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Pittsburgh Defense vs the pass (1 Viewer)

Kitrick Taylor

Footballguy
Just how good is the pass defense for Pittsburgh? They are currently ranked #1 giving up 158 yards/game. That's 20 yards per game better than anybody else. I have seen them play early this year, but not recently.

Take a look at who they've played so far though.

Week 1 vs Balt. The Ravens blew out the Steelers 35-7. Flacco attempted 29 passes, threw for 224 yards and 3 TDs.

Week 2 vs SEA. TJax throws for 159 yards. Obomanu leads SEA receivers with 4/35.

Week 3 vs INDY Kerry Collins throws for 93 yards. Garcon leads receivers with 6/82.

Week 4 vs HOU Schaub throws for 138 yards. Andre Johnson injures his hamstring in the 2nd quarter, and it becomes the Arian Foster show (30/155/1). Texans win 17-10.

Week 5 vs TEN Hasselbeck throws for 262 mostly inconsequential yards in a blow out loss. Nate Washington (Tennessee's new #1) leads the way with 5/69

Week 6 vs JAX Gabbert throws for 109 yards. Mike Thomas leads the way with 4/36.

Look at those passing attacks for a minute. Its almost amazing that a team could face that type of schedule. TJAX, Collins, and Gabbert all lead wretched passing attacks. Then to get the Texans who lose Andre Johnson early in the game, and a Kenny Britt-less Titans squad?

I know they can only play the teams that are on their schedule, but I just wonder if they are all that.

 
I just wonder if they are all that.
What are you talking about? People have been saying this defense is a shell of its former self all season.Stats are stats, nothing more.
They are ranked #1 vs the pass by a significant margin. I wasn't suggesting that they've been over hyped.
They give up the least amount of yards per attempt. They do give up plenty of attempts though (17 teams have less attempts against them).... But they never intercept anything. It will likely normalize somewhat. But I would say that the Steelers have sold out to the pass more then they have in 20 years... which is killing their usually elite run defense... because the game is borked towards passing.Look at their upcoming schedule, just might be more of the same.
 
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We'll see what happens when they get NE.

I've watched most games - we don't get pressure like we did and running happens but big plays down the field are rare. It certainly looks intentional.

 
footballoutsiders.com has them 4th - significantly behind the Jets and Ravens . . .

at that side that track each play AND they account for the opponent . . .

 
We'll see what happens when they get NE.I've watched most games - we don't get pressure like we did and running happens but big plays down the field are rare. It certainly looks intentional.
They haven't been getting pressure because they've been dropping back in coverage more. This strategy is fine with the likes of Seattle, Tennessee and Jacksonville but it isn't going to work against the Patriots. If the secondary plays off the receivers and the front 7 can't generate pressure up the middle Brady will eat them up alive.
 
They are without Harrison, Hampton, and Smith.They will be good, if and when they come back.
Harrison coming back would be huge. Hampton is a run stuffer and comes off in obvious passing plays. Sadly Aaron Smith seems to be washed up -- he is oft-injured and not very effective when he does play. The Steelers defense is better with Ziggy Hood at DE.
 
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Ike Taylor is playing at the highest level of his career, like a true shutdown corner and Woodley is coming on, but yeah they are statistically overrated.

 
Ike Taylor is playing at the highest level of his career, like a true shutdown corner and Woodley is coming on, but yeah they are statistically overrated.
The benching of McFadden was also big. Willie Gay and Keenan Lewis aren't great but McFadden had been brutal. Kudos for the Steelers in making the decision to bench the veteran.
 
Steelers' schedule, like the Ravens', is pretty much a total joke. I am looking forward to them being 6-2 when they play New England, because I can't wait to bet the ranch on the Patriots in that game. They are not getting the great pass rush anymore, and good QBs will be able to slice and dice them, just like Rodgers did in the Super Bowl last year.

AFC North plays the AFC South and the NFC West this year. It's a perfect storm of crap. Plus the Steelers and Ravens get two games apiece vs. Cleveland and Cincy, who are terrible - Bengals are looking good now only because they also play the same easy schedule.

The Ravens will definitely be favored in all of their remaining games, with the possible exception of their games at Pittsburgh and at San Diego. The Steelers will also take advantage of their weak schedule to make the playoffs, but they're not a D to be feared right now.

 
All I care about is who they play week 14, 15, and 16.

CIN, CLE, and SF...With a healthy Harrison and Hampton to go with Troy P and Taylor...I like it, how can you not?

Pitts D is still good, over reaction to an early part of a season when most Defenses have been violated helps nothing.

 
Ike Taylor is playing at the highest level of his career, like a true shutdown corner and Woodley is coming on, but yeah they are statistically overrated.
Thank you. This is exactly what I was looking for. The SP has become a bazaar place this year. I'm looking at my matchups for this weekend, and notice that the Steelers are #1 vs the pass. Then I look closer, and see they've played the passing attacks that I listed above. I don't get a chance to watch every NFL game, so I ask what I thought was a pretty harmless question....
 
Is it me or has the Defense gotten better vs the run since Harrison went out? :shrug:

Or is that the illusion created by the offensive line finally clicking (thank you max starks signing) that the defense isn't being kept on the field/put in bad situations all the time. Because the D has played CJ2K and MJD since then, and has done a pretty good job containing both.

 
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Regardless of anything else, Ike Taylor has been terrific.

I dont know if anyone (not named Revis) is playing better this year.

No Harrison, no Aaron Smith, no Hampton, no Farrior, lost Woodley.

Stats are stats, nothing more.

Patriots held to 170 passing yards as a team as Brady throws for 192 yards.

And the league receiving leader, @ 117 per game, Welker held to 39 yards with Ike following him all day. Also held to 6.5 per catch way below his average of 14.5.

 
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Steelers' schedule, like the Ravens', is pretty much a total joke. I am looking forward to them being 6-2 when they play New England, because I can't wait to bet the ranch on the Patriots in that game. They are not getting the great pass rush anymore, and good QBs will be able to slice and dice them, just like Rodgers did in the Super Bowl last year.
Sooo....they gonna let you keep staying on the ranch as a tennant, or do you have to turn over the keys to new management in the morning? :)

 
Impressive display by the defense today.
It was immensely satisfying to Steelers fans to turn the tables on their decade-long nemesis this week. And to a large degree, the performance against the Patriots validates the pass defense through the first half of the season. However, their statistics are still heavily influenced by facing a half dozen or so stiffs. And even today, the numbers were held down vs. Brady by the dominating time of possession of the Steelers offense. Having said that, I think it's reasonable to suggest that the Steelers have much greater flexibility in their choice of secondary coverages this season due to greater strength in their #3 and #4 cornerbacks. Some Pittsburgh fans (as is their tendency, finding something to complain about even in victory) are complaining that **** LeBeau finally figured out that the Steelers needed to play more man press coverage instead of zone coverage after all of these years of being beaten by Brady. My feeling is that the Steelers could not have been successful using a man press scheme that was very effective yesterday in past seasons because their cornerback play was simply not good enough beyond Ike Taylor and either Bryant McFadden or William Gay. Keenan Lewis and Cortez Allen are upgrades over past seasons #3 and #4 corners even while McFadden remains sidelined I believe with a hamstring injury. Or maybe he's just not getting back to active status on game day because of how well the younger corners are playing.
 
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'The Jerk said:
'Kitrick Taylor said:
Impressive display by the defense today.
It was immensely satisfying to Steelers fans to turn the tables on their decade-long nemesis this week. And to a large degree, the performance against the Patriots validates the pass defense through the first half of the season. However, their statistics are still heavily influenced by facing a half dozen or so stiffs. And even today, the numbers were held down vs. Brady by the dominating time of possession of the Steelers offense. Having said that, I think it's reasonable to suggest that the Steelers have much greater flexibility in their choice of secondary coverages this season due to greater strength in their #3 and #4 cornerbacks. Some Pittsburgh fans (as is their tendency, finding something to complain about even in victory) are complaining that **** LeBeau finally figured out that the Steelers needed to play more man press coverage instead of zone coverage after all of these years of being beaten by Brady. My feeling is that the Steelers could not have been successful using a man press scheme that was very effective yesterday in past seasons because their cornerback play was simply not good enough beyond Ike Taylor and either Bryant McFadden or William Gay. Keenan Lewis and Cortez Allen are upgrades over past seasons #3 and #4 corners even while McFadden remains sidelined I believe with a hamstring injury. Or maybe he's just not getting back to active status on game day because of how well the younger corners are playing.
Good observation Jerk. And yes, McFadden has been a healthy scratch because the younger corners are playing so well.I have to say that I am really impressed considering they started the the game with only 2 of the 4 starting linebackers and played the second half with only 1 and he wasn't even playing his normal position. That was a great performance.
 
Steelers fans, do you think the loss of Farrior could actually be an addition to the Pittsburgh defense? He looked terrible to me in the first few games - so slow, as if age had caught up with him. They seem to be playing just fine without him.

 
'The Jerk said:
'Kitrick Taylor said:
Impressive display by the defense today.
It was immensely satisfying to Steelers fans to turn the tables on their decade-long nemesis this week. And to a large degree, the performance against the Patriots validates the pass defense through the first half of the season. However, their statistics are still heavily influenced by facing a half dozen or so stiffs. And even today, the numbers were held down vs. Brady by the dominating time of possession of the Steelers offense. Having said that, I think it's reasonable to suggest that the Steelers have much greater flexibility in their choice of secondary coverages this season due to greater strength in their #3 and #4 cornerbacks. Some Pittsburgh fans (as is their tendency, finding something to complain about even in victory) are complaining that **** LeBeau finally figured out that the Steelers needed to play more man press coverage instead of zone coverage after all of these years of being beaten by Brady. My feeling is that the Steelers could not have been successful using a man press scheme that was very effective yesterday in past seasons because their cornerback play was simply not good enough beyond Ike Taylor and either Bryant McFadden or William Gay. Keenan Lewis and Cortez Allen are upgrades over past seasons #3 and #4 corners even while McFadden remains sidelined I believe with a hamstring injury. Or maybe he's just not getting back to active status on game day because of how well the younger corners are playing.
Good observation Jerk. And yes, McFadden has been a healthy scratch because the younger corners are playing so well.I have to say that I am really impressed considering they started the the game with only 2 of the 4 starting linebackers and played the second half with only 1 and he wasn't even playing his normal position. That was a great performance.
:lmao: This had me shuked until I looked at the user name. I had wondered what got into GB.
 
Steelers fans, do you think the loss of Farrior could actually be an addition to the Pittsburgh defense? He looked terrible to me in the first few games - so slow, as if age had caught up with him. They seem to be playing just fine without him.
Farrior is showing his age but had a nice game a couple weeks ago vs Jacksonville. I think the biggest difference on defense has been Ziggy starting over Smith and Gay starting over McFadden. I also think that Harrison's back was a bigger issue than was being let on -- hopefully his back will be fully healed once he comes back.
 
'The Jerk said:
'Kitrick Taylor said:
Impressive display by the defense today.
It was immensely satisfying to Steelers fans to turn the tables on their decade-long nemesis this week. And to a large degree, the performance against the Patriots validates the pass defense through the first half of the season. However, their statistics are still heavily influenced by facing a half dozen or so stiffs. And even today, the numbers were held down vs. Brady by the dominating time of possession of the Steelers offense. Having said that, I think it's reasonable to suggest that the Steelers have much greater flexibility in their choice of secondary coverages this season due to greater strength in their #3 and #4 cornerbacks. Some Pittsburgh fans (as is their tendency, finding something to complain about even in victory) are complaining that **** LeBeau finally figured out that the Steelers needed to play more man press coverage instead of zone coverage after all of these years of being beaten by Brady. My feeling is that the Steelers could not have been successful using a man press scheme that was very effective yesterday in past seasons because their cornerback play was simply not good enough beyond Ike Taylor and either Bryant McFadden or William Gay. Keenan Lewis and Cortez Allen are upgrades over past seasons #3 and #4 corners even while McFadden remains sidelined I believe with a hamstring injury. Or maybe he's just not getting back to active status on game day because of how well the younger corners are playing.
Good observation Jerk. And yes, McFadden has been a healthy scratch because the younger corners are playing so well.I have to say that I am really impressed considering they started the the game with only 2 of the 4 starting linebackers and played the second half with only 1 and he wasn't even playing his normal position. That was a great performance.
:lmao: This had me shuked until I looked at the user name. I had wondered what got into GB.
Ha! Hopefully I won't get banned.
 
I also think that Harrison's back was a bigger issue than was being let on -- hopefully his back will be fully healed once he comes back.
I agree that Harrison's back was almost certainly limiting his impact. You might remember in the Steelers thread near the end of preseason I mentioned having experienced two lumbar disc surgeries, rehab, and living with it as a non-pro football player. I don't think Harrison will ever consistently be the force he had been in past seasons. The best I believe Steeler fans can hope for is that he can make splash plays in big games. I don't think he can dominate for 60 minutes as he did a couple of years ago. His back will likely not allow it.
 

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