Mike Mitchell: Steelers' defense not in 'panic mode'

[polamalubeast]

Pittsburgh has the firepower on offense to score a flood of points on a weekly basis -- and it might need to.

The Steelers' defense has allowed a whopping 26 points per game over four preseason tilts under new coordinator Keith Butler. These games can be shrugged off as meaningless, but the concern in Pittsburgh is real over an overhauled unit just nine days away from facing the Patriots in the opener.

"I don't think we're in a panic mode," said safety Mike Mitchell, per Chris Bradford of The Beaver County Times. "I don't think the coaches are in an panic mode."

The worst of it came in Saturday's 43-19 exhibition loss to the Bills, a defeat that saw Buffalo pile up 542 total yards on offense with a wild 27 first downs. Bills quarterbacks -- the butt of jokes all summer -- blew up Pittsburgh's secondary to go a combined 30-of-33 passing for 386 yards with three touchdowns and zero picks.

"I don't know the particular cause, but I would say it's just unacceptable," said defensive end Cameron Heyward, per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "They beat us on all ends. When it rains it pours; that was a clear example out there."

It hasn't been a smooth transition for Pittsburgh after losing a once-in-a-generation play-caller in Dick LeBeau and watching eight-time Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu retire along with outside linebacker Jason Worilds and cornerback Ike Taylor.

The many new faces have shown moments of promise, but the Steelers are running out of time to figure it out before the results get real.



http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000518876/article/mike-mitchell-steelers-defense-not-in-panic-mode?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

[86WARD]

Maybe that's the problem...

[salamander]

Maybe that's the problem...

My thoughts exactly. It's like they don't give a crap.

[Moose]

Maybe that's the problem...

Excellent ! You beat me to the punch. If they aren't worried ( coaches/player's) yet, they damned sure better start watching what we are all seeing. Last game was a agonizing.

[hawaiiansteeler]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ilGGP9BDZs

[Mojouw]

"I don't know the particular cause, (http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2015/08/29/Pittsburgh-Steelers-19-Buffalo-Bills-43/stories/201508290141) but I would say it's just unacceptable," said defensive end Cameron Heyward (http://www.nfl.com/player/cameronheyward/2508109/profile), per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "They beat us on all ends. When it rains it pours; that was a clear example out there."

So basically the article says that the Steelers defense knows it isn't playing well. It further states that the defense is not ready to panic and run around freaking out. This all seems reasonable - so far. There is a plan. The players felt that they have not executed that plan. In particular, the starters have yet to play together and some back-ups in key positions had mental errors that have led to big plays. In theory, that can be fixed. Again, this is a relatively rational approach to the problem.

Then I come here, and whoooooo boy! It is time to strap in and ride the crazy train!

They don't care. Not real Steelers football. They are soft! Tomlin has lost the team! Coaches are morons and should all be fired!

Seriously. Relax. A back-up DL (who may not even make the practice squad) let up a massive play. A reserve LB was exposed in coverage - a limitation most sensible folks knew about already. He won't be asked to do that in the regular season. Part of Preseason is finding the boundaries of what is possible. And there was some terrible tackling by guys whose next tackle will be filling out an employment application at a big box retailer in their hometown.

Or we could all throw in the towel on the season already and watch My Little Pony instead. Point is, I don't think it is time to rage quit on the 2015 NFL season just yet.

[j-d-s]

When there was ever an appropriate time to be in panic mode, it is right now.

While i do not think that our D will perform this bad all year, we are lucky if we make the postseason with this D. I could see us going 10-6 with scores of 49-42 just because our O is great. The Patriots however will drop at least 50 on us.

[Mojouw]

When there was ever an appropriate time to be in panic mode, it is right now.

While i do not think that our D will perform this bad all year, we are lucky if we make the postseason with this D. I could see us going 10-6 with scores of 49-42 just because our O is great. The Patriots however will drop at least 50 on us.

Why? We haven't seen the starting 11 play together yet on defense. We haven't seen the defense play with a scheme in place. I'll admit it doesn't look good, but it certainly isn't panic time yet. If the Pats and the back-up QB drop 50 on the Steelers - then, yeah, it may be time to panic.

BUt at the same point, what did anyone expect out of this defense?

[tube517]

Jupiter is falling

[TD's & Beer]

"I don't think the coaches are in panic mode."

The first rule of Panic Mode is: You do not talk about Panic Mode

[TeeTee]

i hate words. Them being all chill about it is a clear case of Coach Cool Shades stamp on things. All his teams have the hallmark on not taking things seriously as quickly as needed. Always start slow. Are always all mellow about things and lack proper urgency to get focused and motivated. Maybe LeBeau helped on that end and without him, they are worse than ever when it comes to urgency to repair things. It could go really bad, as it looks now.

[polamalubeast]

Points allowed in the last 3 games in the first half......

vs Jaguars:17 points
vs Packers:16 points
vs Bills:23 points

[Shoes]

Mike no production Mitchell has spoken from the pine plank.

[teegre]

I panicked once... at a disco. I closed the goddamn door, and saved someone's marriage.

[hawaiiansteeler]

Points allowed in the last 3 games in the first half......

vs Jaguars:17 points
vs Packers:16 points
vs Bills:23 points

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--wKxmNxea7A/UrIpDbQMgYI/AAAAAAAAPYU/BV7CMzaz-Vo/s1600/dont-panic.gif

[GBMelBlount]

So basically the article says that the Steelers defense knows it isn't playing well. It further states that the defense is not ready to panic and run around freaking out. This all seems reasonable - so far. There is a plan. The players felt that they have not executed that plan. In particular, the starters have yet to play together and some back-ups in key positions had mental errors that have led to big plays. In theory, that can be fixed. Again, this is a relatively rational approach to the problem.

Then I come here, and whoooooo boy! It is time to strap in and ride the crazy train!



This + LOL.

[ALLD]

Well, if a backup QB drops 42 on us in Week #1, then they should panic. Maybe Mitchell is too relaxed though.

[TeeTee]

The D doesn't just look a little shaky; they look full blow terrible. How do you make ALL the BILLS QB look like Dan Marino in the 80's? The allowed GAPING holes ALL OVER. And they STILL get gouged on running plays as well.

Can they get better? Sure. Will this mellow, chilled out mentality make them correct it in times when games count? No. Tomlin will wear his "cool shades" and twirl his headset cord before he wakes up to waking players up.

He is the problem with this.

[hawaiiansteeler]

The D doesn't just look a little shaky; they look full blow terrible. How do you make ALL the BILLS QB look like Dan Marino in the 80's? The allowed GAPING holes ALL OVER. And they STILL get gouged on running plays as well.

Can they get better? Sure. Will this mellow, chilled out mentality make them correct it in times when games count? No. Tomlin will wear his "cool shades" and twirl his headset cord before he wakes up to waking players up.

He is the problem with this.

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3044507/standardisstandard_medium.jpg

[teegre]

The D doesn't just look a little shaky; they look full blow terrible. How do you make ALL the BILLS QB look like Dan Marino in the 80's? The allowed GAPING holes ALL OVER. And they STILL get gouged on running plays as well.

Can they get better? Sure. Will this mellow, chilled out mentality make them correct it in times when games count? No. Tomlin will wear his "cool shades" and twirl his headset cord before he wakes up to waking players up.

He is the problem with this.

If Tomlin is the sole cause of the demise of the defense, then by that logic, that means that he is also the sole cause for the rise of the offense.

And, this offense is freakin' insane.

[TeeTee]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuJnIJHgQ44

[Cyphon25]

If Tomlin is the sole cause of the demise of the defense, then by that logic, that means that he is also the sole cause for the rise of the offense.

And, this offense is freakin' insane.

Well, the head of operations (president, head coach, principal etc...) usually gets all of the credit good or bad whether they deserve it or not. Can't say I am a big Tomlin fan but you make a good point about the offense.

[hawaiiansteeler]

If Tomlin is the sole cause of the demise of the defense, then by that logic, that means that he is also the sole cause for the rise of the offense.

And, this offense is freakin' insane.

Tomlin used to be a defensive coordinator, he probably has more input into the way our defense is run than our offense...

[Mojouw]

The starting defense has yet to play together. So the Bills back-ups light up the Steelers back-ups. Big deal. I think everyone knew the depth on this team was not very good.

[tube517]

Tomlin used to be a defensive coordinator, he probably has more input into the way our defense is run than our offense...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcgvFEdhq-I

[86WARD]

Probably why the offense is successful...too early?

[SteelerFanInStl]

They're not panicking because they're all high.

[TD's & Beer]

Speaking of defense


Dolphins waived DT Anthony Johnson

The second-year UDFA out of LSU made the Dolphins and played 84 snaps last season, but was the odd man out this year following the additions of Ndamukong Suh and C.J. Mosley.

[katmandu]

The starting defense has yet to play together. I've said before, I hope the D is playing "lights out" in practice then.

Any team must play together to build coordination, cohesiveness and trust with each other. That only comes with time and experience. They have had very, very little of that here in the pre-season. That concerns me.