You Get to Decide at ILB

[Mojouw]

https://steelersdepot.com/2023/11/th...good-solution/

I agree that the Steelers have a serious personnel issue at ILB. You have a magic wand and your solution gets to be the one that gets enacted. What do you do?

MojoUW's ILB Plan (has to wait until MF can play to work):

1. Bring up Walker from the PS.
2. Move Neal down to ILB. That is where he plays now. He did it for a limited amount of time before. Also for this to work, Neal has to be comfortable and able to do the Green Dot stuff. He's the only LB I would plan on keeping on the field all 3 downs.
3. Fitzpatrick and Kazee are the starters at safety. With Riley and Pat Pete getting time there in sub-packages.

I realize this is FAR too many moving parts....but while I was at it, I would push Rush out there as the other starting CB. My base defense then has Rush and Porter outside. Peterson and MF at safety. And Neal and Roberts at LB. In a sense, I would have Kazee be my nickel. The dime DB would be some combination of Riley, Sullivan, and I guess Wallace.

Unfortunately, this likely only works in video game football. And is extremely off-brand for Tomlin and Austin approaches to injury problem solving. But I still think it could work....at least in my fantasy realm!

[Dwinsgames]

Roberts was the original Green dot ILB this year and has a comfort level with it, why take that and hand it to a guy who has to basically learn the pos within this defense in Neal ...seems like a lot to put on the plate of a guy who isnt all that good at playing linebacker as it is

[Mojouw]

Roberts was the original Green dot ILB this year and has a comfort level with it, why take that and hand it to a guy who has to basically learn the pos within this defense in Neal ...seems like a lot to put on the plate of a guy who isnt all that good at playing linebacker as it is

Because I don't want Roberts on the field on passing downs in my totally unlikely scenario. So someone who can play on passing downs will have to wear the green dot.

[Dwinsgames]

Because I don't want Roberts on the field on passing downs in my totally unlikely scenario. So someone who can play on passing downs will have to wear the green dot.

fair enough I suppose

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Because I don't want Roberts on the field on passing downs in my totally unlikely scenario. So someone who can play on passing downs will have to wear the green dot.

Agreed. When he is on the field in passing downs, its an instant read by the offense to throw the football to whoever he has to cover. Which means you either play man where there will be a mismatch over him or a lot more zone.

I still think they will elevate somebody like Walker as they now need some depth at LB on gameday.

[Mojouw]

Agreed. When he is on the field in passing downs, its an instant read by the offense to throw the football to whoever he has to cover. Which means you either play man where there will be a mismatch over him or a lot more zone.

I still think they will elevate somebody like Walker as they now need some depth at LB on gameday.

Yeah, agreed on the PS elevation.

But they are going to get victimized repeatedly over the middle until they either change something or someone steps up.

Green Bay was just looking for #50, #31, #37, and #17. Every time they got someone matched up on those guys....that is where love went with the ball. Except for the times Wallace gave up TDs....ugggghhhhhh.

[pczach]

Because I don't want Roberts on the field on passing downs in my totally unlikely scenario. So someone who can play on passing downs will have to wear the green dot.

Yep. Roberts is the guy that immediately becomes the first read because he is the matchup that the OC is hoping for. Sad but true.

[pczach]

Yeah, agreed on the PS elevation.

But they are going to get victimized repeatedly over the middle until they either change something or someone steps up.

Green Bay was just looking for #50, #31, #37, and #17. Every time they got someone matched up on those guys....that is where love went with the ball. Except for the times Wallace gave up TDs....ugggghhhhhh.

This is where you hope your DC is able to get a little more exotic. Maybe keep a lot more people near the LOS and try to confuse the quarterback with the coverages and blitz packages. If they could just fool them enough times to create the down and distance situations they need to be in to get the right personnel on the field, it could be the difference in winning or losing games.

It's such a fine line at this level. This is where the coaching just needs to scheme up some looks that give offenses trouble until they can figure out the ILB position and Minkah is back, Cam is closer to his usual self(if it is even possible this season).

The OL is showing signs of finding itself. There have been more real NFL-worthy drives, and some offensive growth. Getting Muth back at some point can't hurt either, because this team needs to score a few more points consistently. 23 wasn't bad, but if they can claw out 25 points per game, it gives the defense a little wiggle room.

Let's hope Khan can sign somebody that can still play football at a reasonable number. I know, praying for a miracle. After that, health is going to be huge over the remaining games. They can't afford to lose any more key players.

If Canada and Pickett have another gear, now is the time to find it with the running game beginning to take off. There are going to be opportunities if Canada can scheme it and call it, and Pickett can get the ball there.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Yeah, agreed on the PS elevation.

But they are going to get victimized repeatedly over the middle until they either change something or someone steps up.

Green Bay was just looking for #50, #31, #37, and #17. Every time they got someone matched up on those guys....that is where love went with the ball. Except for the times Wallace gave up TDs....ugggghhhhhh.

Yeah, when Minkah gets back that will improve things up the middle. can play some cover 2 man and take away the middle of Roberts covering TE's, but he is a liability to the edges as well. But the guy is a run stuffer and they will have to rely on the other LB more in coverage vs play action on early downs.

Pressure on the QB in play action is the equalizer as well. So hopefully more D line players get healthy as well.

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This is where you hope your DC is able to get a little more exotic. Maybe keep a lot more people near the LOS and try to confuse the quarterback with the coverages and blitz packages. If they could just fool them enough times to create the down and distance situations they need to be in to get the right personnel on the field, it could be the difference in winning or losing games.

It's such a fine line at this level. This is where the coaching just needs to scheme up some looks that give offenses trouble until they can figure out the ILB position and Minkah is back, Cam is closer to his usual self(if it is even possible this season).

The OL is showing signs of finding itself. There have been more real NFL-worthy drives, and some offensive growth. Getting Muth back at some point can't hurt either, because this team needs to score a few more points consistently. 23 wasn't bad, but if they can claw out 25 points per game, it gives the defense a little wiggle room.

Let's hope Khan can sign somebody that can still play football at a reasonable number. I know, praying for a miracle. After that, health is going to be huge over the remaining games. They can't afford to lose any more key players.

If Canada and Pickett have another gear, now is the time to find it with the running game beginning to take off. There are going to be opportunities if Canada can scheme it and call it, and Pickett can get the ball there.

They can try and disguise coverages and play a variety of things, whether it be Cover 2-man, Cover 3, Quarters or even split field coverage. But in the end there are some veteran QB's in the division that will have done their homework. Maybe Neal at LB is a good move in some situations. I just think they need to go 2-2 vs division opponents from here on out in order to have any shot at the playoffs and that could be tough unless the Offense starts scoring more.

[Mojouw]

This is where you hope your DC is able to get a little more exotic. Maybe keep a lot more people near the LOS and try to confuse the quarterback with the coverages and blitz packages. If they could just fool them enough times to create the down and distance situations they need to be in to get the right personnel on the field, it could be the difference in winning or losing games.

It's such a fine line at this level. This is where the coaching just needs to scheme up some looks that give offenses trouble until they can figure out the ILB position and Minkah is back, Cam is closer to his usual self(if it is even possible this season).

The OL is showing signs of finding itself. There have been more real NFL-worthy drives, and some offensive growth. Getting Muth back at some point can't hurt either, because this team needs to score a few more points consistently. 23 wasn't bad, but if they can claw out 25 points per game, it gives the defense a little wiggle room.

Let's hope Khan can sign somebody that can still play football at a reasonable number. I know, praying for a miracle. After that, health is going to be huge over the remaining games. They can't afford to lose any more key players.

If Canada and Pickett have another gear, now is the time to find it with the running game beginning to take off. There are going to be opportunities if Canada can scheme it and call it, and Pickett can get the ball there.

Probably look to last year's tape against Tampa Bay for inspiration. Played a good game with a secondary made up of tape and bailing wire.

I suspect they are going to have to get comfortable stopping the run in some sort of "big" nickel look. Hope that some combination of Neal, Riley, Kazee, Sullivan, etc. can take a LB off the field and increase coverage abilities while still stopping the run.

I wonder if Killebrew (who can't play safety worth a lick) could do something less than horrible at LB? He likes to hit people.

[Rotorhead]

Well having Cam back on the DL should allow for more nickel and dime packages while holding up better against the run than when he was out.

[tube517]

Fehoko was waived so Carpenter and Walker will likely be promoted when Kwon goes on IR

Sent from my SM-F711U using Tapatalk

[pczach]

Yeah, when Minkah gets back that will improve things up the middle. can play some cover 2 man and take away the middle of Roberts covering TE's, but he is a liability to the edges as well. But the guy is a run stuffer and they will have to rely on the other LB more in coverage vs play action on early downs.

The DC is definitely going to have to call some good games and be right often.

Pressure on the QB in play action is the equalizer as well. So hopefully more D line players get healthy as well.

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They can try and disguise coverages and play a variety of things, whether it be Cover 2-man, Cover 3, Quarters or even split field coverage. But in the end there are some veteran QB's in the division that will have done their homework. Maybe Neal at LB is a good move in some situations. I just think they need to go 2-2 vs division opponents from here on out in order to have any shot at the playoffs and that could be tough unless the Offense starts scoring more.

Yeah, I understand they will not be able to fool veteran quarterbacks that often. That's why I am basically saying that if they can just make a couple great calls and dial up just a few looks that help get them off the field a game, it could be enough to make a difference. I understand that you simply can't overcome a lack of talent with smoke and mirrors all the time.

I also think they need to score a few more points to help get through this as well and mentioned that in my post.

- - - Updated - - -

Probably look to last year's tape against Tampa Bay for inspiration. Played a good game with a secondary made up of tape and bailing wire.

I suspect they are going to have to get comfortable stopping the run in some sort of "big" nickel look. Hope that some combination of Neal, Riley, Kazee, Sullivan, etc. can take a LB off the field and increase coverage abilities while still stopping the run.

I wonder if Killebrew (who can't play safety worth a lick) could do something less than horrible at LB? He likes to hit people.

There are definitely going to be some players in there that you don't really want in that spot, but what choice to they have? They are simply running out of quality players.

[Mojouw]

Yeah, I understand they will not be able to fool veteran quarterbacks that often. That's why I am basically saying that if they can just make a couple great calls and dial up just a few looks that help get them off the field a game, it could be enough to make a difference. I understand that you simply can't overcome a lack of talent with smoke and mirrors all the time.

I also think they need to score a few more points to help get through this as well and mentioned that in my post.

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There are definitely going to be some players in there that you don't really want in that spot, but what choice to they have? They are simply running out of quality players.

I think you're on to something with mixing up coverage and I'm thinking roles as well.

Cycle more guys through but put them in spots that can hide their flaws and maximize their chances for success.

BUT it all likely only truly has a shot of working if Fitzpatrick can come back and be his usual self.