Defensive Scheme or really missing Shazier?

[ATL96Steeler]

Has anyone noticed recently the ILBs are really struggling to cover TEs...we've talked about Timmons slowing down and VW not really being much better in coverage, but whenever the OLB pass rushes and they throw a swing pass to the TE to the OLB's (that pass rushed) side, it's going for 10-15 yds every time...the ILB is very late. It's almost like something is holding them inside, but I'm struggling to figure it out.

I see Gronk and Bennett killing the Steelers this week.

Is anyone else seeing this?

 

[Ewa PGH Fan]

Has anyone noticed recently the ILBs are really struggling to cover TEs...we've talked about Timmons slowing down and VW not really being much better in coverage, but whenever the OLB pass rushes and they throw a swing pass to the TE to the OLB's (that pass rushed) side, it's going for 10-15 yds every time...the ILB is very late. It's almost like something is holding them inside, but I'm struggling to figure it out.

I see Gronk and Bennett killing the Steelers this week.

Is anyone else seeing this?

Yeah but I don't want to admit it. Sproles gauged the D doing this in the Eagles game.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Yeah but I don't want to admit it. Sproles gauged the D doing this in the Eagles game.

Oh yeah, Sproles did...a lot of it was on one play...lately (especially the MIA game) it seems like the TE swing pass is wide open and they are running free once they catch it...not catch get a yard oro so and tackled...maybe the work that Ajayee did had the ILB staying in the box longer, but it was on both sides of the field.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

A little of both... But primarily its scheme & coaching.

Wrote this in the game thread:
Rushing 2-3 DOWN lineman with 1-2 OLBs while playing very soft zones isn't going to get the job done. It generates zero pressure, and the DB's are better in man-coverage than zone. Butler & Tomlin's defense is a joke. Playing the CB's 12-15yds off the LOS and going straight into Tampa 2 opens the entire field up underneath and exposes the ILBs.

Having Shazier in there obviously gives them more range, and it covers up the scheme's flaws.

 

[Psych-Ward]

Has anyone noticed recently the ILBs are really struggling to cover TEs...we've talked about Timmons slowing down and VW not really being much better in coverage, but whenever the OLB pass rushes and they throw a swing pass to the TE to the OLB's (that pass rushed) side, it's going for 10-15 yds every time...the ILB is very late. It's almost like something is holding them inside, but I'm struggling to figure it out.

I see Gronk and Bennett killing the Steelers this week.

Is anyone else seeing this?

I just mentioned this in one of the other threads.....

Seems like Shazier is another Troy syndrome. Although I will say without Heyward our run stop sucks ass. But the D, like when Troy was out, goes to shit when Shazier is not on the field.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

I just mentioned this in one of the other threads.....

Seems like Shazier is another Troy syndrome. Although I will say without Heyward our run stop sucks ass. But the D, like when Troy was out, goes to shit when Shazier is not on the field.

I've had to stream the last two games so I don't have the luxury of DVR to look at those plays again. Speed is a factor I'm sure, but it really look like they were not expecting to be on the TE until he had the ball...really late reacting....almost no anticipation.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

 

[ATL96Steeler]

There was more chatter going on about Timmons yesterday...seems like the Edelman slant or slant and out was there all day. Timmons was simply preventing the damage from being more than it was.

I thougth Jarvis Jones played very good game even though he didn't record a sack, it I guess Brady got back to the LOS on the Moats QB hit, because I thought that was a sack. So far I'm disappointed in Tuitt's play, and Hargrave has not done a ton either, but I have noticed him getting dbled.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

There was more chatter going on about Timmons yesterday...seems like the Edelman slant or slant and out was there all day. Timmons was simply preventing the damage from being more than it was.

I thougth Jarvis Jones played very good game even though he didn't record a sack, it I guess Brady got back to the LOS on the Moats QB hit, because I thought that was a sack. So far I'm disappointed in Tuitt's play, and Hargrave has not done a ton either, but I have noticed him getting dbled.

I was a little harsh on Timmons last night... After some time to digest I am actually impressed that he was able to "keep up" with Edelman for that many underneath routes. Edelman of course had him beat, but to be able to limit him to 6-8yd gains each time was fairly impressive. The QB-containment issues on 3rd & short made it all for naught though. Tom Brady was routinely scrambling for 3-4yd gains to get 1st downs.

Tuitt has been a good presence in the run game, and drives a fair amount of pressure, but its not quite the explosive player we had hoped for after seeing so much promise last season. Hargrave is what he is, a 3rd round pick. It will take some time before we see him dominate. He certainly has the attributes we want, but he needs time.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

I was a little harsh on Timmons last night... After some time to digest I am actually impressed that he was able to "keep up" with Edelman for that many underneath routes. Edelman of course had him beat, but to be able to limit him to 6-8yd gains each time was fairly impressive. The QB-containment issues on 3rd & short made it all for naught though. Tom Brady was routinely scrambling for 3-4yd gains to get 1st downs.

Tuitt has been a good presence in the run game, and drives a fair amount of pressure, but its not quite the explosive player we had hoped for after seeing so much promise last season. Hargrave is what he is, a 3rd round pick. It will take some time before we see him dominate. He certainly has the attributes we want, but he needs time.

I had to stream the last two games so no opportunity to go back and look at the trench play like I normally do, but some has really, really been amiss in the run game the last two weeks, and maybe it's as simple as Heyward being out...I actually hope that's the case, and he's back for BAL.

Timmons...I have too been overly critical of LT...he was basically limiting the damage, but no ILB is going to prevent that play...I really expected Butler to go big nickel and play Davis in the slot, but it never happened.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Steelers captain Heyward: 'It was like we just quit'

Good commentary from el capitan!

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Steelers captain Heyward: 'It was like we just quit'

Good commentary from el capitan!

Gronk is too good to be shut down the entire game, so I was expecting him to make a play, but on the drive that Cap was pissed about...the 25 yd run by Blunt was waaay to easy...he started up the middle, but the left side was completely caved in and there was no support at all....the OLB and ILB on that side were no where to be found....it sucked.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Gronk is too good to be shut down the entire game, so I was expecting him to make a play, but on the drive that Cap was pissed about...the 25 yd run by Blunt was waaay to easy...he started up the middle, but the left side was completely caved in and there was no support at all....the OLB and ILB on that side were no where to be found....it sucked.

Agreed. I'm hopin these words will ring around the lockerroom like when Keisel was around. If Keisel was upset about a performance, you can rest-assured believe the defense would show up the following week.