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ATL96Steeler
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Obviously the Steelers' season ended much quicker than we anticipated. Sometimes as fans we are so close to the action that we can't see the forest for the trees so to speak.
Just doing a little soul searching about this team, drilling down into the positions.
Did we over shoot this thing? The schedule was fairly weak so they were not as good as their record nor were they a true top 10 DEF.
The playoff teams they played....MIN, JAX x 2, NE, and they were 1-3 in those games. Is that telling?
DEF in those key games.
After 20 days of preparation...What happened last week?
I've tried to take my homer glasses off and look at the DEF objectively.
Coaching...Bouchette is making claims Tomlin was running the DEF this yr. No doubt Tomlin has put his stamp on the DEF since LeBeau was not renewed. But game day calls...I'm not comfortable saying he's doing that. Regardless...way too many missed assignments this yr resulting in back breaking 3rd down plays being successful.
2nd yr starters, Burns and Davis both struggled at times. Understandable, but yr 3 needs to be a different story.
I don't think Tomlin should bring back the entire DEF staff. At this point I'm not confident that Porter or Lake are contributing much.
You've can't take a talent like Shazier off the field and not feel it. The last couple of drafts I think they have ignored adding depth with a similar skill.
DL...I'm still bullish on the trio of Tuitt, Hargrave, and Heyward...they need another NT for depth/rotation. McCullers has been a waste. Need to retain or recapture something with Alualu and LT Walton
OLB...TJ is solid, he tailed off at the end of the season somewhat (5 sacks thru 12 games finished with 7) hopefully takes another step. Dupree has started 3 seasons. I feel like we're seeing his best football. He's a player, but not a playmaker. They need a stud.
ILB...Shazier and VWil is pretty good...VWill and Dirty Red, Foyt, Spence....maybe avg at best....bodies, no playmakers
CB...Haden is proven, needs to stay healthy. Hilton was a godsend at nickel. Burns, imo regressed. Gay didn't do anything to earn another slot. Burns needs to pick his game in '18 and I think Sutton will improve the dime play...2 solid guys, 2 guys need to produce.
S...Davis made some plays, but gave up maybe just as many. Every OC wants to attack Mitchell. Davis needs to step up his game in yr 3 and they need to move on from Mitchell
So...recapping attempt at an objective view of the Steeler DEF.
DL...1 legit playmaker in Heyward, and very solid cast
LB level...no proven playmakers
Backend...Haden and some hopefuls.
I think if we're being honest, there are not many studs on this DEF. Facing a sterner schedule maybe they win 10 games this past season.
IMO for this DEF to be legit next year in my mind after watching that effort....TJ needs to up his game and sustain it all season, Burns, Davis both need big leaps in performance. Must upgrade FS, and find a starting caliber player opposite Vince.
Maybe this DEF is further away than we think.
Your thoughts?
Just doing a little soul searching about this team, drilling down into the positions.
Did we over shoot this thing? The schedule was fairly weak so they were not as good as their record nor were they a true top 10 DEF.
The playoff teams they played....MIN, JAX x 2, NE, and they were 1-3 in those games. Is that telling?
DEF in those key games.
- MIN...played well, mostly controlled this game. note MIN was w/o their star rookie RB
- JAX...played okay really until the end of the game...we forget, this was a 1 possession game in the 3Q then btb pick 6s
- NE...played well for the majority of the game, the key 4Q drive they couldn't defend Gronk
- JAX...played worse against the run than the 1st game, couldn't get off the field on 3rd down once they were able to create some third downs.
After 20 days of preparation...What happened last week?
- The Jags OL won the 1 on 1 battles most of the day vs probably the strongest part of the DEF.
- Scheme wise they played man at times vs a mobile QB and got burnt several times
- Obviously Shazier being out was a huge factor.
- More assignment issues that plagued the DEF this yr at times.
- As Face pointed out, sack leader, yet zero sacks in their last game
I've tried to take my homer glasses off and look at the DEF objectively.
Coaching...Bouchette is making claims Tomlin was running the DEF this yr. No doubt Tomlin has put his stamp on the DEF since LeBeau was not renewed. But game day calls...I'm not comfortable saying he's doing that. Regardless...way too many missed assignments this yr resulting in back breaking 3rd down plays being successful.
2nd yr starters, Burns and Davis both struggled at times. Understandable, but yr 3 needs to be a different story.
I don't think Tomlin should bring back the entire DEF staff. At this point I'm not confident that Porter or Lake are contributing much.
You've can't take a talent like Shazier off the field and not feel it. The last couple of drafts I think they have ignored adding depth with a similar skill.
DL...I'm still bullish on the trio of Tuitt, Hargrave, and Heyward...they need another NT for depth/rotation. McCullers has been a waste. Need to retain or recapture something with Alualu and LT Walton
OLB...TJ is solid, he tailed off at the end of the season somewhat (5 sacks thru 12 games finished with 7) hopefully takes another step. Dupree has started 3 seasons. I feel like we're seeing his best football. He's a player, but not a playmaker. They need a stud.
ILB...Shazier and VWil is pretty good...VWill and Dirty Red, Foyt, Spence....maybe avg at best....bodies, no playmakers
CB...Haden is proven, needs to stay healthy. Hilton was a godsend at nickel. Burns, imo regressed. Gay didn't do anything to earn another slot. Burns needs to pick his game in '18 and I think Sutton will improve the dime play...2 solid guys, 2 guys need to produce.
S...Davis made some plays, but gave up maybe just as many. Every OC wants to attack Mitchell. Davis needs to step up his game in yr 3 and they need to move on from Mitchell
So...recapping attempt at an objective view of the Steeler DEF.
DL...1 legit playmaker in Heyward, and very solid cast
LB level...no proven playmakers
Backend...Haden and some hopefuls.
I think if we're being honest, there are not many studs on this DEF. Facing a sterner schedule maybe they win 10 games this past season.
IMO for this DEF to be legit next year in my mind after watching that effort....TJ needs to up his game and sustain it all season, Burns, Davis both need big leaps in performance. Must upgrade FS, and find a starting caliber player opposite Vince.
Maybe this DEF is further away than we think.
Your thoughts?