In a way was our defense slightly exposed last night?

[pantherj]

The problem is not that we gave up short passes by giving a cushion. Short passes alone are not an effective way to run an offense. They lead to turnovers and too many dropped passes. The problem is that the Steelers o-line beat our d-line in the run game. I'm actually still in shock that our d-line could be man handled like that. It was alarming. And to make matters worse their RBs style of play confused the hell out of Luke and our defense. Combine short passes with a dominant rushing attack and then you've got something.

[Mojoman]

Thomas Davis did not have his usual dominating game last night.  A lot of the screen passes and short passes went for extra yards that normally he puts a stop to.  I am worried about his apparent hamstring injury.

[CRA]

The problem is not that we gave up short passes by giving a cushion. Short passes alone are not an effective way to run an offense. They lead to turnovers and too many dropped passes. The problem is that the Steelers o-line beat our d-line in the run game. I'm actually still in shock that our d-line could be man handled like that. It was alarming. And to make matters worse their RBs style of play confused the hell out of Luke and our defense. Combine short passes with a dominant rushing attack and then you've got something.

I think our LBs were the bigger reason we got beat than the DL in regards to the run

[Vegas Heel]

without Hardy, we are not the defense people say we are, especially when  CJ isnt disruptive like he has been in the past.  They just utilized screens almost every play, they took the ball out of their QB's hands and put it in playmakers hands and they had decent enough blocking.  We will see much more of that this year until we figure it out.  On the big 80 yard run, Luke had to pick a hole, problem was, Harper who was behind Luke, also tried to fill the same hole instead of stuffing the one Bell took.  Mental mistakes kilt us.

this ^

[Davidson Deac II]

I think our LBs were the bigger reason we got beat than the DL in regards to the run

 

Nobody played particularly well, but the way our Tackles were getting pushed back last night, the linebackers were at a significant disadvantage.

 

And I don't think Hardy would have made that much of a difference either since the Steelers were getting huge gains right up the middle. 

[poorboysrev]

Frank Alexander comes back after Baltimore right? I was hoping his suspension would get shortened. I'm really hoping he can step up in Hardy's absence and be a shot in the arm on the dline. He's big, mean, and stout against the run from what I've seen

[The NFL Shield At Midfield]

Frank Alexander comes back after Baltimore right? I was hoping his suspension would get shortened. I'm really hoping he can step up in Hardy's absence and be a shot in the arm on the dline. He's big, mean, and stout against the run from what I've seen

 

unless you catch passes from peyton manning or your name is on ESPN every day you're not going to get that lucky

[bigdog10]

The steelers put the blue print out there for other teams. Expect the saints falcons packers bengals ravens and Seahawks to repeat the game plan.

Quick passes to receivers.

[CRA]

The steelers put the blue print out there for other teams. Expect the saints falcons packers bengals ravens and Seahawks to repeat the game plan.

Quick passes to receivers.

That blueprint was established last preseason. Everyone knows that. Difference is only select teams operate like that

Difference is teams either attack that why or don't. Steelers have aspect in there offense. Teams that don't won't. They may let it influence there O but an opponent isn't going to become something different overall for one week.

[Peppers90 NC]

The steelers put the blue print out there for other teams. Expect the saints falcons packers bengals ravens and Seahawks to repeat the game plan.

Quick passes to receivers.

that is how teams will react if our pass rush is relentless.  without Hardy, it isn't.  unless of course we face 3rd string T again.  if the rush doesnt get revved back up again, teams wont have to do that.  but we do need to stop that on occasion.  we missed some tackles last night that we normally dont.

[Riverboat Ron]

I think it was a combo of playing under the lights along with Mike Mitchell's assistance in giving insight to Lebeau for the defense and an inside guide for their offense. Just the perfect storm of fail.

[Beast_3000]

when i see Star getting pushed back i know it was just not our night

He was playing against one of the best centers in the game. Pouncey, Decastro and company kept the holes open.

[TheRumGone]

He was playing against one of the best centers in the game. Pouncey, Decastro and company kept the holes open.

No doubt. I've just never seen star get manhandled like that

[TANTRIC-NINJA]

Star was held in check for the most part by the Lions as well. That is a scary trend as we have struggled to collapse the pocket regularly.

Hardy's value in the run can cannot be overstated. He is a beast of a DE against the run.

Roman Harper's misplays last night cannot be overstated either. He is who I thought he was...washed up and just a guy.