Comments on: Concerns Continue as Team Can’t Close Out Games http://www.steelersgab.com/2009/10/13/concerns-continue-as-team-cant-close-out-games/ The Definitive Pittsburgh Steelers Blog! Thu, 09 Sep 2010 18:46:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: George H http://www.steelersgab.com/2009/10/13/concerns-continue-as-team-cant-close-out-games/comment-page-1/#comment-11802 George H Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:18:41 +0000 http://www.steelersgab.com/?p=2096#comment-11802 Dr.George your right on point once again Dr.George your right on point once again

]]> By: DrGeorge http://www.steelersgab.com/2009/10/13/concerns-continue-as-team-cant-close-out-games/comment-page-1/#comment-11801 DrGeorge Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:41:07 +0000 http://www.steelersgab.com/?p=2096#comment-11801 What happens in the 4th Qtr, Matt, is the marshmallow 'prevent' defense. The Steelers have been trying to blitz, but they drop the LBs and corners too deep. Even a candy-arm QB can throw strikes under the zone. Then the receiver is one-on-one with our defender, who is forced to play catch-up because of the scheme. Our LBs are too slow to cover one on one, especially at the end of the game. Result: big YAC. Our blitzing plays right into this weakness of the 'prevent,' giving opposing QBs a defender-free zone of 10-15 yards. We must bring the defense up tight and force the QB to throw deep. A Grade A QB will occasionally hit a bomb if we do this, but the 'prevent' allows every mediocre QB to pad his stats and possibly pull out a victory with a quick drop, dink-and-dunk passing game. Our sacks are down this year because even our fastest guys can't get to a QB using a 3-step drop and quick release. It is the antidote for the blitz. More teams are using it, especially late in the game, and LeBeau hasn't caught up to the change. On the other hand, only a few top QBs can throw the long bomb accurately with any consistency, and it takes more time to throw deep. If we take away the short routes, the QB must go long, allowing our blitzers more time to get to him. Most times, I'd rather take my chances against the long bomb than give up consistent yardage short. Of course, right now, we have injured safeties, and LeBeau is trying to protect the less talented backup safeties by going zone and giving up the short completions. He obviously thinks the safeties can't cover deep. And against a Grade A QB with tall receivers, he's probably right. But against the Grade B QBs, I'd rather take my chances deep and tighten down on the short routes. In short, Matt, blitzing alone won't get it done. What happens in the 4th Qtr, Matt, is the marshmallow ‘prevent’ defense. The Steelers have been trying to blitz, but they drop the LBs and corners too deep. Even a candy-arm QB can throw strikes under the zone. Then the receiver is one-on-one with our defender, who is forced to play catch-up because of the scheme. Our LBs are too slow to cover one on one, especially at the end of the game. Result: big YAC. Our blitzing plays right into this weakness of the ‘prevent,’ giving opposing QBs a defender-free zone of 10-15 yards. We must bring the defense up tight and force the QB to throw deep. A Grade A QB will occasionally hit a bomb if we do this, but the ‘prevent’ allows every mediocre QB to pad his stats and possibly pull out a victory with a quick drop, dink-and-dunk passing game. Our sacks are down this year because even our fastest guys can’t get to a QB using a 3-step drop and quick release. It is the antidote for the blitz. More teams are using it, especially late in the game, and LeBeau hasn’t caught up to the change.

On the other hand, only a few top QBs can throw the long bomb accurately with any consistency, and it takes more time to throw deep. If we take away the short routes, the QB must go long, allowing our blitzers more time to get to him. Most times, I’d rather take my chances against the long bomb than give up consistent yardage short.

Of course, right now, we have injured safeties, and LeBeau is trying to protect the less talented backup safeties by going zone and giving up the short completions. He obviously thinks the safeties can’t cover deep. And against a Grade A QB with tall receivers, he’s probably right. But against the Grade B QBs, I’d rather take my chances deep and tighten down on the short routes.

In short, Matt, blitzing alone won’t get it done.

]]> By: George H http://www.steelersgab.com/2009/10/13/concerns-continue-as-team-cant-close-out-games/comment-page-1/#comment-11800 George H Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:14:49 +0000 http://www.steelersgab.com/?p=2096#comment-11800 I dont think by week 6 teams still play harder against the returning champs. They all have their own issues by now and theyre not gonna give it a little more because were the champs. I dont think by week 6 teams still play harder against the returning champs. They all have their own issues by now and theyre not gonna give it a little more because were the champs.

]]> By: mark http://www.steelersgab.com/2009/10/13/concerns-continue-as-team-cant-close-out-games/comment-page-1/#comment-11799 mark Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:44:15 +0000 http://www.steelersgab.com/?p=2096#comment-11799 As if the defense didnt have enough problems, Aaron Smith may miss a lot of time. We all saw what the loss of Smith can do to this defense 2 seasons ago. Listen, it is almost impossible to go a whole season without a team suffering bIG injuries, but 5 games without Troy and who knows how long without Smith could be a disaster in waiting. Should they win Sunday(and they SHOULD) 4-2 is workable. We will get to see Hood play more and if Troy is back we can see if we can put to rest the secondary problems that have been blamed on his absence.The next 2-3 games are going to be very interesting. As if the defense didnt have enough problems, Aaron Smith may miss a lot of time. We all saw what the loss of Smith can do to this defense 2 seasons ago. Listen, it is almost impossible to go a whole season without a team suffering bIG injuries, but 5 games without Troy and who knows how long without Smith could be a disaster in waiting. Should they win Sunday(and they SHOULD) 4-2 is workable. We will get to see Hood play more and if Troy is back we can see if we can put to rest the secondary problems that have been blamed on his absence.The next 2-3 games are going to be very interesting.

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