Vince Williams ruled out

[NCSteeler]

How awesome. https://steelersdepot.com/2020/12/st...covid-19-list/
Splilane will miss also. Hopefully our new trade guy is up to speed

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[teegre]

4-1-6 defense...???

[SteelMember]

Good Lord...

[NCSteeler]

Can derek watt play ILB?

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[Iron Steeler]

This is bad

Or defense just went from best in the league, to mediocre in 2 weeks

[SteelMember]

It's gonna be pretty tough to "play next man up" when there is really no next man at the position... We are past dangerously thin at the position.

[EzraTank]

So now we are down to ONE of our original starting FOUR linebackers.

Sorry, Sunday will be another loss. We dodged so many bullets the first 11 games and it's all coming home to roost now.

Anyone still think signing someone like Clay Matthews or even Suggs would be bad?

[Mojouw]

So now we are down to ONE of our original starting FOUR linebackers.

Sorry, Sunday will be another loss. We dodged so many bullets the first 11 games and it's all coming home to roost now.

Anyone still think signing someone like Clay Matthews or even Suggs would be bad?

Yes. I don't see how old and slow pass rush specialists would help with the gaping hole at interior linebacker.

[Fire Goodell]

We signed Williamson to be Vince's backup. Let's see what he's got

[Born2Steel]

Ice up!

[Dissolv]

Anyone still think signing someone like Clay Matthews or even Suggs would be bad?

Yes. These guys aren't what they were at their heyday. And then you get salary cap problems that we have in spades. There is always a call to "just sign" some star from yesteryear, but they are available for a reason. Much better to use your own depth and maybe find a workable replacement. Play the guys we already pay, in other words. They have been waiting their whole lives for this kind of chance, and they may have what it takes to fill the gap.

[NCSteeler]

So they roll with Marcus and Avery, maybe shuffle in some Sean Davis? I mean at some point they'll have to sub in OLB to ILB just to give the guys a break

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[tube517]

So they roll with Marcus and Avery, maybe shuffle in some Sean Davis? I mean at some point they'll have to sub in OLB to ILB just to give the guys a break

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UG3 is eligible to practice. They have 21 days to activate him off of IR. Otherwise there is nobody else as a backup.

[86WARD]

One thing that Tomlin does very well is scheme around injuries and utilize the players he has.

One thing to keep in mind is Allen is a pretty good runner. Chances that they spy him with a guy like Davis or Allen? That could take away one of the ILB spots to the point where it’s not really a positional “loss”?

[pczach]

Ice up!

Rub a little dirt on it!

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Yes. I don't see how old and slow pass rush specialists would help with the gaping hole at interior linebacker.

Actually, Matthews has played at ILB for significant periods of time when needed.

[Mojouw]

Rub a little dirt on it!

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Actually, Matthews has played at ILB for significant periods of time when needed.

Sure. But that was eons ago in NFL time. Matthews isn't going to retain the movement skills that once allowed him to be pressed into service at ILB. Signing old, broken down players is not the way out of whatever injury crunch the Steelers are facing. Remember, Matthews was cut loose by the Packers -- who play basically the same defense as the Steelers -- because they felt he couldn't run well enough anymore and was always injured.

Low cost "role player" signings like Cassius Marsh (or whatever his name is) are better. These kinds of players are not flashy or even all that good...but can be solid contributors for 10-15 snaps per game.

[Hawkman]

Rub a little dirt on it!

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Actually, Matthews has played at ILB for significant periods of time when needed.

“I’m not going to rub dirt in a bullet wound”.

[teegre]

I read a stat that the Steelers play in their specials (nickel, done, quarter) more than any other team.

Maybe this is the week when Bince gets Wally Pipped by Marcus Allen. Probably not. But, imnot ready to throw in the towel just yet.

[Born2Steel]

I read a stat that the Steelers play in their specials (nickel, done, quarter) more than any other team.

Maybe this is the week when Bince gets Wally Pipped by Marcus Allen. Probably not. But, imnot ready to throw in the towel just yet.

Maybe they should play the game on the field? That's just crazy. Everyone knows games are won on paper.

[teegre]

Maybe they should play the game on the field? That's just crazy. Everyone knows games are won on paper.

Uh... okay.

No need to discuss this game.

[Born2Steel]

Uh... okay.

No need to discuss this game.

Kinda my way of agreeing I'm not ready to throw in the towel yet either.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Kinda my way of agreeing I'm not ready to throw in the towel yet either.

Agreed. Lots of people getting wound up about ILB.

Basically, Williamson is a Vince Williams type run and hit ILB, so he fits in well. Marcus Allen becomes the dime LB and is a bit undersized vs the run, but in a 4LB set he can play. Alex Highsmith played MLB in highschool and has played in some 5LB sets earlier this season. I see Highsmith as potentially a guy that can move inside against any run heavy formations, but the Bills only handed off to a RB 21 times last week vs the niners, so not too concerned there.

The Steelers offense is what requires more concern IMO. Ben hasnt thrown the ball well the past few weeks, receivers dropping balls the past 2 weeks badly and Fichtner trying to run east-west too much with RB's like Snell and McFarland(who likely wont be in the NFL in 2 seasons). This Bills defense is better than Washington, so hopefully Pouncey and Conner make a difference and hopefully Ike Hilliard has some guys catching balls around goal posts or something to improve catching focus.

[lt194camaroz]

UG3 just got pulled off of IR and Spillane went on IR. Hopefully UG3 is somewhat ready bc he's gonna get thrown in the fire tomorrow night I think, at least some in base packages I'd suspect.

[teegre]

Kinda my way of agreeing I'm not ready to throw in the towel yet either.

My apologies. I read that the other way.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Teegre (Tegray) Scales has been activated. Problem solved.

Ball out, but please also participate on the gameday thread.

[cubanstogie]

Alec Ogletree has less mileage and younger than Matthews. He can play inside or out. Bills have been like Steelers a passing team but with injuries to inside LB and depth undersisized you’d think they’d try and establish the run.DL needs to have big game.

[tube517]

Teegre (Tegray) Scales has been activated. Problem solved.

Ball out, but please also participate on the gameday thread.

Indeed.

Summation: Play and then post on SU and Twitter without being caught on the sidelines on your cell phone

[Rotorhead]

Agreed. Lots of people getting wound up about ILB.

Basically, Williamson is a Vince Williams type run and hit ILB, so he fits in well. Marcus Allen becomes the dime LB and is a bit undersized vs the run, but in a 4LB set he can play. Alex Highsmith played MLB in highschool and has played in some 5LB sets earlier this season. I see Highsmith as potentially a guy that can move inside against any run heavy formations, but the Bills only handed off to a RB 21 times last week vs the niners, so not too concerned there.

The Steelers offense is what requires more concern IMO. Ben hasnt thrown the ball well the past few weeks, receivers dropping balls the past 2 weeks badly and Fichtner trying to run east-west too much with RB's like Snell and McFarland(who likely wont be in the NFL in 2 seasons). This Bills defense is better than Washington, so hopefully Pouncey and Conner make a difference and hopefully Ike Hilliard has some guys catching balls around goal posts or something to improve catching focus.

I think Washington’s front 7 are one of the best in the league this year, so not sure the Bills are better.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

I think Washington’s front 7 are one of the best in the league this year, so not sure the Bills are better.

I think the 7 on the back end are much better. Tre White, Josh Norman, Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer in the secondary are very good. Tremaine Edmunds is a baller at LB.

[katmandu]

This is bad

Or defense just went from best in the league, to mediocre in 2 weeks

Can't win Lombardis without depth.