What’s wrong with the Steelers’ defense
By Dutch Wydo Everyone wants to know what is wrong with Dick Lebeau’s Steeler defense after yet another near fourth-quarter quarter collapse. Are there reasons to be genuinely concerned?
First off, let?s take a look at the Detroit Lions last three games on offense.
Vs Redskins = 17 points 5.1 Yards per play
VS Bears = 24 points 5.1 Yards per play
VS Steelers = 13 points 4.9 Yards per play
Through five games, the Steelers held the Lions to their fewest offensive points (13) along with the Vikings. The truth is that this Lions offense is a better product than the one we saw last year.
Some will point to Matthew Stafford’s absence as a reason the Steelers defense should have played better. But is Stafford a better quarterback at this point in his career than Culpepper? I don?t believe so.
Culpepper is in a good spot, oddly enough. He has nothing to lose, because he has already lost it all. He can fill in and play without fear. There are few expectations of him. He?s not there to carry the team. He has little responsibility and can play loose, very much like Byron Leftwich last year for the Steelers, so it is not surprising to see Culpepper complete some passes and move some chains.
That said, I see little evidence right now that there are problems that Troy Polamalu can?t fix.
Through five games the Steelers are giving up nearly double the amount of passing yards per game to opposing teams tight ends than they did one year ago. They are also being stung a bit by opposing teams third wide receivers. Chicago’s Johnny Knox had 70 receiving yards against the Steelers. Andre Caldwell got them for 52 yards in Cincinnati. Even Lions rookie wideout Derrick Williams had two big catches for nearly 18 yards a piece against the Steelers secondary.
But Knox and Caldwell have been arguably the most productive receivers on their respective teams this season. Having those talented number three receivers attacking the depth of the Steelers secondary is perhaps the only matchup advantages those offenses had against the Pittsburgh defense.
Give them credit for being able to exploit it, but Polamalu changes everything. His presence alone allows a fresh Tyrone Carter to add depth to the secondary. Deshea Townsend can stick to his role. Opposing quarterbacks are less tempted to attack down the middle with tight ends because of Polamalu. Screen plays get blown up because of Polamalu.
Steeler fans should wait to see what the defense looks like when he gets back before casting any judgments. Last year, Pittsburgh only surrendered 3.9 yards per play. That was the lowest total since 1978. That was not going to happen again.
Smith out
As you have heard by now, Steelers Defensive end Aaron Smith is out for the season. The last time this happened was in 2007 when Smith missed the last several games. As soon as Smith left the lineup, the Steelers went from allowing 3.4 yards per rush, to 5 yards per rush. Nick Eason was Smith?s replacement off the bench, and he was awful. This offseason, the Steelers drafted Ziggy Hood to eventually replace Smith, but Tomlin has already said that Hood is not ready to come out of the oven yet.
This could become a real problem. Consider that run stuffing linebacker Larry Foote departed for Detroit. He was replaced by Lawrence Timmons, who is unremarkable in run defense. The only solution here is for the Steelers coaching staff to get Hood as prepared as possible and see if he can step up to the challenge.
It wouldn?t be the first time a rookie played a huge role on a team. What do the Steelers have to lose by starting him? He?s not a cornerback that is left out on an island and can be exploited so easily. His job is to take on the lineman and use his physical attributes to make room for the linebackers to make tackles. This isn?t rocket science.
The Cincinnati Bengals are now 4-1 and in first place in the AFC North division. Here is one of the big reasons why. Listed below are their opponents’ Number One wide receivers this season and how each player did against them.
Week 1 Brandon Marshall 27 yards
Week 2 Greg Jennings 0 catches
Week 3 Santonio Holmes 1 Catch, 18 yards
Week 4 Braylon Edwards 0 catches
Week 5 Derrick Mason 0 catches
Number one wide receivers go to die when they face the 2009 Bengals.
Speaking of dying, what happened to the Steelers punt return game that we saw in the preseason? The Steelers are only averaging 6.8 yards per punt return. This doesn?t have anything to do with the Steelers playing against stingy punt return defenses either. The Steelers opponents, through five weeks, allow a punt return of 9.5 yards on average. Yet, Pittsburgh has only been able to muster 6.8. That?s not very good.
Memo to NFL announcers: We all know Peyton Manning is a good quarterback, but we don?t need to hear it after every play. The following is just an example of this week to week over glorification of Peyton Manning.
Play #1 10-yard pass completion by Manning for a first down
Announcer What a great pass by Peyton Manning over the middle.
Play #2 Colts Joseph Addai for a 5 yard carry, picks up a first down
Announcer Wow, fantastic audible at the line by Peyton Manning! No one in the history of the game works harder at studying film!
Play #3 Manning throws a 3-yard pass to Addai, who picks up 7 yards.
Announcer That?s what makes Peyton Manning great! There was no one open downfield, so he just checked down to a running back. He?s indefensible!
Play #4 TD Pass, Manning to Dallas Clark for 30 yards.
Announcer #1 Dallas Clark was wide open on that play
Announcer #2 Yes he was. That?s because Peyton Manning called the perfect play!
Play #5 TD Pass, Manning to Reggie Wayne
Announcer #1 Great grab by Wayne, he then slipped one tackle at the 30, and made another man miss at the 20, and outran two defensive backs for the TD!
Announcer #2 Peyton Manning makes wide receivers!
I hope the NFL reads this, because some of us just can?t take much more of it before we start using the mute button. Not to mention that this is disrespects other Colts players who deserve to have their name mentioned a little more often.
Week 6 Power ratings
1) Colts = +2.2 Manning, it?s all about Manning
2 Giants = +1.7 Have played Bucs, Raiders, Skins, and Chiefs
3) Eagles = +1.7 McNabb shows no signs of rust
4) Saints = +1.4 Biggest game in a long time this week in New Orleans
5) Denver = +1.4 How can Norv Turner be a 3.5 point favorite over Josh the Genius?
6) Dallas = +1.2 Underachievers
7) Steelers = +1.0 Mendenhall breathes life into Steeler running game
8) Packers = +.9 Let the winning begin
9) Ravens = +.5 Flacco’s efficiency beginning to fall after fast start
10) Vikings = +.1 Get true test in next two weeks