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ATL96Steeler
Well-Known Member
I saw a thread titled this team is dogshit and I thought to post this there, certainly deserving.
After a 1-2-1 start, it's needless to say this team has underperformed. Unless the FO does something truly out of character, Tomlin is going to finish this season so fire Mike Tomlin is not likely to happen...and it's doubtful that Tomlin will make any midseason staff changes.
But...just a few 1Q nuggets.
The DEF has given up 116 points (ranks 26th, they ranked even worse against yardage 31st)...to put this in perspective, the DEF last year gave up 308 pts in 16 games...this team is on track to give up a staggering 464 pts. Last season only 3 teams gave up 400+ points...CLE 410, IND 404, and HOU 436. With CIN x2, NO, ATL, and NE still remaining on the schedule, if things don't change in a hurry, this DEF could be one of the worst in recent history. That sounds pretty bad but the numbers don't lie.
You can't help but wonder if Butler's hand's have been tied on this DEF.
FS, Davis 3rd yr player, 1st yr at the position, SS, Edmunds, rookie, CB2, Burns 3rd yr guy has lost confidence, Slot, Hilton, 2nd yr starter. CB4, Sutton, 2nd yr guy. Morgan Burnett's injury status has forced Edmunds onto the field, but supposedly there was a game plan for Edmunds as a rookie so they were expecting him to be getting snaps.
I get it, well part of it. I don't get Burns' regression. But the main focus is to note that this is a young secondary, but also one that's underperforming. Davis is actually playing well. Without Joe Haden, we seen it can be really, really ugly back there. The strength of the DEF is the front 7. We know the Mack LB spot is not whole, but the way this team is giving up points in the 1Q is scary because the concept of the DEF (max coverage, and force you to execute your plays down field...i.e. hope you make a mistake) is conceptually a 180 degs opposite of the results they're getting.
You couple that with the amount of penalties the team has had, and it's no secret that coaching is a big part of the reason for this bad start. Tomlin & Butler have to get this DEF figured out in short order...they don't have time to wait for the bye...they need Ws the next two week to this season will go down the tubes early.
Sacks...13, TJ & Bud are tied for the lead with 3. That's not a bad number as it will bubble up to 50+ sack over 16 games, but they're not consistent....3rd down DEF has to rank near the bottom of the league. Butler has to figure out how to bring pressure on 3rd down...rushing 2 or 3 or even 4 and expect to effect the QB is proving to be a failure.
HC/DC...I tie these to together because DEF is Tomlin's forte...1 of 5...116 PA says it all.
OC...The OFC comes in scoring 102 (T10 in the NFL). New OC Randy Fichtner and without Leveon Bell, on the surface that doesn't sound that bad. Watching the games, Ben has not really been that sharp throughout the game. Connor has filled in well for Bell, the last 2 games, the OFC got in a deep hole early and couldn't devote as much time to the running game.
3 of 5...in spite of a top 10 scoring DEF 3 is the best that I can go here because there are just too many lulls (3 & outs) or non-productive drives.
ST...3 of 5...Berry is punting a little better of late, and Boswell is rounding into form...the reason this grade is this high is Switzer...he's been a true find.
The good is they still have 12 games to improve their play...the bad, the competition gets harder.
After a 1-2-1 start, it's needless to say this team has underperformed. Unless the FO does something truly out of character, Tomlin is going to finish this season so fire Mike Tomlin is not likely to happen...and it's doubtful that Tomlin will make any midseason staff changes.
But...just a few 1Q nuggets.
The DEF has given up 116 points (ranks 26th, they ranked even worse against yardage 31st)...to put this in perspective, the DEF last year gave up 308 pts in 16 games...this team is on track to give up a staggering 464 pts. Last season only 3 teams gave up 400+ points...CLE 410, IND 404, and HOU 436. With CIN x2, NO, ATL, and NE still remaining on the schedule, if things don't change in a hurry, this DEF could be one of the worst in recent history. That sounds pretty bad but the numbers don't lie.
You can't help but wonder if Butler's hand's have been tied on this DEF.
FS, Davis 3rd yr player, 1st yr at the position, SS, Edmunds, rookie, CB2, Burns 3rd yr guy has lost confidence, Slot, Hilton, 2nd yr starter. CB4, Sutton, 2nd yr guy. Morgan Burnett's injury status has forced Edmunds onto the field, but supposedly there was a game plan for Edmunds as a rookie so they were expecting him to be getting snaps.
I get it, well part of it. I don't get Burns' regression. But the main focus is to note that this is a young secondary, but also one that's underperforming. Davis is actually playing well. Without Joe Haden, we seen it can be really, really ugly back there. The strength of the DEF is the front 7. We know the Mack LB spot is not whole, but the way this team is giving up points in the 1Q is scary because the concept of the DEF (max coverage, and force you to execute your plays down field...i.e. hope you make a mistake) is conceptually a 180 degs opposite of the results they're getting.
You couple that with the amount of penalties the team has had, and it's no secret that coaching is a big part of the reason for this bad start. Tomlin & Butler have to get this DEF figured out in short order...they don't have time to wait for the bye...they need Ws the next two week to this season will go down the tubes early.
Sacks...13, TJ & Bud are tied for the lead with 3. That's not a bad number as it will bubble up to 50+ sack over 16 games, but they're not consistent....3rd down DEF has to rank near the bottom of the league. Butler has to figure out how to bring pressure on 3rd down...rushing 2 or 3 or even 4 and expect to effect the QB is proving to be a failure.
HC/DC...I tie these to together because DEF is Tomlin's forte...1 of 5...116 PA says it all.
OC...The OFC comes in scoring 102 (T10 in the NFL). New OC Randy Fichtner and without Leveon Bell, on the surface that doesn't sound that bad. Watching the games, Ben has not really been that sharp throughout the game. Connor has filled in well for Bell, the last 2 games, the OFC got in a deep hole early and couldn't devote as much time to the running game.
3 of 5...in spite of a top 10 scoring DEF 3 is the best that I can go here because there are just too many lulls (3 & outs) or non-productive drives.
ST...3 of 5...Berry is punting a little better of late, and Boswell is rounding into form...the reason this grade is this high is Switzer...he's been a true find.
The good is they still have 12 games to improve their play...the bad, the competition gets harder.