Pass Defense and Dick LeBeau

First off, Dick LeBeau has to take some blame today (which seems to be the consensus on this board).  This is definitely not a LeBeau defense post.  But this is the umpteenth time a team has rallied late to win, not to mention all the times that teams have rallied late and barely fell short (San Diego and Detroit come to mind).  But you simply cannot put that much blame on LeBeau for the fourth quarter playcalling when players when repeatedly in position to make plays.  Maybe there is an overall scheme or personnel problem (lack of pass rushing D linemen, perhaps), but that is a separate issue from the playcalling.

Ike Taylor had a horrible game.  He was burnt on one play (although if a safety was playing deep then he would have played it well).  On several other occasions, he was in position and simply whiffed (the jump ball).  Ryan Clark was atrocious.  You may say: he didn't miss that many tackles or balls.  Well that's because he was out of position all day.  Ryan Clark read short passes, long passes, and play action passes incorrectly with alarming regularity.  I was a huge Clark fan before this year and thought he should have been signed instead of Kiesel, but he has looked lost, at best.  William Gay is not very good.  However, I don't think he played horribly; just not well.  He is not a shut down corner and he is not asked to be one.  If he prevents the big play and keeps receivers in front of him, that's probably the most that can be asked. 

Lawrence Timmons should not be starting.  Again, he is not horrible, but there is a much better ILB riding the bench who, for whatever reason, is not getting any playing time.  Timmons repeatedly misses tackles, fails to shed blocks, and reads receiver routes too late.  Gradkowski embarrassed Timmons on at least two plays.  Timmons is a liability in the run and (despite popular opinion) not very good in pass protection.  Yes, he can chase down a pass in the flats, but that is not the only thing, or even a primary thing, the Steelers ask from an ILB.  Timmons is great at getting to the QB.  He should be on the field on any third and long.  Other than that, he simply has not played to K. Fox's level (in the three games he started) in any game this year.

To bring this piece full circle, Dick LeBeau's playcalling seemed uninspired in the 4th quarter.  Very few blitzes, vanilla coverages.  Still, players were in position to make plays in did not.  The same thing happened last week: players were outplayed at the point of attack, whether against the run or pass.  LeBeau has not found the solution, and for that he takes all the blame.