I never have been so clueless

[Legacy User]

Anyone else have no clue how to assess the Steelers defense...crap...any defense for that matter in 2018?

I mean...if the Panthers get 12 possessions ..I will be giddy if the D gets 4 stops (punts).

Wade Phillips has been a wet dream for me as a DC..he has Peters (who honestly looked poor yesterday...I know its Thomas..but still) Talib (injured) , a ridiculous front 4.

How many stops did the Rams D get?

My point is that I have had a h@rd on for Butler after year one but even arguably the best D in the league (stats are deceptive given garbage time, etc) yesterday looked like ass....granted it was the Saints but still.

The DCs are getting paid 6 figure salaries to hopefully stop a team 4 out 12 possessions.

Who is your top 3 defenses right now...forget stats ...because they are not always common opponents, etc so they are so skewed.

I have no clue

thoughts?

[LakecrestSteeler]

I actually think we do. Or said another way, our trendline is pointing upwards and probably has the steepest slope upwards of all teams. Our secondary is improving and that will pay dividends with the d-line. And Tuitt has been on fire.

I thought the Patriots secondary looked pretty darn good last night. They were blanketing everyone, so you can discount that. If your backend is playing that well, there are many other things you can do.

Then Alabama’s defense? Their d-line looks pretty NFLish.

I haven’t watch the Bears at all, but it seemed like they could do no wrong when Mack was healthy.

Dallas’ LBs are pretty good too!

I am not sold on LAR or the Chiefs.

[Steelafan77]

With the NFL rules skewed the way they are today the Steel Curtain of the 70's Steelers would be largely ineffective and humiliated. Defense has been mostly scripted away from today's game and it's a damn shame. With defenses running around with one arm and leg tied behind their backs this game is a fucking joke predicated for the fantasy football wads and those that prefer high scoring games versus true competition between the offense and defense. I don't have top 3 defense. If I did it would fall like this, Officiating, lack of good execution and injury. Those are my top 3 defenses.

[bradshaw2ben]

I'll take Baltimore, Seattle, Chicago, Houston in some order and then... WTF knows? Buffalo? Dallas? Tennessee? Cleveland? Minnesota? Philly? Pittsburgh? NE? Chargers? Minnesota?

[LakecrestSteeler]

Dallas has a pretty good defense. I have watched a few games, and am watching them tonight, they have some great rushers and are quick to the ball. It is Tennessee. But they look pretty stout.

I think they look better than Baltimore. But to the OP who the hell knows. All depends on who you play and when you play them.

[Legacy User]

Dallas has a pretty good defense. I have watched a few games, and am watching them tonight, they have some great rushers and are quick to the ball. It is Tennessee. But they look pretty stout.

I think they look better than Baltimore. But to the OP who the hell knows. All depends on who you play and when you play them.

I watched Chicago and Minnesota against the Pats and I think New Orleans and granted the offenses are arguably top 5 ...but I think the defenses had barely any stops.

That is like my new meter...for every 10 possessions... give up 20 pts or less and you are elite in 2018.

Or get 4 stops out of 12 possessions.

[Steeldrama]

Like ‘77 said defense is a pretty loose term in today’s NFL.

I’m 47
I was just a kid during the steel curtain era watching my mom scream “defense!” at the old wooden box tv that sat in her artificial wood paneled Steelers cave finished just for her by my dad.

Blitzburgh was my era. Just plain nasty, Levon Kirkland, Cowher power. I ate that shit up. There will never be a defense like that ever again. Beyond sad but at least I lived to see 3 generations of great Steelers defense including Troys historic group.

Today’s Steelers defense? They suck. We celebrate Medocrity like Bud Dupree sacking a rookie qb via an udfa LT who has since been benched. Again sad how far the mighty have fallen but worse how far that fall really is that we feel the need to convince ourselves the bud Dupree’s of the team are deserving of dawning the black and gold.

As for defenses today? Sure the Steelers defense is playing better of late but against who??? Handle a red hot Carolina offense I may sway.

My chargers defense with Joey Bosa I think will be hard to handle. That’s a talented back 7.
The Bears are hardly the 85 Bears but their front 7 with Mack and my guy Roquan Smith are stout

Other than that defense in the NFL is a distant memory. I’m at least lucky I have them. My 11 year old on the other hand is not so lucky. He’s the new breed of NFL fan sitting here all pissed zeke Elliot hasn’t scored for his fantasy team.

[Legacy User]

Like ‘77 said defense is a pretty loose term in today’s NFL.

I’m 47
I was just a kid during the steel curtain era watching my mom scream “defense!” at the old wooden box tv that sat in her artificial wood paneled Steelers cave finished just for her by my dad.

Blitzburgh was my era. Just plain nasty, Levon Kirkland, Cowher power. I ate that shit up. There will never be a defense like that ever again. Beyond sad but at least I lived to see 3 generations of great Steelers defense including Troys historic group.

Today’s Steelers defense? They suck. We celebrate Medocrity like Bud Dupree sacking a rookie qb via an udfa LT who has since been benched. Again sad how far the mighty have fallen but worse how far that fall really is that we feel the need to convince ourselves the bud Dupree’s of the team are deserving of dawning the black and gold.

As for defenses today? Sure the Steelers defense is playing better of late but against who??? Handle a red hot Carolina offense I may sway.

My chargers defense with Joey Bosa I think will be hard to handle. That’s a talented back 7.
The Bears are hardly the 85 Bears but their front 7 with Mack and my guy Roquan Smith are stout

Other than that defense in the NFL is a distant memory. I’m at least lucky I have them. My 11 year old on the other hand is not so lucky. He’s the new breed of NFL fan sitting here all pissed zeke Elliot hasn’t scored for his fantasy team.

Interesting drama....I am 47 also. I like Lloyd's style of play. I think I am spoiled of Lloyd where I expect Bud to run over a RB/TE to strip sack the QB like Lloyd did.

I love defense over offense...85 Bears, even 2000 Ravens.

[zeke5123]

I actually think we do. Or said another way, our trendline is pointing upwards and probably has the steepest slope upwards of all teams. Our secondary is improving and that will pay dividends with the d-line. And Tuitt has been on fire.

I thought the Patriots secondary looked pretty darn good last night. They were blanketing everyone, so you can discount that. If your backend is playing that well, there are many other things you can do.

Then Alabama’s defense? Their d-line looks pretty NFLish.

I haven’t watch the Bears at all, but it seemed like they could do no wrong when Mack was healthy.

Dallas’ LBs are pretty good too!

I am not sold on LAR or the Chiefs.

NFL defense is predicated on being allowed to hold and interfere with receivers. Full stop. Given that refs refuse to call penalties against the Pats (has been this way for a few years now and the statistics back this up), it’s no surprise they are able to blanket their opponents.

[bradshaw2ben]

Like ‘77 said defense is a pretty loose term in today’s NFL.

I’m 47
I was just a kid during the steel curtain era watching my mom scream “defense!” at the old wooden box tv that sat in her artificial wood paneled Steelers cave finished just for her by my dad.

Blitzburgh was my era. Just plain nasty, Levon Kirkland, Cowher power. I ate that shit up. There will never be a defense like that ever again. Beyond sad but at least I lived to see 3 generations of great Steelers defense including Troys historic group.

Today’s Steelers defense? They suck. We celebrate Medocrity like Bud Dupree sacking a rookie qb via an udfa LT who has since been benched. Again sad how far the mighty have fallen but worse how far that fall really is that we feel the need to convince ourselves the bud Dupree’s of the team are deserving of dawning the black and gold.

As for defenses today? Sure the Steelers defense is playing better of late but against who??? Handle a red hot Carolina offense I may sway.

My chargers defense with Joey Bosa I think will be hard to handle. That’s a talented back 7.
The Bears are hardly the 85 Bears but their front 7 with Mack and my guy Roquan Smith are stout

Other than that defense in the NFL is a distant memory. I’m at least lucky I have them. My 11 year old on the other hand is not so lucky. He’s the new breed of NFL fan sitting here all pissed zeke Elliot hasn’t scored for his fantasy team.

Name the last defense built on pass rushers that beat the Steelers offense convincingly. Ravens of 2016?

Teams that can play the Steelers man to man and not give up big separation = the teams that can beat them. Bosa and JJ Watt and Suggs and Dunlap and Von Miller and Garrett don't scare me at all. CBs who can shut down the places to go with the football in your first couple of reads are a problem, particularly if they are sufficient vs the run. If that team also has a QB who can easily defeat your zone coverage, then you have issues. (See: NE)

[Legacy User]

That's a good question actually...a team that beat the Steelers with a good pass rush.

I think the Ravens did it during the Ray Rice years where Ben got blown up.
I think it was an opening season game in Baltimore where they lost something like 35-7 or similar?

The other game was against Philly under BA. That was the game where Westbrook got knocked out by Troy I believe?
I remember BA implemented the infamous WR bubble screen the next game or two but I always thought BA was too stubborn to make adjustments during the contest.
Nor roll outs, no max protect...nope. Just long developing plays like Spurrier used that killed Ramsey in his short stint with the Redskins.

Correct me if I am wrong but Ben liked to throw to an open guy like Santonio Holmes back then ...versus trusting that he would throw to a spot which he does every week know with AB and even Washington.

[Legacy User]

I think Haden is actually quietly having an All Pro year. Butler and Peters and Jimmy Smith (all three were arguably in the top 5) looked no better than Burns this year.
I am exaggerating but still.

[bradshaw2ben]

I love AB-- against bigger CBs who have enough technique and speed to press him without fear, he takes a little while to get separation.

Seemed like this was one area where Holmes was a little better.

I think the Philly/Jim Schwartz beatdowns were about confusing the OL and playing man coverage just long enough to let the free rushers come to papa.

Ravens are a tough matchup now because, when they have Jimmy Smith, they can neutralize the Steelers WRs and their defensive front is pretty stout vs the run. Ben and Ficthner had to go pretty deep in the patience and playbook to get a win. Ben's probably had like 3 wins in his career with that many short throws/low YPA.

[Legacy User]

I love AB-- against bigger CBs who have enough technique and speed to press him without fear, he takes a little while to get separation.

Seemed like this was one area where Holmes was a little better.

I think the Philly/Jim Schwartz beatdowns were about confusing the OL and playing man coverage just long enough to let the free rushers come to papa.

Ravens are a tough matchup now because, when they have Jimmy Smith, they can neutralize the Steelers WRs and their defensive front is pretty stout vs the run. Ben and Ficthner had to go pretty deep in the patience and playbook to get a win. Ben's probably had like 3 wins in his career with that many short throws/low YPA.

good stuff b2b..great recall

[bradshaw2ben]

BR career regular season
complete game wins with 5.74 YPA or lower

2016 CLE 24-9 23/36 63.89 167 74.7 0/0 4.64 YPA
30 mph winds

2008 NE 33-10 17/33 51.52% 179 2/1 75.2 QBrat 5.42 YPA

2012 CLE 13-9 23/40 57.5% 221 0/0 73 QBrat 5.53YPA
25 mph winds

2018 BAL 23-16 28/47 59.57 270 2/0 89.8 5.74

[Legacy User]

Conner was the difference maker. Best safety valve you could ask for.

[RemoAZ]

These days I just hope we give up FGs instead of TDs and our offense scores TDs. I still don't like the offense having to be so good for us to beat the best teams, especially since they haven't shown the consistency to outscore teams in the playoffs the last several years but it is what it is. That's the team we have. The worst is when we get pounded with the run though. Seeing the Steeler front 7 get pushed around drives my blood pressure to dangerous levels.

[Legacy User]

These days I just hope we give up FGs instead of TDs and our offense scores TDs. I still don't like the offense having to be so good for us to beat the best teams, especially since they haven't shown the consistency to outscore teams in the playoffs the last several years but it is what it is. That's the team we have. The worst is when we get pounded with the run though. Seeing the Steeler front 7 get pushed around drives my blood pressure to dangerous levels.

Remember the Farrior years?, Big Snack?
It had to be demoralizing to an offense when you could not run lateral or vertical for an entire game. Miss those days. I guess you go big nickel you sacrifice the running game and rather concede runs so you have more DBs against the Pats or Saints ...at that point its pick your poison.

[Thrillsseeker]

Like ‘77 said defense is a pretty loose term in today’s NFL.

I’m 47
I was just a kid during the steel curtain era watching my mom scream “defense!” at the old wooden box tv that sat in her artificial wood paneled Steelers cave finished just for her by my dad.

Blitzburgh was my era. Just plain nasty, Levon Kirkland, Cowher power. I ate that shit up. There will never be a defense like that ever again. Beyond sad but at least I lived to see 3 generations of great Steelers defense including Troys historic group.

Today’s Steelers defense? They suck. We celebrate Medocrity like Bud Dupree sacking a rookie qb via an udfa LT who has since been benched. Again sad how far the mighty have fallen but worse how far that fall really is that we feel the need to convince ourselves the bud Dupree’s of the team are deserving of dawning the black and gold.

As for defenses today? Sure the Steelers defense is playing better of late but against who??? Handle a red hot Carolina offense I may sway.

My chargers defense with Joey Bosa I think will be hard to handle. That’s a talented back 7.
The Bears are hardly the 85 Bears but their front 7 with Mack and my guy Roquan Smith are stout

Other than that defense in the NFL is a distant memory. I’m at least lucky I have them. My 11 year old on the other hand is not so lucky. He’s the new breed of NFL fan sitting here all pissed zeke Elliot hasn’t scored for his fantasy team.

Interesting drama....I am 47 also. I like Lloyd's style of play. I think I am spoiled of Lloyd where I expect Bud to run over a RB/TE to strip sack the QB like Lloyd did.

I love defense over offense...85 Bears, even 2000 Ravens.

I'm 45 and watched every NFL game I could growing up. Those 90' teams were a thing of beauty and are sadly missed. As you mentioned, those D's in the 90's, Troy and Big Snack, Farrior era et all. Such great football to have witnessed and so thankful I did. It's probablly why I hate the NE cheating mother fuckers as bad as I do. The 90's Blitzburgh D's never bringing a ring home sucks, and then NE cheats the next group of guys out of one.

D over O always!