers are currently only pulling a third of it off. They are limiting the big pass plays and keeping everything in front of them. That is the 1st third. They are NOT tackling well. Read the stats over at Steelers Depot on the YAC and rush yards after first contact. They are NOT, like at ALL, getting pressure on the passer. Those are the other 2/3.

That is on the players. If the scheme puts you in the RB's lane with a clear shot at a tackle in the 1st 2-3 yards after the hand-off, the scheme has succeeded in placing you in position to succeed (coaching). If you then fail to wrap the guy up and put him on the ground, that is an execution problem (player). It happened continually in the Ravens game. Both LB'ers and DB's failed to tackle their guy when there wasn't really a good reason for it.

I am a firm believer in the zone-blitz 3-4. There is a reason that a ton of teams run some version of the 3-4. It gets the most athletes on the field that are capable of matching up with the skill position guys offenses are running out there. The Steelers currently lack the talent to run the damn thing right.

[X-Terminator]

What DB on this roster would you want in a receiver's face on the line of scrimmage? Maybe Allen can pull that off, but Taylor and Gay have demonstrated that isn't their game.

If they had a pass rush, it wouldn't be an issue. The Browns and the Ravens had something like a combined sub 5 yards per pass average or something ridiculously low. The secondary is doing its job of limiting big plays, forcing the QB to check-down to second options or quick hitting 1st options. The front seven is not holding up their end of getting pressure on the QB. The one time they did against the Ravens, Flacco almost threw a pick right to Allen. Allen couldn't hold on.

Torrey Smith was barely a factor. Flacco never was able to dial up a deep ball to him. Certainly wasn't from not having time due to the pass rush. That is what the Defense is designed to do. However, the Steelers are currently only pulling a third of it off. They are limiting the big pass plays and keeping everything in front of them. That is the 1st third. They are NOT tackling well. Read the stats over at Steelers Depot on the YAC and rush yards after first contact. They are NOT, like at ALL, getting pressure on the passer. Those are the other 2/3.

That is on the players. If the scheme puts you in the RB's lane with a clear shot at a tackle in the 1st 2-3 yards after the hand-off, the scheme has succeeded in placing you in position to succeed (coaching). If you then fail to wrap the guy up and put him on the ground, that is an execution problem (player). It happened continually in the Ravens game. Both LB'ers and DB's failed to tackle their guy when there wasn't really a good reason for it.

I am a firm believer in the zone-blitz 3-4. There is a reason that a ton of teams run some version of the 3-4. It gets the most athletes on the field that are capable of matching up with the skill position guys offenses are running out there. The Steelers currently lack the talent to run the damn thing right.

I'm not ready to put it all on the players because I think there is more talent there than you think, but fair enough. I still believe the scheme needs tweaking so that at the very least they can get pressure on the QB. Reason being that I think Dick's version of the 3-4 has been figured out by the opposition, in terms of identifying where the pressure is coming from. Not being able to stop the run and poor tackling (which go hand-in-hand)...that is all on the players. I agree with you on that.

[st33lersguy]

This is a clear sign that LeBeau is a shell of his former self and needs to go

[Count Steeler]

This is a clear sign that LeBeau is a shell of his former self and needs to go

It's also a sign that we are unable to put pressure on the QB (players).
It's also a sign that we can't tackle (coaching and players).
It's also a sign that we give too much cushion (coaching, scheme).

[HollywoodSteel]

They might have fewest takeaways on the field, but they managed to takeaway my hopes in every one of those seasons.