Steeler Defense "ATROCIOUS"

Coty Sensabaugh gives up the inside release on a quick slant with no help over the top!

To compound the defensive issue on the same play, Morgan Burnett closes with a straight pursuit allowing the receiver "Open Range" to continue towards the left hash mark where there is no one near the receiver to stop a long catch and run.  Steelers have made a "bounty" of high draft picks for assistance in their secondary. None have become reliable and consistent play-makers as of yet.  Who is in charge back there?

Special coverage teams continue to play without discipline.  Look at the running lane provide the return team here. Fortunately,  the ball was stripped from the runner and Pittsburgh recovered.Tomlin seems to put little preparation into this phase of the game and often elects to make decisions like a "riverboat gambler" by electing to go for two point converssions

Defender risks going for the ball on a pass play allowing the receiver to turn up the field!

Coty Sensabaugh again takes a poor closing pursuit angle, gets turned around and allows the receiver to run for long touchdown completion. Steelers have yet to show consistency in tackling.

Here again, defender has runner in grasp and fails to bring down the runner allowing Green Bay to gain a first down.

Five Potential Hall Of Fame Talented Offensive Starters

Ben always in top 5 QB's in the NFL

Bell elite runner and receiver!

Brown is consistent play-maker

DeCastro's footwork is extraordinary!

Bouncey is "Mr. Mean"!

The 2018 Steelers have no weaknesses on offense with the five pictured players shown.  Also, on a bold prediction, don't be surprised if JuJu Smith-Shuster's name is not added given he can make plays when his number is called as he did in 2017.

With this kind of talent on the offensive side of the field, the Steelers are never really out of a any

game. However, defense will continue to be the achilles' heel; particularly with Shazier highly questionable to be able to return to the field[...hopefully he just walks away from the game as a "player"]

A New Beginning in Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Steelers have long been known for their defense via the legacy of the Steel Curtain defense of the 1970's which brought in 4 Lombardi trophies.

Today, Pittsburgh is known more for its offensive prowess and playmakers whom can simply dominate a football game with their play-making abilities.  However Pittsburgh's defensive lost one of the long-time best defensive play-makers in Polamolu.

Enter now Bud Dupree, a 6'3" , 270lbs from the University of Kentucky.  The Pittsburgh Steelers surely did not think Dupree would be available by the time their first round pick was up, but there he was and they drafted him.

"WOW, talk about a gift"!  This guy could be an elite pass rusher in the league. The knock on him is not explosive off the ball but Bud seems to be crafty and never gives up on a play as evidienced by the QB's I saw him run down from the backside in college. Bud even mentioned that he admires the work ethic of James Harrison.  If he follows his lead and stays healthy, Pittsburgh could be headed to another Lombardi trophy.

S.C. Steeler

2014 In Review

Steelers fans, I am remissed for not blogging at all for the 2014 season, so I am going to recap it briefly and then begin to transition into the draft and upcoming 2015 campaign.

Offensively, the Steelers became lethal.  The running game has a new star in Pittsburgh in Le'veon Bell. His fluid running seems effortless. It was a pity to see Bell get injured against Cincinnati and miss the playoffs. Pittsburgh will need to address depth at running back in the offseason.

Bell gets lose again!

That hurt..

Antonio Brown's star continues to rise.  Around the league he is known as a playmaker and deservedly so. He catches passes and returns punts like an "old-school" throwback player from the 70's like Lynn Swan. I certainly hope the contract issue is resolved before time is missed with training camps.

Brown is acrobatic

Must resign Brown

I am still very confident in our quarterback Ben Rosthlisberger. He makes me nervous at times but I always know the man has heart.  I am sure he is also enjoying having great skill players around him as well to include the new guy, Martavis Bryant whom joined the team later in the season but the wait certainly paid off as he caught touchdown passes in 8 of 9 games he played, I believe.

Ben extends another play!

Martavis Bryant 

The man has heart

The offensive line seems to have made a turn for the better. It really helps when you do not get hurt thus developing cohesiveness and the trust of your quarterback. Pouncey is still just a beast and it appears Adams may become a legitimate starter, perhaps.  Anyway, the early round draft picks of offensive linemen the last few years seems to be paying dividends.

Defensively, the Steelers really struggled in 2014.  I hate to say it but the truth is the supporting statistics of low sack numbers and the inability to create turnover.  I am very encouraged to see James Harrison again in the black n' yella'. He brings some toughness and leadership the young defense needed in 2014 and will again in 2015.

Polamalu was showing his age a bit but still played with heart and intensity. I will be sorry to see him retire as well as Ike Taylor but the Steelers obviously will Looking for young talent.

Best Steeler safety ever?

10/20/2013 Versus Baltimore Ravens

I saw some defense today!  Okay, Flaco played pretty bad but I did see a more disciplined and determined pass rush against the Baltimore Ravens.  Polamalu again was very active and the corners kept receivers in front of themselves for the most part, today.  

I guess Todd Hailey got the message finally about making his play-calling less predictable.  He needs to keep adding "new wrinkles" to the game plan.  I still don't think Heath Miller is near 100% but I would rather have him on the field even with the one turnover near half-time that netted the Ravens a field goal. Antonio Brown continues to be a big play threat and his enthusiasm seems to motivate himself as well as his teammates. 

Le'Veon Belle  is really a good "tackle to tackle" runner.  He seems to be masterful a setting up his blocks and cuts with his "stutter step" followed by immediate acceleration.  I was also glad to see Felix Jones back into the rotation to relieve Belle and provide some additional quickness.  I know Jones was benched after a fumble in previous recent game, but he is just too productive not get on the field.  He is an excellent receiver and kick returner as well.

The defense also played much better getting pressure on Flaco even though it did not yield many sacks.  More importantly, the Steelers front seven really "stuffed" the Ravens running game as they seemed very determined in "shedding" blocks and getting penetration into the backfield.  

Injuries continue to plague the offensive line.  I believe Marcus Gilbert injured his right quad muscle.  I'm still thinking some of these injuries to our offensive linemen could be attributed to poor blocking technique.  You will often see our offensive line initiate good contact but are "too high" and lack leg drive.

Overall, the Steelers played better and won a close game against a decent team in the Ravens.  Let's face it, the Ravens are not the same team that won the Super Bowl last year but they still have some formidable play-makers on offense

S.C. STEELER !!!

The Late Great L.C. Greenwood

I still cannot understand why this man is not in the NFL hall of fame.  He had over 73 sacks and helped his team win FOUR Super Bowls! Dan Hampton of the Chicago Bears has 57 sacks and one Super Bowl victory and yet is in the NFL hall of fame. Cortez Kennedy of the Seattle Seahawks had 58 sacks and no Super Bowl appearances or victories yet is in the NFL hall of Fame.  I hold no grudges against the aforementioned players but I still fail to see the merit the selection committee uses to determine Hall of Fame players.

What I remember most about L.C. Greenwood is his quickness off the snap and the "ranginess" he possessed.  L.C. Greenwood was pretty tall for a lineman at 6 feet 6 inches and never really played over 250 pounds but linemen in general weighed less during his era.

I also remember L.C. Greenwood was a tremendous hitter.  I remember seeing him jet in the backfield of the Baltimore Colts in a playoff game and level Lydell Mitchell as soon as the ball was handed to him.  It was one of those "Did you see that?" moments for sure and kinda' killed the momentum of the opposing team.

I also remember L.C. Greenwood played spectacularly in the Steelers Super Bowl appearances.  In Super Bowl IX against the Vikings(...yes the Vikings were an NFC powerhouse back then), he harassed Fran Tarkenton all day and his length prevented him from throwing over him.

 

Joe Greene is the only survivor now of the legendary "Steel Curtain" and the only member in the NFL Hall of Fame.  However, I will continue to make the case that L.C. Greenwood belongs in the Hall of Fame as well.  

S.C Steeler !!!

09/29/2013 VS Minnesota Vikings

My old reliable saving grace quote of "WHO GOT THE MOST!", is really starting to lose its bite.  I was "sulking" with another SC Steeler fan in the gym while working out to see if we could determine what seems to be the problem with the team this year.  The bottom line is it seems like a lot!!!  Even the other gym comrades whom usually enjoy the taunting Steeler fans on loses were scratching their heads over what seemed to be the dilemma with our team.  Cowboy fans continue to be relentless however, but their still "suck" just as bad but don't even realize it. They have issues.

I thought the game plan to beat the Vikings would be so easy: just stick 8 men in the box and play 3 deep on defense and make their quarterback beat us.  Who knew Matt Cassel would replace Christian Ponder and make throw after throw when necessary.  Oh I forgot, " the Steelers can't rush the passer"!  With no pass rush, even the most "average" quarterback can have an "above average day which is what Matt Cassel proceeded to do.  No pun intended but Matt Cassell is as about as average as they get; of course except when he plays the Steelers and completes 16 out 25 passes for two touchdowns and no interceptions and a 123.4 passer rating for the game.  The man's career passer rating is about 80!

How does a Adrian Petersen get a 138 yards rushing when everyone knows he is going to get the ball and you are stacking 8 players in the box?  I thought Polamalu was playing linebacker on Sunday he was at the line of scrimmage so much, but "All Day"(...AD) Adrian Petersen still got continual yardage after initial contact.  I admire Adrian Petersen and admit he is without a doubt the best running back in the NFL and one of the leagues' best overall players, but the Steelers really tackled poorly which is why the additional yards after contact occurred.

I was encouraged with the entry of  Le'Von Bell to the running back position. He showed good quickness getting into the holes and showed some allusiveness in avoiding tacklers.  Bell did mention that he "tweeked" his foot injury during the game so that does raise some doubts regarding his durability as a player. I still believe Felix Jones is a productive runner but did fumble in the last game and has no run the ball since.  

I still believe in our two young wide receivers have great potential but the lack of protection for Ben may limit their opportunities.  Ben still needs work on ball security in the pocket and limiting his interceptions. He already has 5 interceptions in just 4 games while he only had 8 for the entire 2012 campaign.  Fortunately, Ben seems unscathed by his mistakes(...a bit too much sometimes) believing in his big play capability.

Hopefully this bye week will give the team time to get healthier and work on some fundamentals.  I will dedicate my next post to the late great L.C. Greenwood. 

S.C. Steeler!!!