Even Tomlin is frustrated with special teams’ coverage, a weakness we’ve been lamenting for weeks. Either we aren’t using the right players or the players aren’t staying in their proper lanes. The fix is pretty simple, but it isn’t getting done.

The defense is receiving heavy media congrats for the game changing return of Favre’s fumble and Fox’s interception return. The effort by the entire defensive team was superb. But we must not lose sight of the obvious: the short zone passing scheme is killing us. Brett Favre’s 335 nearly doubled Ben’s 175 passing yards; the Vikings dominated in time of possession and in field position most of the game by exploiting our short zones; the Vikes were driving for winning TDs when both turnovers occurred, gaining big chunks of yardage against our short zone coverage, as prior opponents have done. QBs are consistently picking on Taylor and to a lesser extent the fiesty, but very short, Wm. Gay, both of whom are playing so deep that 7-8 yard completions are always available and easy to make. Then, when the CBs have to recover for the tackle, they are at a monstrous disadvantage against speedy receivers, leading to missed tackles in the open field and big YAC for opponents. The same zone scheme forces Farrior and Woodley, and occasionally Harrison into man-to-man mismatches on those same receivers on crossing routes and fifteen yard in routes. The scheme is the culprit in allowing the high 3rd and long converstion rate seen in every recent game.

Against weak and average teams, we can afford the marshmallow defense; but against good QBs, it places our defensive players in an untenable position. We cannot rely every week on heroic plays to pull our chestnuts out of the fire. During this off week, LeBeau needs to rethink his strategy and retool the short coverage schemes.

Bottom line: the Vikings beat the Steelers in every phase of the game, except turnovers and the final score. We are lucky to be 5-2. But we have the talent to be 7-0 — and should have been. Mr. Tomlin, you and your staff have got lots of work to do.