Tackling Is A Serious Problem In Pittsburgh

by steel-ten on Nov 30, 2009 12:23 AM EST

The same old song seems to play every game for my favorite team. Tackling or, the lack thereof in this recent case played a BIG part in this loss to Baltimore. One day and, I do hope it is soon, then maybe, just maybe this subject will be addressed. If not, then expect the same results from now on. HATS OFF TO DENNIS DIXION. To one of the league leading defenses, just look where you would be if you could TACKLE! To many culprits to name names.

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The only real gripe I have with the game.

You sure Ike isn’t reacquainting himself with his fingers, he certainly doesn’t use them for catching. - Brian (DaBolts) on "Face Me Ike"

by steelguy99 on Nov 30, 2009 12:34 AM EST reply actions

Culprits

The culprits were: Will Gay, first and foremost the man every QB attacks with consistent success must go! Might as well leave that WR alone if you put Gay on him. He has been consistently beaten all year long. How did this guy make the team?? Are the other Steelers DBs THAT BAD that they can’t even beat out Will Gay??? The other culprit is Dick Lebeau. How do you use an old, washed up LB with no speed like Farrior to cover someone 1 on 1 on a critical 4th and 5 when you have Timmons that can do it? The other culprits are the rest of the secondary. All of whom collectively make up the leagues worst group of DBs by far. Mike Tomlin needs to start making a lot of changes for the 2010 season.

by BubbyBrister6 on Nov 30, 2009 12:35 AM EST reply actions

Look man.

What the hell are you talking about? I was drunk for sure, bUt I could have sworn I saw Willie Gay at least once cause a turnover. I thought he played well. Then, you have the nerve to call out one of the greatest defensive minds in NFL history???? Come on man. Seriously? I will let Farrior go for now, The man has made plays for us and been the brains on the feild for this D for a long time. The Steelers will be fine. Untill we are mathematicaly ruled out I still have hope
GO STEELERS!! WIN OUT!

by stillerfn86 on Nov 30, 2009 12:43 AM EST up reply actions

Are you serious or kidding?

Will Gay gets targeted almost every damn pass play and I don’t know the exact number but opposing QB’s are completing almost 80% of their passes against this guy!! As far as LeBeau goes, great defensive mind yes but even he has bad games. This was one of them. James Farrior WAS a great player for the Steelers. No doubt. But nobody can stop Father time. Right now it looks like it has caught Farrior.

by BubbyBrister6 on Nov 30, 2009 12:47 AM EST up reply actions

you're the guy I punch

when we win the super bowl

Bad Andy, Good Pizza.

by count'em_six on Nov 30, 2009 1:06 AM EST up reply actions

You can’t hide Farrior, he has to cover some part of the field, or do you want to take Timmons out of the pass rush and only send our slowest defenders after the QB?

by Phantaskippy on Nov 30, 2009 1:55 AM EST up reply actions

Farrior is still better than 95% of the rest of the league.

Ask our buddy Mr MaLoR just how many linebackers have been able to cover Rice on that play this year – bet the answer is not many. You’re stuck on one play with Farrior, how about his sack/strip at the end of regulation?

by dawgs144 on Nov 30, 2009 10:44 AM EST up reply actions

Gay led the team in tackles

Mostly because he was targeted from whistle to whistle in the game. This has been a recent trend. I do give Gay credit for being an above average tackler but it seems as though he is rarely in position to defense the ball. The Steelers lack serious playmakers in the secondary without Troy and teams have taken advantage of that. The closest thing we have to a good DB is Taylor, but he couldn’t catch a cold.

You can’t blame LeBeau too much considering the secondary he is working with in addition to losing Aaron Smith which was VERY EVIDENT last night. LeBeau’s defense is designed to pressure QB’s into making mistakes by throwing early or off balance. When Troy is in the game he is able to capitalize on those mistakes whereas without Troy QB’s are able to get the ball to receivers that have cushions so soft my grandmother could get the ball into.

My keys to our recent 3 game slide:
1. Inability to make a tackle on Special Teams (big returns again last night)
2. Missing Aaron Smith on the DL (the run defense is just not the same without him)
3. Missing Troy in the secondary (the secondary just looks plain as vanilla without him)
4. Schizophrenic playcalling (too pass happy some nights, pitch plays on 3rd an 2 etc.)

by Piratefan13 on Nov 30, 2009 8:26 AM EST up reply actions

I said it on another post

But I will say it here again. Timmons was covering Heap. Would you rather have Farrior cover him? Can’t use a DB there, the DB’s had their own assignments to worry about. Any given play, you can get a mismatch, it just depends on who is guarding who. Baltimore called the perfect play, and Farrior was just the weak link. But he does need to start coming to the sidelines during pass downs.

by OHSteelerfan on Nov 30, 2009 9:10 AM EST up reply actions

Ok.

I guess we will find out.

by stillerfn86 on Nov 30, 2009 12:58 AM EST reply actions

Farrior won't be a steeler next yr

and christ…please go get a shutdown corner

by MEP12 on Nov 30, 2009 1:13 AM EST reply actions

Bryant McFadden hasn’t had a good year, and he’s the only one gone from last year. We have some young guys who need to develop. We can’t just go out and create a player and sign them in Free-Agency. Shutdown corners aren’t just sitting around waiting for someone to let them play football.

by Phantaskippy on Nov 30, 2009 1:56 AM EST up reply actions

They are there to sign

There is a bout 12 in the league and yes you have to pay for them. Would rather give that money to a shutdown corner than the big extension Farrior got. That money seemed high for an aging LB who is the size of a strong safety. Oh and you are right BMAC hasn’t had a good yr but that doesn’t surpise me. He is a C+ corner at best.

by MEP12 on Nov 30, 2009 11:16 AM EST up reply actions

Big time free agents?

Are you familiar with the Steelers? Name the last big free agent grab the Steelers made.

'I’ve learned to become a flat-liner. There’s a lot out there that’ll make your heart jump if you allow it."
-Coach Tomlin

by NYSteelersFan4 on Nov 30, 2009 11:22 AM EST up reply actions

So. . . which ones are available and who are we giving up to get them? Most of this years extensions were to create cap space. Before those extensions we had no space.

by Phantaskippy on Nov 30, 2009 4:42 PM EST up reply actions

Name the teams with shutdown corners that can catch.

First that come to mind are Asomugha, and Revis. despite their excellent play their teams are a combined 8-14.
We do have a Shutdown corner. how has Moss, Owens, Ochocinco, and Jackson done against us. And we did add a playmaker in the secondary. His name is Joe Burnett.

by Steel in FL on Nov 30, 2009 11:37 AM EST up reply actions

I view Burnett as Ike's ultimate replacement in a few yrs

and your point is valid…Ike has been as close to a shutdown corner as we have had but he is slowing down. Hence the 54 yr old Mason beating him last night at least 4 times.

by MEP12 on Nov 30, 2009 12:16 PM EST up reply actions

Wa he slowing down in 2006 when Cowher benched him?

He’s playing poorly right now but not every body stays consistently good.

I see Kennan Lewis as Ike’s replacement since he is supposed to built like him. Burnett is Townsends replacement. or Gays

by Steel in FL on Nov 30, 2009 5:58 PM EST up reply actions

Gay and other rantings!!!

Lest anyone forget Gay got beat like a drum last week at KC. This week he again was the target of choice, BUT

BA only used Dixon’s strength one time and when he did it resulted in a TD. So why not do it again? I guess it makes too much sense. Why call a long pass attempt to Wallace on second down in OT? Why play to not lose at the end of the 1st half?

I guess we will never know and now the window is getting ever smaller!!!

by DgoSteve on Nov 30, 2009 1:55 AM EST reply actions