hawaiiansteeler
06-19-2015, 12:22 PM
How the Steelers plan to become a feared defense once again
Jeremy Fowler, ESPN Senior NFL Writer
PITTSBURGH -- For a moment, let's forget about the ability of the Pittsburgh Steelers secondary or whether young draft picks will pan out.
None of that matters if the Steelers' retooled defense can do two things.
Stop the run, get the fear factor back.
The great Steelers defenses could shake the mental toughness of a quarterback by placing him in third-and-longs, then driving shoulders into the chest of that quarterback.
Steelers defense usually at its best when it stops the run.
YEAR YPC ALLOWED RANK RECORD
2014 4.4 T-25 11-5
2013 4.3 21st 8-8
2012 3.7 4th 8-8
2011 4.0 9th 12-4
2010 3.0 1st 12-4
Four NFL seasons is enough for defensive end Cam Heyward to know run-stopping is the best way for the Steelers to get back to that.
"When you look back at the top defenses, here at least, it's all made on stopping the run," Heyward said. "I remember 2010, I had read something about the Steelers and they were talking about they had the best defense ever, and they stopped the run. They got after the quarterback and got interceptions. That didn't really didn't start until you had the front line creating havoc."
That 2010 team made the Super Bowl behind the league's best rushing defense that gave up an insane 3.0 yards per game. The year before, the Steelers finished ninth in the league in rushing yards allowed per attempt, and went 12-4.
Somehow, the 2012 team lost eight games despite allowing 3.7 yards per attempt. Last year's Steelers were tied for 25th in rushing defense and still won 11 games because the offense was so good. The Steelers ranked in the league's bottom third in interceptions and sacks, which is very un-Steelers like.
The way to fix that is clear-cut, safety Shamarko Thomas said.
to read rest of article:
http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/84886/how-the-steelers-plan-to-become-a-feared-defense-once-again
Jeremy Fowler, ESPN Senior NFL Writer
PITTSBURGH -- For a moment, let's forget about the ability of the Pittsburgh Steelers secondary or whether young draft picks will pan out.
None of that matters if the Steelers' retooled defense can do two things.
Stop the run, get the fear factor back.
The great Steelers defenses could shake the mental toughness of a quarterback by placing him in third-and-longs, then driving shoulders into the chest of that quarterback.
Steelers defense usually at its best when it stops the run.
YEAR YPC ALLOWED RANK RECORD
2014 4.4 T-25 11-5
2013 4.3 21st 8-8
2012 3.7 4th 8-8
2011 4.0 9th 12-4
2010 3.0 1st 12-4
Four NFL seasons is enough for defensive end Cam Heyward to know run-stopping is the best way for the Steelers to get back to that.
"When you look back at the top defenses, here at least, it's all made on stopping the run," Heyward said. "I remember 2010, I had read something about the Steelers and they were talking about they had the best defense ever, and they stopped the run. They got after the quarterback and got interceptions. That didn't really didn't start until you had the front line creating havoc."
That 2010 team made the Super Bowl behind the league's best rushing defense that gave up an insane 3.0 yards per game. The year before, the Steelers finished ninth in the league in rushing yards allowed per attempt, and went 12-4.
Somehow, the 2012 team lost eight games despite allowing 3.7 yards per attempt. Last year's Steelers were tied for 25th in rushing defense and still won 11 games because the offense was so good. The Steelers ranked in the league's bottom third in interceptions and sacks, which is very un-Steelers like.
The way to fix that is clear-cut, safety Shamarko Thomas said.
to read rest of article:
http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/84886/how-the-steelers-plan-to-become-a-feared-defense-once-again