Steelers 2012: Defense is No. 1, but numbers can lie

[LLT]

September 5, 2012 11:34 pm
By Mike Bires


When it comes to finding ways to improve on defense, James Harrison is in the minority. “Weren’t we No. 1 in defense last year?” asked the All-Pro linebacker. “How do you get better than that?” It’s true that the Steelers ranked first in the NFL in total defense last season. But that statistic is misleading.

Harrison aside, most of his fellow defenders don’t believe they were at their best when it mattered most.

Too often they did not play the relentless, menacing, ball-hawking defense they’ve played in the past. To return to that is their goal this season.

“I just think overall that we played bad defense last year … up front and in the back,” linebacker LaMarr Woodley said.

“He’s right with his assessment,” said strong safety Troy Polamalu about Woodley’s comment.

The Steelers played well at times. They shut out two opponents (Seattle and St. Louis). In four games, they held opponents to less than 10 points (Kansas City, Cincinnati and Cleveland twice). They ranked No. 1 in total defense, pass defense and scoring defense.

But in their three most important games, the defense fizzled.

Read More: http://www.timesonline.com/sports/st...4ee0a459e.html

[Steeldude]

Those guys are haters.

[fansince'76]

I blame Arians.

[polamalubeast]

one word:TURNOVERS!

[GodfatherofSoul]

OT, what a standard! In a scrub football town, "bad defense" means you're getting 30 pts a week thrown up on you.

[suitanim]

It was rather obvious that both the Ravens and 49ers had better defenses than we did last year.

[polamalubeast]

and Houston...

[Edman]

The only game where I thought the Defense played truly outstanding ball was New England, other than that, they've been a paper Defense. The run Defense wasn't there, we weren't swarming as we usually were, and of course we were Tebowed. It showed not against Baltimore and Denver, but also Houston and San Francisco, all of them playoff teams that advanced. Coincidentally we lost all of those games.

Houston, Baltimore and San Francisco were better D's the Steelers last year.

The Steelers D played individual D instead of the usual Team D that got them places.

[SteelerFanInStl]

The only game where I thought the Defense played truly outstanding ball was New England, other than that, they've been a paper Defense. The run Defense wasn't there, we weren't swarming as we usually were, and of course we were Tebowed. It showed not against Baltimore and Denver, but also Houston and San Francisco, all of them playoff teams that advanced. Coincidentally we lost all of those games.

Houston, Baltimore and San Francisco were better D's the Steelers last year.

The Steelers D played individual D instead of the usual Team D that got them places.

I agree. It wasn't Steelers D last year.

[tube517]

Poor stats in the turnovers department made last year's defense very average

[ALLD]

The numbers lie whether we are talking about last season's Steeler D or this week's DNC.