A steeler's fans opinion of our defense

[MicGreene]

Interesting read. I bolded the parts that were funny to me...

Link

Falcon Defense: I honestly think we can have our way with this defense if we dont make mistakes early and we're patient. The front four they will start on sunday combined for less sacks than Harrison last season. They arent the Eagles or even Titans front four. This team was 27th in the league in sacks last year! Combine that with DD's mobilty and i think he should stay relatively clean this week. One key to success will be to consistantly block the 4 man rush. Force them to use LB's like Spoon and Peterson to get pressure.

Beirmann is one of their best DL IMO. ATL fans say he isnt a speed rusher but dude has a motor and is all out every snap. At 260 lbs he gives up about 100 lbs to FLO. I see FLO burrying him a few times if he gets two hands on him. Starks against Abraham is the match-up to watch there. Abraham was a shell of his former self last season. He is a 15 sack/year capable DE with speed. Max is gonna have his hands full regardless. Their interior line minus Babineaux is very mediocre if you ask me. I can see Pouncey opening some big wholes and getting to the second level blocks easily.

The secondary is hoping the addition of Duanta Robinson will add to what was a suspect secondary last season. (yes steelers fans, even worse than ours) I dont see how this team can cover our receiving corps. Dixon should have time and pretty good targets to throw to. Robinson has been pretty avg to say the least for the past few seasons in HOU. He hasnt played a snap in the preseason due to a bad hammy and he expects to step on the field Sunday and fit right in. I'll be interested to see how that pans out. Ben Grimes is at the other corner and plays well challenging for the ball in the air. He led the team with 6 int's last season. I really think their safties (McCoud/Coleman) are depending on Robinson to sure up their pass defense. Neither of these guys are the "ball hawking" types.

The strength of this defense is at the LB position. Everyone on this site should know Mike Peterson well with his past as a Jaguar. He is a player, a big hitting run stopper who makes plays all game against the run. Sean Weatherspoon is a guy alot of us were high on early in the draft. He asserted him self early on this team and so far has been worthy or his first round status. Lofton is a run stopping machine in the middle. He has been a **** of a LB since he came to the league. If we expect to run on this team we are gonna have to get good blocks on the second level cause all of these backers plus Biermann can stuff the run WELL!

I think overall we are going to have to test this team running the ball and find some space doing it. IF that can happen this secodary can be taken advantage of. The Falcons are going to try to be stout up front and force DD to beat them with his arm. If we can run and force them to bring there safties closer to support the run this secondary will yeild big plays! I like this match-up, if mistakes are limited and drives can be sustained, i think its a matter of time before even Dixon starts puttng up points!

[UnrealfalcoN]

who is Ben Grimes and McCoud and who let them play in our defense? :wacko:

Edited September 10, 2010 by UnrealFalcon

[NZFalcon]

Duanta Robinson, Ben Grimes, McCoud

meh

[DanRooney]

As a Steeler fan, I see where he's coming from. We have usually a top 3 D year in and year out and go against another top defense in Baltimore twice (or more) a season. I'm not trying to down your D as I don't know much about it, but I really never considered it in the top 10. With Roethlisberger in this game I would consider this game an easier ones looking at the schedule, but since we have Dixon in, it will be very close in my honest opinion.

Edited September 10, 2010 by DanRooney

[ATLballer]

seems like a fair assessment of our team from an opposing team fan...looks like he did some home work...he might have been a little off on some but all and all no homer-ism..

[MattIceRyanMVP2]

Love to see them eat a huge crow after Sunday.

[one side only]

Says a lot without really saying anything.

Here's another perspective. Not much different about the Falcons defense from last year. Robinson is an addition, but nobody knows what he's going to bring to the table Sunday. He admits he isn't in game shape yet. Mike Wallace might be the fastest receiver he faces all year.

Falcons will be playing without their leader in sacks from a year ago. I think that is significant. That being said, Flozell Adams isn't going to bury anyone, unless they trip and fall. He's going to get plenty of help. The Steelers offensive line isn't great, but it is good enough to execute the game plan. They didn't pass for over 4000 yards and have a 1000 yard rusher using smoke and mirrors.

The Steelers give up a lot of sacks. However, a fair number of them come as a result of Roethlisberger holding on to the ball. Dixon is going to run and avoid pressure. The Falcons recorded only 28 sacks last year, allowed a 63% completion rate with a 7.5 yard average. Awful. Robinson and Weatherspoon aren't going to reverse that trend immediately, especially without Babineaux.

So, rather than concentrate on what a great matchup it is for a mediocre at best Atlanta defense against a 3rd string QB, I look at it from the perspective of what a great week to face a Falcons defense that will probably improve as Robinson gets to 100%, Weatherspoon gets some seasoning, and Babineaux returns from suspension.

[john_winger]

I thought Batch was going to get the start. Either way, Dixon and Batch have somewhere around 5 -10 starts between them. Their Defense better be ready to save the day.

[ukfalc]

As a Steeler fan, I see where he's coming from. We have usually a top 3 D year in and year out and go against another top defense in Baltimore twice (or more) a season. I'm not trying to down your D as I don't know much about it, but I really never considered it in the top 10. With Roethlisberger in this game I would consider this game an easier ones looking at the schedule, but since we have Dixon in, it will be very close in my honest opinion.

WOW. You have clevelend (twice), Tampa, Carolina, Buffalo, Oakland, Tennessee and Miami on your scheule and you consider us one of the easier games on your schedule? WOW. We won the same number of games as you last year after being decimated with injuries, and only 1 less regular season game in 2008 (although admittedly your SB win, eclipes our 1st round playoff exit). I don't expect you guys to be running scared, but I think you should respect us.

Defensively we are something of an unknown quantity. In the last 2 years we've given up a lot of yards, but we've been very resectable in terms of points allowed). Having hoarded picks and totally rebuilt the D over the last 3 years, we have a lot of young high and mid-round draft choice on D (Biermann, Sidbury, Peters, Jerry, Lofton, Weatherspoon, Decoud, Moore, Owens). Biermann, Decoud and Lofton in particular, have been outstanding for us in teir forst 2 years. Last years picks are more of an unknow quantity. We place an emphasis on hard working, high character guys with non-stop motors. Our young nucleus has a ton of potential and - injuries permitting - we could have the makings of an elite defence. Inexperience is the being the biggest thing that holds us back.

[StainlessStill]

I thought Batch was going to get the start. Either way, Dixon and Batch have somewhere around 5 -10 starts between them. Their Defense better be ready to save the day.

We'll be poised to make a comeback defensively, even though we ranked 5th overall last season. IMHO, I think your offense is going to struggle mightily, esp after watching the Saints/Vikes game last night to where it started off fast and then two GREAT defense's played to a stale-mate the rest of the game into a defensive struggle. I think this is going to be low scoring, even more-so than I thought before. I've been watching this Steelers team for so long and over the past couple years, our defense has been smothering to the point of making offense's confused into one big ball of anxiety and I believe we'll see that. The Falcons defense could be good, but ours is better. Will be a great week 1 matchup.

[The Falcon Jedi]

That really is not a bad assessment, considering it came from an opposing Fan. He nailed our strength being our LB corps. He obviously has some knowledge of Bierman, and Babineaux. The only thing he left out was our Safety positions. He ommitted DeCoud who is a ball-hawk and a hard hitter. Coleman is good, but I think this time next year that William Moore will be starting in his position.

[TMC]

I have watched some of your preseason and, IMO, without Babineaux, your DTs are a wreck. I have watched Peria Jerry get put on skates many times. He locks his legs and digs in and they just push him around like a blocking sled. Not sure what to make of Lewis. I even went back to games to find him and can't. Biermann is a big motor guy, but I think when someone locks on, he will struggle. If it were me, I would keep Miller over Adams shoulder so he cannot use his speed outside (or Miller redirects) and that should help greatly.

I am not afraid of Grimes. He may be up and coming, but I do not think he is there yet. With Robinson probably shaking off some rust, it hurts there too.

If the Steelers can get hats on Jerry and Biermann and not allow them to disrupt, getting Pouncey on the MLB and Miller on Spoon, I think they can crease the defense. You really have a typical Tampa-2 that uses some smoke and mirrors to disguise the fronts. You blitz some, but mainly a 5-man, nothing real exotic. We see Baltimore twice, so nothing we should not be used to getting regularly.

We lost Willie Colon at RT and he may have been our best lineman. They brought in Flozell Adams at RT. We all thought Colon was a good run blocker until Adams caved the right side all the way to the center. Sometimes you do not realize how bad you suck until a better player comes in. At center, Pouncey made Hartwig look like a bum. In retrospect, our line with Colon and Hartwig was horrible. We are lucky Ben is alive.

I think we sneak up on some people early and Ben has looked better than ever in the preseason. We just have to stay close with teams and steal some wins.

[NZFalcon]

If the Steelers can get hats on Jerry and Biermann and not allow them to disrupt, getting Pouncey on the MLB and Miller on Spoon, I think they can crease the defense. You really have a typical Tampa-2 that uses some smoke and mirrors to disguise the fronts. You blitz some, but mainly a 5-man, nothing real exotic. We see Baltimore twice, so nothing we should not be used to getting regularly.

Expect Abe55 to have a big game

[Peyton]

I think the guy nailed the Falcons D pretty well. He might be overestimating the abilities of his own team though.

[~SEAMILL~]

who is Ben Grimes and McCoud?:wacko:

Sounds like some stuff for Emmitt to use next week

Edited September 10, 2010 by ~SEAMILL~

[~SEAMILL~]

We'll be poised to make a comeback defensively, even though we ranked 5th overall last season. IMHO, I think your offense is going to struggle mightily.

The Steeers might stop the run. The Steelers might stop the passing game. But, the Steelers won't stop both. Too many weapons on offense for us. Your offense on the other hand might closer resemble the Vikings last night. Minus the HOF QB, of course.

Edited September 10, 2010 by ~SEAMILL~

[B^rooklyn]

McCoud

?!?

After The Game They Gonna Get His Name Right..

[rightsaidfred]

who is Ben Grimes and McCoud and who let them play in our defense? :wacko:

They're the guys that are going to be in Donald Dickson's face all day!!

[RazorTalon]

Expect Abe55 to have a big game

Here Here…..Dixon will be flushed out of the pocket on the reg and will make costly mistakes.

[Karst41]

I find it amusing that they think Adams is going to wrap up and flatten Biermann.

Biermann practices against that every day with Clabo.

Clabo weighs the same as Adams and is an inch shorter at 6'6"

All things considered this is not a good report at all.

[Dog River]

I don't see ya'll being able to run the ball on us..at all. We were a top ten run defense last season. Without that ability...Dixon will have a hard time passing the ball.

Yeah, our pass defense was awful last season...but it improved as the season went on. (Read..when Chris Houston hit the pine). It will be much improved this season...not only with the addition of Dunta...but with another season of experience. BVG will start unleashing blitzes.

[TMC]

The Steeers might stop the run. The Steelers might stop the passing game. But, the Steelers won't stop both. Too many weapons on offense for us. Your offense on the other hand might closer resemble the Vikings last night. Minus the HOF QB, of course.

I hate to be the one to break this to you, but in 2008, the Steelers stopped both. They did not allow a 100 yard rusher and allowed 1 200 yard passer, all season. They lost Foote and McFadden after that season. They traded and got McFadden back and signed Foote in free agency. They return every starter from that defense and get Aaron Smith and Troy Polamalu back from injury.

Do you really think you have more weapons than Baltimore or Cincy?

Baltimore has Flacco at QB, Ray Rice, McGahee, and McClain at runningback, Todd Heap at TE, and rounding that out with Anquan Boldin, TJ Houshmanzadeh, and Derrick Mason at WR.

Cincy has Palmer at QB, Benson at RB, and Chad OchoCinco and TO at WR.

No offense to your team, you have talent, but lets not get carried away like you have something we do not get to see. Your QB has never faced a zone blitz like the one we bring. We have two of the best pass rushers in the NFL and a massive DL. We have an All-Pro safety in Polamalu. As loaded as you think you are on offense, we do okay.

[Peyton]

I hate to be the one to break this to you, but in 2008, the Steelers stopped both. They did not allow a 100 yard rusher and allowed 1 200 yard passer, all season. They lost Foote and McFadden after that season. They traded and got McFadden back and signed Foote in free agency. They return every starter from that defense and get Aaron Smith and Troy Polamalu back from injury.

Do you really think you have more weapons than Baltimore or Cincy?

Baltimore has Flacco at QB, Ray Rice, McGahee, and McClain at runningback, Todd Heap at TE, and rounding that out with Anquan Boldin, TJ Houshmanzadeh, and Derrick Mason at WR.

Cincy has Palmer at QB, Benson at RB, and Chad OchoCinco and TO at WR.

No offense to your team, you have talent, but lets not get carried away like you have something we do not get to see. Your QB has never faced a zone blitz like the one we bring. We have two of the best pass rushers in the NFL and a massive DL. We have an All-Pro safety in Polamalu. As loaded as you think you are on offense, we do okay.

You don't know jack about Brent Grimes, and apparently you aren't familiar with a two deep zone defense, but you are right on the money with this matchup.

The Falcons are going to have to scratch and claw to get a win in Pittsburgh. It's a game that is going to closely resemble the win at the Jets last year, best case scenario.

[one side only]

I don't see ya'll being able to run the ball on us..at all. We were a top ten run defense last season. Without that ability...Dixon will have a hard time passing the ball.

Yeah, our pass defense was awful last season...but it improved as the season went on. (Read..when Chris Houston hit the pine). It will be much improved this season...not only with the addition of Dunta...but with another season of experience. BVG will start unleashing blitzes.

21st in yards per game.

Doesn't matter though; the Steelers will be able to pass against that porous secondary, Dunta Robinson and all.

[Falconsken]

21st in yards per game.

Doesn't matter though; the Steelers will be able to pass against that porous secondary, Dunta Robinson and all.

as i said earlyer i give respect to the steelers but your hoping that D.D is going to come out as an elite. Your offense is not coming out as anything spectacular. Its all in D.Ds hands with this win. And regardless of what you think you know about our d. We havent even seen it yet so stop making assumptions. We know what your d is capable of we know what the o is capable of. Matt Ryan May never have faced it. But your underating our QB... He's studying tape right now and watching all he needs to know i can almost guarentee it.