Tyson Alualu

[Fire Goodell]

I think after these past 2 weeks we can say he's a huge part of the defense. The run D has looked soft since he's gotten injured. Any time frame on when he'll be back?

[tube517]

I think after these past 2 weeks we can say he's a huge part of the defense. The run D has looked soft since he's gotten injured. Any time frame on when he'll be back?

3 weeks minimum is what was said.

[HollywoodSteel]

I think after these past 2 weeks we can say he's a huge part of the defense. The run D has looked soft since he's gotten injured. Any time frame on when he'll be back?

Originally I heard he’d miss two games. But I don’t know how they could have known that for sure. I really hope he’s back for the next Ravens game.

[polamalubeast]

Originally I heard he’d miss two games. But I don’t know how they could have known that for sure. I really hope he’s back for the next Ravens game.

same for me...Our run defense is not the same without him!

[tube517]

Oh ok, I think I was wishfully thinking 3 games lol. I want him rested and healed and ready for the playoffs.

[polamalubeast]

Oh ok, I think I was wishfully thinking 3 games lol. I want him rested and healed and ready for the playoffs.

or ready for the Ravens game.

[EzraTank]

He hurt his knee so there's no guarantee that after 3 weeks he will be the same. At this point let him get healthy.

[DesertSteel]

Meanwhile... Hargrave is putting up career low numbers for the Eagles...

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

I think after these past 2 weeks we can say he's a huge part of the defense. The run D has looked soft since he's gotten injured. Any time frame on when he'll be back?

I thought losing Hargrave and adding Wormley was a downgrade overall to the D line from last season. Relying on a 33 year old Alualu to play nose wasnt going to be a great strategy IMO.

Now that the rotational backups to Cam and Tuitt are Buggs, Mondeaux and Carlos Davis, its pretty much the run defense I expected. Have to wait a couple weeks and see AluAlu back.

[Mojouw]

Originally I heard he’d miss two games. But I don’t know how they could have known that for sure. I really hope he’s back for the next Ravens game.


Oh ok, I think I was wishfully thinking 3 games lol. I want him rested and healed and ready for the playoffs.

I think the team is also thinking 2 games or 3 at most. Otherwise, they would have just put him on the new fangled 3 week IR.

[86WARD]

He’s the main reason the run game is suffering at the moment.

[teegre]

Ten years ago, the Jaguars drafted him in the Top Ten... and everyone wondered why. Alualu is finally playing up to his draft status.

[Mojouw]

Ten years ago, the Jaguars drafted him in the Top Ten... and everyone wondered why. Alualu is finally playing up to his draft status.

So, like years ago, I looked into it. Was one of those times that we were all debating "where do good NTs come from/what is there value" or something. At the time, a lot of the league was running base 3-4. To make a long story short, NTs came from two sources. One was highly drafted NTs like Casey Hampton. The other was "failed" pass rushing DEs or DT from a 4-3 - guys that were drafted to put up 8-10 sacks a year and only put up 2-4. So a guy on his second or third contract that bulks up a bit and then takes all those hand fighting skills from rushing the passer to staying off the blocks of offensive lineman and getting to the RB.

I can't remember all the names that came up at the time, but it was a lot that went 4-3 rush DE/DT to 3-4 NT.

[BlackAndGold]

Mike Hilton has been missed also.

[HollywoodSteel]

Apparently both Hilton and Alualu have a legit chance to play this week. That would be huge.

Especially Hilton given how his absence compels Butler to have Watt covering a top WR.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Especially Hilton given how his absence compels Butler to have Watt covering a top WR.

That isnt how the defense works in sub packages with 5 or 6 DB's. With Hilton out, when the Steelers goto Dime, they sub Justin Layne to play CB outside, opposite of Haden and then Nelson and Sutton play inside.

[HollywoodSteel]

That isnt how the defense works in sub packages with 5 or 6 DB's. With Hilton out, when the Steelers goto Dime, they sub Justin Layne to play CB outside, opposite of Haden and then Nelson and Sutton play inside.

Are you saying that Hilton’s availability changes nothing? Tomlin has said that he has LBers taking responsibilities that Hilton normally takes, since Hilton is good against the run and pass.

If I’m not mistaken Lamb’s TD was a play where he came out of the slot and was covered by TJ Watt. I don’t know for sure that Hilton being available would have necessarily changed anything, but I’m willing to bet that having Hilton certainly doesn’t hurt our chances of having better matchups.

[katmandu]

Ten years ago, the Jaguars drafted him in the Top Ten... and everyone wondered why. Alualu is finally playing up to his draft status.Better late than never !

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Are you saying that Hilton’s availability changes nothing? Tomlin has said that he has LBers taking responsibilities that Hilton normally takes, since Hilton is good against the run and pass.

If I’m not mistaken Lamb’s TD was a play where he came out of the slot and was covered by TJ Watt. I don’t know for sure that Hilton being available would have necessarily changed anything, but I’m willing to bet that having Hilton certainly doesn’t hurt our chances of having better matchups.

I'm saying the Steelers can still run sub packages with Sutton and Nelson inside, just as they did before with Hilton and Sutton. Problem on that play is they were playing base defense.

It was 3rd down and 7 from the Steelers 20 yard line. Cowboys had 1RB-1TE and 3WR's, but the Steelers had their base 3-4 in, with Dupree, Watt, Williams, Spillane at LB against a 3 man bunch formation left and a single WR right. They should have had Vince out, Sutton in vs 4 receivers IMO, even if they wanted 3 linemen in to discourage run.

It wasnt Hiltons lack of availability that put Watt on a WR, it was a bad substitution and defensive play call. 3rd down and 7 and you play BASE defense(in what looked cover 2 high, man under)?? That is on Butler.

[FrancoLambert]

He’s playing more and better, getting more tv screen time.
I didn’t realize he was such a physical beast.

[HollywoodSteel]

I'm saying the Steelers can still run sub packages with Sutton and Nelson inside, just as they did before with Hilton and Sutton. Problem on that play is they were playing base defense.

It was 3rd down and 7 from the Steelers 20 yard line. Cowboys had 1RB-1TE and 3WR's, but the Steelers had their base 3-4 in, with Dupree, Watt, Williams, Spillane at LB against a 3 man bunch formation left and a single WR right. They should have had Vince out, Sutton in vs 4 receivers IMO, even if they wanted 3 linemen in to discourage run.

It wasnt Hiltons lack of availability that put Watt on a WR, it was a bad substitution and defensive play call. 3rd down and 7 and you play BASE defense(in what looked cover 2 high, man under)?? That is on Butler.

But I think the Steelers are less likely to be in their base 3-4 in that situation when Hilton is available, since they don’t see his presence as a big downgrade in run defense if the Cowboys choose to go that way.

Hilton’s versatility affects what formations they choose. Tomlin has said as much. I think Tomlin just really trusts Hilton a great deal in run support and in executing various blitzes.

His availability is a pretty big deal to this team.