You don't know what you don't know.

[tube517]

The GB defense was on its heels in the 2nd half. Ben was having success throwing the ball. The fumble killed any momentum. Plain and simple. both zone blitz defenses are susceptible to the pass. Their jobs are to get sacks and TO's. Green Bay wins the TO battle and with that, win the Lombardi trophy.

My only issue with Coach Lebeau is that I'm not a fan of these soft coverages. The back up corners for Green Bay were all over our receivers, how is it that we are leaving WR SOOO open on some of these plays. Why are we still reverting back to having cornerbacks play 10 yards off at the start of the play? I thought we had put that scheme to bed after New England torched us....and there it was again. Green Bay was frequently in some max protection packages with only 3 receivers going out and Rogers is still getting rid of the ball in less than 3 seconds to wide open guys....Lebeau needs a true cover corner opposite of Ike.

[zulater]

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfceast/post...page/espntexas

The Green Bay Packers spent the past two weeks trying to figure out how to neutralize the 2010 defensive player of the year. They accomplished that task by pretty much turning Steelers safety Troy Polamalu into a non-factor.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers vowed to know where Polamalu was on every play. And his ability to whistle passes through tight windows actually made Polamalu look slow for much of the evening. The man who had seven interceptions this season tried to force the issue and started guessing in a frantic effort to make plays. It may have been one of the worst games of his career, and it couldn't have happened on a bigger stage in a 31-25 loss to the Packers in Super Bowl XLV.
Reporters offered the soft-spoken Polamalu a lifeline by bringing up the Achilles tendon injury that's plagued him throughout the season. He headed that off quickly, saying he simply ran into a quarterback who's on fire.

"It was the healthiest I've been," Polamalu said, "the best I've felt probably since the middle of the season."

Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings caught both of his touchdowns against Polamalu. Jennings said that on the first score the Steelers were in a Cover 2 scheme and Polamalu was forced to choose between covering two receivers running similar routes.

"He chose wrong," said Jennings, whose 21-yard touchdown gave the Packers a 21-3 lead in the second quarter.

The Packers didn't show much interest in the running game (11 attempts), in part because they didn't want Polamalu near the line of scrimmage. Because Green Bay constantly spread the field with four wide receivers, Polamalu rarely played close to the line.

"We wanted to keep him out in space," said Jennings. "If you can contain him in some ways and keep him on a guy that he's uncomfortable with, you have a lot better chance."

This goes to what I've been saying. We don't know the game within the game from our perspective.

[zulater]

All this hate for Keyaron Fox begs the question: what about Polamalu? The only time he was in the frame was during Greg Jenning's two touchdown receptions. Or what about William Gay and Bryant McFadden? They were getting beat like red headed stepchildren all game long. This was a total team loss, can't blame Fox's bonehead penalty alone.

The reason I singled out Keyaron Fox is because it's easiar for me to forgive poor execution than selfish undisciplined acts that had nothing to do with the actual play on the field.


http://plus.sites.post-gazette.com/i...ports/steelers

And it seems as though Gerry Dulac agrees.

AMONG THE EARLY off-season casualties will be special teams captain Keyaron Fox, whose repeated penalties on special teams, especially the return units, makes you wonder how he even ascended to his role. Or kept it.

Fox’s play toward the end of the season was inexcusable, and it culminated with his foolish penalty on the final kick return when he was called for a personal foul AFTER Antonio Brown returned the ball to the 26.

It would be one thing if Fox were playing well on coverage units, but that is not the case, either. Even if he were, his rash of penalties are too much to overcome. And ignore.

Fox is an unrestricted free agent, which means he is free to sign with another team. The Steelers probably couldn’t agree more.

[Delraich]

Yeah fire LeBeau cus I'm sick of having the #1 or #2 defense year after year. Here's an idea.....get a decent corner. Big Ben is a huge factor why we have #5 and #6 but LeBeau IMHO is just as big a reason. There will come a day when LeBeau does retire and I promise you this team will not be better.

[43Hitman]

Yeah fire LeBeau cus I'm sick of having the #1 or #2 defense year after year. Here's an idea.....get a decent corner. Big Ben is a huge factor why we have #5 and #6 but LeBeau IMHO is just as big a reason. There will come a day when LeBeau does retire and I promise you this team will not be better.

Unfortunately that #1 or #2 defense is smoke in mirrors when it comes to shutting down an elite passing game.

[Chidi29]

I'll admit I'm a huge X's and O's guy. I don't think I have more fun than trying to break down what an offense or defense is doing.

But what tends to get lost in that fact are the aspects that aren't stasticial and not completely tangible. A person's ability to motivate and how the players respond to him. Do the players respect the coach? Will they listen to him? Can the coach compromise and is he open to different ideas?

I don't think there's a coach in the league that players love and respect more than Coach LeBeau.

[Craic]

Unfortunately that #1 or #2 defense is smoke in mirrors when it comes to shutting down an elite passing game.

Exactly.

I also love how people go to the extreme and claim that we are calling for Lebeau's head, or that he be fired. Sorry, most of us talking about Lebeau aren't Arians bashers. We understand the difference between execution, weakness within the scheme, and bad scheming.

For Lebeau, this seems to be a bad weakness within the scheme. I ask that Lebeau, Tomlin, and our defensive vets get together and figure out how to fix it.

Either that, or fire Arians. After all, its all his fault!

[zulater]

Exactly.

I also love how people go to the extreme and claim that we are calling for Lebeau's head, or that he be fired. Sorry, most of us talking about Lebeau aren't Arians bashers. We understand the difference between execution, weakness within the scheme, and bad scheming.

For Lebeau, this seems to be a bad weakness within the scheme. I ask that Lebeau, Tomlin, and our defensive vets get together and figure out how to fix it.

Either that, or fire Arians. After all, its all his fault!

So you tell me, which defense was going to go out there yesterday and shut down the Packers? Keeping in mind the game was indoors, and his head wasn't ringing from a Julius Peppers cheap shot.

Rodgers was making some plays that a normal qb just doesn't make.

[steelreserve]

So you tell me, which defense was going to go out there yesterday and shut down the Packers? Keeping in mind the game was indoors, and his head wasn't ringing from a Julius Peppers cheap shot.

Rodgers was making some plays that a normal qb just doesn't make.

What, like hitting guys who were wide open 10 or 15 yards down the field? We weren't forcing him to make any particularly difficult throws; just sooner or later a guy was going to be open. That's what happens when we play that way. I call it the Cover 0 scheme.

[zulater]

What, like hitting guys who were wide open 10 or 15 yards down the field? We weren't forcing him to make any particularly difficult throws; just sooner or later a guy was going to be open. That's what happens when we play that way. I call it the Cover 0 scheme.

With all due respect I think you oversimplfy it. I'm pretty sure LeBeau and the entire Steeler coaching staff discected film film of the Packers every which way you can before formulating a game plan and put their players in the best position to make plays. Just rewatching some of those plays, they out executed us, they picked up blitzes, found their hot receiver, Rodgers moved effectively in the pocket when he had to, and protected the ball. You can probably give Dom Capers an assist in the way the Packers were prepared for just about everything the Steelers threw at them.

And still, I think what's lost here is that 24 offensive points in a domed stadium isn't exceptional. The defense did have some crucial stops. In the end it came down to turnovers, the team that protected the ball best won.

[Craic]

So you tell me, which defense was going to go out there yesterday and shut down the Packers? Keeping in mind the game was indoors, and his head wasn't ringing from a Julius Peppers cheap shot.

Rodgers was making some plays that a normal qb just doesn't make.

I would agree with you, except that this exact same problem has been discussed multiple times-Heck, I started a thread about it like the 3rd week of the season-going back over the last 18 or so months at that point. This is a consistent problem. I hope it gets fixed.

[zulater]

I would agree with you, except that this exact same problem has been discussed multiple times-Heck, I started a thread about it like the 3rd week of the season-going back over the last 18 or so months at that point. This is a consistent problem. I hope it gets fixed.

Well I don't think it gets fixed by jettisoning LeBeau, I think it gets fixed by obtaining better personell in the defensive backfield.

I'll be stunned if this years' first round pick isn't used on a corner, and I wouldn't be surprised if they trade up if neccessary to get the right guy.

[Texasteel]

I'll admit I'm a huge X's and O's guy. I don't think I have more fun than trying to break down what an offense or defense is doing.

But what tends to get lost in that fact are the aspects that aren't stasticial and not completely tangible. A person's ability to motivate and how the players respond to him. Do the players respect the coach? Will they listen to him? Can the coach compromise and is he open to different ideas?

I don't think there's a coach in the league that players love and respect more than Coach LeBeau.

I believer all our coaches have the love and respect of 99% of our player. In LeBeaus case I would say 99% of the league would love to play for him, including retired players. As long a Dick wants to coach it will be in Pittsburgh, Thank God.

[tube517]

I believer all our coaches have the love and respect of 99% of our player. In LeBeaus case I would say 99% of the league would love to play for him, including retired players. As long a Dick wants to coach it will be in Pittsburgh, Thank God.

[Texasteel]

You would be the one to notice that. Think I may leave it that way.

[43Hitman]

Well I don't think it gets fixed by jettisoning LeBeau, I think it gets fixed by obtaining better personell in the defensive backfield.

I'll be stunned if this years' first round pick isn't used on a corner, and I wouldn't be surprised if they trade up if neccessary to get the right guy.

I don't think anyone is suggesting that LeBeau moves on. My point in saying that having the #1 or 2# defense, being smoke and mirrors, is because we need better personnel on the back half of our defense. Ike is the only one we can trust back there in coverage, and that is a HUGE problem.

[Texasteel]

I don't think anyone is suggesting that LeBeau moves on. My point in saying that having the #1 or 2# defense, being smoke and mirrors, is because we need better personnel on the back half of our defense. Ike is the only one we can trust back there in coverage, and that is a HUGE problem.

And I think that likely will be fixed this year. Though I'm not one that believes we have to go CB #1 this year I do believe it could happen, and even if it doesn't there are several kids that will go in the 2 and even the 3rd that could start for this team. We just can't wait as long as we have in the past few years.

[43Hitman]

And I think that likely will be fixed this year. Though I'm not one that believes we have to go CB #1 this year I do believe it could happen, and even if it doesn't there are several kids that will go in the 2 and even the 3rd that could start for this team. We just can't wait as long as we have in the past few years.

I agree. Although it will still take a year or so to get those new guys up to speed and playing at a high level, so I'm sure we aren't going to see a complete 180 degree turn-around next season, some progress will be nice though.

[Texasteel]

I agree. Although it will still take a year or so to get those new guys up to speed and playing at a high level, so I'm sure we aren't going to see a complete 180 degree turn-around next season, some progress will be nice though.

I see about a dozen CBs in the draft that could step in and start for this team, at least play significant minutes. We both know that we are not going to sign a name CB, so help will have to come from these players. I also think that we have a wild card on the team right now that if he make enough improvement, could help us turn this thing around, and maybe even take a step or two. I really am hopeful that this and one other area I am concerned about will be helped this year. But then I am the super homer around here.