Coaching Carnage in Pittsburgh: Who’s Gone and Who’s Next?

The angry mobs at Heinz Field called for change in the wake of the defending Super Bowl champs not making the playoffs this season, and the Steelers have obliged the demand for coaching carnage.

The Pittsburgh Steelers fired their second assistant coach of the week today, relieving Bob Ligashesky of his duties as the team’s special teams coordinator. This came the day after Coach Tomlin handed a pink slip to offensive line coach Larry Zierlein.

Special teams were a serious problem for the Steelers this season giving up return touchdowns in four out of five games at one point this season. The results were a far cry from the performance of Ligashesky’s group last season.  Ligashesky, who just finished his third season as the special teams coordinator in Pittsburgh coached the top coverage unit in the NFL in 2008.

The former Pitt Panthers special teams coach and Sto-Rox native spent two seasons as the special teams coordinator for the St. Louis Rams before coming to the Steelers in 2007.

Ligashesky’s firing really came as no surprise considering the dreadful performance turned in this season. The team ranked 30th in the NFL in kickoff coverage and 24th in punt coverage in 2009. These statistics are a drastic fall off from when they ranked first in kickoff coverage and fourth in punt coverage, giving them the best coverage unit in the NFL just one season prior. 

Just 24 hours prior to Ligashesky getting canned Larry Zierlein was shown the door as well. Zierlein was named to the coaching staff as the offensive line coach three years ago when Mike Tomlin took the head coaching position in Pittsburgh.

Zierlein was given the daunting task of trying to follow hall of famer Russ Grimm at the same coaching position.  Since he took over for Grimm who departed for Arizona with former offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, Zierlein’s front five has seen its better days.

Over the course of the last three seasons the offensive line has given up an average of 48.6 sacks a season, ending this season with the highest total yet—50. Since rushing for over 2,000 yards in 2007, the Steelers have been in the lower third of the NFL in total rushing yards per season each of the last two years.

Some of this falls on the idea that offensive coordinator Bruce Arians has done a less than stellar job calling and designing plays that will allow the Steelers to succeed in these areas, but it was not Arians’ job to develop the young players that the Steelers had and brought on during the last three seasons. 

Under Zierlein’s tutelage, young prospects like offensive tackle Tony Hills and this year’s third-round pick Kraig Urbik failed to play a productive role at all, while established players like offensive tackles Max Starks and Willie Colon digressed significantly.

So who is going to take the place of the two coaches, and can we expect to see anyone else make an exit from the UPMC Practice Facility in the near future?

At this point all logical roads lead to the reunion of Bobby April with the Pittsburgh Steelers. April was a popular special teams coordinator with the Steelers during the 90’s. His famous passion and running down the sidelines with his kickoff unit during kickoffs was contagious during his time in town.

April recently opted out of the last two years of his contract with the Buffalo Bills after the team fired the rest of the coaching staff this week.  April should receive other offers from new head coaches looking to put together a staff in order to take over a team, but April would be a great fit and possibly bring the energy the Steelers so desperately need and have been lacking on special teams.

As far as offensive line coaches are concerned, it is highly unlikely that the Steelers will find or bring in a big name replacement like Russ Grimm to fill the role. You can expect to see a search around the league’s assistant offensive line coaches upon which someone will most likely be given an opportunity.

Whoever the Steelers bring in, however, needs to have an establish personality and have a strong ability to teach the game. It is to be expected that the Steelers will draft an offensive lineman high in this year’s draft. It will be the job of whoever comes in to be able to whip a mediocre unit into shape while molding a high draft pick and young players like Kraig Urbik into quality starting offensive linemen in the NFL.

This should not be a search that is taken lightly by any means. In fact it may be the most important decision made this offseason. 

Looking into the crystal ball for things yet to come it has been made clear that Mike Tomlin intends to keep Bruce Arians as the offensive coordinator for next season. A poor decision it may very well be, but his (Arians’) relationship with Ben Roethlisberger has helped him keep his job at least for right now as the quarterback is quite pleased with the “pass happy” offensive style that helped him put up career numbers.

If anyone were likely to reach his expiration date in the near future I would expect it to be defensive backs coach Ray Horton. Horton’s unit played poorly this season, and the development of young players and the digression of veteran ones was again an issue for the Steelers.

The digression of Ike Taylor along with the poor development and play of William Gay made for a tough season in the Steelers secondary. It would not be a stretch to see Horton hit the bricks as early as tomorrow or the beginning of next week.

So where do the Steelers go from here, and is the coaching carnage we have seen good enough to suffice the demand for blood from the angry mob at Heinz Field?

With the way things are shaking down the Steelers seem to be handling their most obvious weaknesses from a philosophy standpoint, which is good. Cleaning house on special teams and sending home the position coach of one of the league’s worst offensive lines is a step in the right direction. Who they bring in will make all the difference in the world as to what good the firings have done.

On the other side of this situation is the fact that the overall philosophy and make up of the coaching staff has not changed. Dick Lebeau has agreed to stay on as the defensive coordinator, and that is a good thing despite the criticism he took this season.

Bruce Arians reportedly had a long meeting with coach Tomlin at the end of which he was told he would remain the offensive coordinator of the team. It should be the greatest hope and prayer of every Steeler fan that that meeting was about the changes that have to take place in the play calling and offensive philosophy of this team heading forward. If it was, then obviously Arians agreed to what was being said, and he was able to keep his job despite his less than adequate ability to call an offensive game plan.

Not a lot is going to change this offseason schematically so the Steelers are going to have to handle themselves carefully going into the draft and free agency. They are going to need to bring in a high quality cornerback and they will need to do the same in terms of an offensive lineman or possibly two. If they are able to accomplish these two tasks and overhaul the play calling in the red zone next season they will have a great opportunity to regain their playoff team status in 2010.

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Pittsburgh Steelers Sitting Back Causes Setback

As the Steelers approach the final week of the season many fans find themselves surprised with the situation the team is in. Following a season of defensive dominance and offensive adequacy that lead to a record sixth Super Bowl ring, the Steelers find themselves on the verge of missing the playoffs altogether.

The game is in a constant state of change, and in recent months so to are the Steelers.

The ability to dictate their own game offensively and adapt to the ever-changing offensive climate of the NFL defensively has allowed them to be the most consistent franchise in the NFL for decades. Relentlessness has always been the forte of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

They have not always had the best team, the biggest stars or the most prolific numbers, but they have always refused to quit attacking their opponents until they buckle under the pressure.  

But like so many have already proudly proclaimed; “these are not your parents Steelers”.

The Steelers have run into some serious issues this season that have lead to mind boggling losses at the hands of some of the leagues worst teams. The problems have had little to do with the pass happy offense, or the less aggressive defense, or even the injuries that have plagued this team since training camp.

The difference between this season and seasons past can be summed up in a single word:

DESIRE.

The Steelers have looked flat-footed and anything but relentless this season, only showing sparkles of things past. The once Steely demeanor of their Head Coach that was solidified by the fire in his eyes, has slowly become a stone-faced stare with lifeless eyes behind it.

Sadly enough the team has followed suit. The team’s locker room leaders have spent more time bickering this season than they have with the ball in the fourth quarter, and the break in unity has been a perfect depiction of their deteriorating mental toughness.

Major whispers of changes concerning the Pittsburgh Steelers have become plain talk, and the results this season demand that the talking becomes action.

So what actions need to be taken to insure that the Steelers’ woes are for the short term?

While the Steelers have been in a state of change there are certain things that should never change about the Pittsburgh Steelers. While you can change an offensive philosophy, players and even the uniforms, the Steelers are a reflection of a legacy that runs as deep as the franchise has been in existence.

The Steelers have always been mentally tough, close-lipped and had the desire to win even when they didn’t have the tools to do so.

In order to regain that mentality some things are going to have to change within the organization, and it all starts with the leadership.

If the Steelers have ever been noted for anything it is the quality of the organization and the type of players and coaches they allow to represent them. Over the course of this season the state of leadership within the team’s makeup has virtually evaporated. Not only from a coaching standpoint, but also from a players perspective as well, the Steelers have become a group of individuals rather than a team.

I dare say it starts at the head, and it is going to be the head that gets cut off if he does not take his place and command his team. The time for passive aggressive tactics and nonchalant personas has come and gone.

The Steelers have come to a place in the season and the state of the organization where the tough questions need to be asked of the right people and the answers to those questions need to be demanded. Mike Tomlin is the man that needs to begin to ask those questions of himself and his team.

While everyone loves to talk about Tomlin coming from the Dungy lineage of coaching there is a major difference between the two. No one could ever mistake Dungy’s quiet, mild mannered disposition as apathetic. Nor could they ever question his ability to command and control the attitude and intensity of his team under adversity.

Is it possible to ask those questions of Tomlin’s approach to the current situation in Pittsburgh? I would say it is not only fair, but he needs to ask them of himself. Tomlin’s team has played with what seems to be an apathetic, lifeless disposition that oozes from the platform of every press conference their coach does.

After the look inside it might behoove Miximus to “unleash hell” in the locker room before they can ever do so on the field. His team’s captains and leadership have not only led poorly they have caused division within their own squad.

A “calling to the carpet” so to speak of every player and issue needs to take place, and it is with this type of accountability and aggressiveness that Tomlin can bring his team back to life. When the tone is set that the finger pointing is only acceptable when the finger is pointed in the mirror then and only then will the team become a team once again.

With that said Tomlin is going to need to clean house when it comes to assistant and positional coaches.

Bruce Arians has taken part in the development of Peyton Manning and done a great job as a positional coach, but the aptitude for play calling tends to escape him. His predictability has not only become a weakness for the Steelers, but it has caused them to virtually disappear inside the redzone this season.

If you continue to scour the offensive side of the ball the buck has got to stop with the offensive line. This is like beating a dead horse, but hey what’s one more whack to a dead horse anyway?

If I can be so bold I would dare to say that neither Alan Faneca nor Marvel Smith are the biggest losses the Steelers have had along the offensive line in the last five years. On the contrary Russ Grimm’s presence as the offensive line coach has left this team with a void that has yet to be filled since his departure for Arizona.

The performance of young talent may have taken the biggest hit as the teaching and mentorship of a hall of famer can rarely be replaced. Larry Zierlein certainly has proven that he was not the man for the job as we have watched players digress from previous levels of play while none of the younger players in the organization have stepped up either.

The Steelers have some needs to address this off-season, and while the offensive line is definitely the most glaring hole, the cornerback position simply cannot be ignored any longer. 

William Gay has looked more like a matador this season than the promising young athlete that we saw filling in for injuries and in nickel and dime packages last season.

With Ike Taylor looking susceptible and Deshea Townsend’s increasing age the team needs to find a way to upgrade the cornerback position in the offseason. If like be a lady the Steelers will find a way to move up in the draft and snag one of the elite defensive backs available in this year’s crop.

Couple the choice with the firing of defensive backs coach Ray Horton, and the Steelers secondary will be in much better shape come spring drills.

Overall the difference in this year’s Steelers team can be seen in their play and their current situation going into the game today.  They have sat back and let other teams come to them this season and it has cost them dearly.

Now the Steelers are going to have to do the same and rest the fate of a meager season on the intentions of other teams in order to make the post season. Not only will they have to beat the Miami Dolphins, but they are going to need to see losses from a combination of the Jets, Ravens, Texans, and Broncos.

The days of sitting back and letting things play out has got to end today for the Pittsburgh Steelers. What the team does today will set the tone for the offseason and effect them greatly concerning next season as well. It will be up to them to take destiny into their own hands and begin to change the culture amongst the team that they have let slip this season. It’s all going to come down to desire. 

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Pittsburgh Steelers Sitting Back Causes Setback

As the Steelers approach the final week of the season many fans find themselves surprised with the situation the team is in. Following a season of defensive dominance and offensive adequacy that lead to a record sixth Super Bowl ring, the Steelers find themselves on the verge of missing the playoffs altogether.

The game is in a constant state of change, and in recent months so to are the Steelers.

The ability to dictate their own game offensively and adapt to the ever-changing offensive climate of the NFL defensively has allowed them to be the most consistent franchise in the NFL for decades. Relentlessness has always been the forte of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

They have not always had the best team, the biggest stars or the most prolific numbers, but they have always refused to quit attacking their opponents until they buckle under the pressure.  

But like so many have already proudly proclaimed; “these are not your parents Steelers”.

The Steelers have run into some serious issues this season that have lead to mind boggling losses at the hands of some of the leagues worst teams. The problems have had little to do with the pass happy offense, or the less aggressive defense, or even the injuries that have plagued this team since training camp.

The difference between this season and seasons past can be summed up in a single word:

DESIRE.

The Steelers have looked flat-footed and anything but relentless this season, only showing sparkles of things past. The once Steely demeanor of their Head Coach that was solidified by the fire in his eyes, has slowly become a stone-faced stare with lifeless eyes behind it.

Sadly enough the team has followed suit. The team’s locker room leaders have spent more time bickering this season than they have with the ball in the fourth quarter, and the break in unity has been a perfect depiction of their deteriorating mental toughness.

Major whispers of changes concerning the Pittsburgh Steelers have become plain talk, and the results this season demand that the talking becomes action.

So what actions need to be taken to insure that the Steelers’ woes are for the short term?

While the Steelers have been in a state of change there are certain things that should never change about the Pittsburgh Steelers. While you can change an offensive philosophy, players and even the uniforms, the Steelers are a reflection of a legacy that runs as deep as the franchise has been in existence.

The Steelers have always been mentally tough, close-lipped and had the desire to win even when they didn’t have the tools to do so.

In order to regain that mentality some things are going to have to change within the organization, and it all starts with the leadership.

If the Steelers have ever been noted for anything it is the quality of the organization and the type of players and coaches they allow to represent them. Over the course of this season the state of leadership within the team’s makeup has virtually evaporated. Not only from a coaching standpoint, but also from a players perspective as well, the Steelers have become a group of individuals rather than a team.

I dare say it starts at the head, and it is going to be the head that gets cut off if he does not take his place and command his team. The time for passive aggressive tactics and nonchalant personas has come and gone.

The Steelers have come to a place in the season and the state of the organization where the tough questions need to be asked of the right people and the answers to those questions need to be demanded. Mike Tomlin is the man that needs to begin to ask those questions of himself and his team.

While everyone loves to talk about Tomlin coming from the Dungy lineage of coaching there is a major difference between the two. No one could ever mistake Dungy’s quiet, mild mannered disposition as apathetic. Nor could they ever question his ability to command and control the attitude and intensity of his team under adversity.

Is it possible to ask those questions of Tomlin’s approach to the current situation in Pittsburgh? I would say it is not only fair, but he needs to ask them of himself. Tomlin’s team has played with what seems to be an apathetic, lifeless disposition that oozes from the platform of every press conference their coach does.

After the look inside it might behoove Miximus to “unleash hell” in the locker room before they can ever do so on the field. His team’s captains and leadership have not only led poorly they have caused division within their own squad.

A “calling to the carpet” so to speak of every player and issue needs to take place, and it is with this type of accountability and aggressiveness that Tomlin can bring his team back to life. When the tone is set that the finger pointing is only acceptable when the finger is pointed in the mirror then and only then will the team become a team once again.

With that said Tomlin is going to need to clean house when it comes to assistant and positional coaches.

Bruce Arians has taken part in the development of Peyton Manning and done a great job as a positional coach, but the aptitude for play calling tends to escape him. His predictability has not only become a weakness for the Steelers, but it has caused them to virtually disappear inside the redzone this season.

If you continue to scour the offensive side of the ball the buck has got to stop with the offensive line. This is like beating a dead horse, but hey what’s one more whack to a dead horse anyway?

If I can be so bold I would dare to say that neither Alan Faneca nor Marvel Smith are the biggest losses the Steelers have had along the offensive line in the last five years. On the contrary Russ Grimm’s presence as the offensive line coach has left this team with a void that has yet to be filled since his departure for Arizona.

The performance of young talent may have taken the biggest hit as the teaching and mentorship of a hall of famer can rarely be replaced. Larry Zierlein certainly has proven that he was not the man for the job as we have watched players digress from previous levels of play while none of the younger players in the organization have stepped up either.

The Steelers have some needs to address this off-season, and while the offensive line is definitely the most glaring hole, the cornerback position simply cannot be ignored any longer. 

William Gay has looked more like a matador this season than the promising young athlete that we saw filling in for injuries and in nickel and dime packages last season.

With Ike Taylor looking susceptible and Deshea Townsend’s increasing age the team needs to find a way to upgrade the cornerback position in the offseason. If like be a lady the Steelers will find a way to move up in the draft and snag one of the elite defensive backs available in this year’s crop.

Couple the choice with the firing of defensive backs coach Ray Horton, and the Steelers secondary will be in much better shape come spring drills.

Overall the difference in this year’s Steelers team can be seen in their play and their current situation going into the game today.  They have sat back and let other teams come to them this season and it has cost them dearly.

Now the Steelers are going to have to do the same and rest the fate of a meager season on the intentions of other teams in order to make the post season. Not only will they have to beat the Miami Dolphins, but they are going to need to see losses from a combination of the Jets, Ravens, Texans, and Broncos.

The days of sitting back and letting things play out has got to end today for the Pittsburgh Steelers. What the team does today will set the tone for the offseason and effect them greatly concerning next season as well. It will be up to them to take destiny into their own hands and begin to change the culture amongst the team that they have let slip this season. It’s all going to come down to desire. 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Wise Or Weak?: Ryan Clark Unlikely To Play On Monday Night In Denver

The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing to play the Denver Broncos this Monday night. In order to do so, they will be making a trip to the mile high city.

Therein lies the problem. The city of Denver is a mile above sea level.

Average players often deal with the transition to playing in the high altitude conditions with little effort. Once they get their breathing under control the game typically plays out the way it normally would, but not so for Steelers’ safety Ryan Clark.

The last time Clark played in Denver it almost cost him his life.

Back in 2007, Clark was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery in order to remove his spleen and gall bladder, losing over 30 pounds in the process. This coming after serious health issues arose during a 2005 game while Clark was with the Redskins.

All of these complications were a result of a rare sickle-cell trait that can pose life-threatening physical issues at high altitudes when the person engages in strenuous exercise. The possibility of kidney failure and rhabdomyolysis (Something that I have personally experienced on the football field in college) are the realest possibilities for Clark if he chooses to play.

Doctors have cleared Clark to play in the game, citing that the likelihood of Clark experiencing additional life threatening complications are lower than before, having experienced previous issues.  However, the possibilities of life-threatening health complications continue to be real.

While Clark has been cleared to play he is understandably considering not playing in the game. Sources close to the team have said that Clark is over 95 percent unlikely to play in the game regardless of the doctor’s prognosis. Something his teammates and Coach Tomlin support him in.

“Whatever he decides we’re going to back him,” said Hines Ward. “If it was me personally, life is more precious than football.”

Coach Tomlin has mentioned the possibility of overruling Clark if he decided to play, but really it comes down to making a decision with his family, career and quality of life in mind.

Clark’s commitment, courage and toughness have been questioned in recent days because of his concern over playing.  Some have even gone as far as to say that Clark’s decision to sit out the game against the 6-1 Broncos shows a lack of dedication and loyalty to his team.

Is Clark’s decision wise or weak? 

The fact that Clark thought about playing in the game on Monday night speaks volumes toward his dedication and commitment to the Steelers organization and his teammates.     

To expect a man to put his life in jeopardy in order to play in one regular season game is not only foolish it is downright unfair. With capable backup options in Tyrone Carter and Ryan Mundy on the roster the wisest decision Clark could make would be to sit out the game, and come ready to play next week.

The upcoming game against the Broncos is one of the biggest left on the schedule this season. Since division rival Baltimore handed Denver their first loss last week, the divisional race has begun to take shape. The Steelers are not in a must win situation, but a win this week would make a huge difference down the stretch.

The Steelers will have to play Baltimore twice after Denver, but the rest of the schedule is pretty bland in comparison to what the Ravens have coming when they face the Colts.

While Clark’s presence will be missed Monday night in the Steelers’ secondary against a team that runs a short and intermediate passing system that has allowed Kyle Orton to thrive, the bigger picture is one that cannot be overlooked. The Risk is far greater than the reward, and Clark’s health is far more important than a single game.

The Steelers should be fine in his absence as long as they can continue to put pressure on the quarterback, and keep the Broncos from picking them apart along the sidelines.  Look for the inverted cover two to insure that Brandon Marshall and company do not get easy opportunities outside where Orton likes to throw the ball best. This should eliminate some of the mismatches that losing Clark presents as well. 

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Is Jeff Reed Drinking His Way Out Of Pittsburgh?

The city of Pittsburgh loves to celebrate their team. Sometimes a little too much, but how many times has a player been put in handcuffs after a win?

Things get a little rowdy on Steeler game days. Tailgating starts in the early hours of the morning, and pours into the bars and restaurants that line the Southside and North Shore of the city after a victory.

Like anywhere else there is always that one guy (and sometimes a couple of his buddies) that can’t handle himself once a few beers are in his system. That’s usually when rowdy becomes obnoxious, and someone has to call the police.

Sunday night was no exception on the North Shore in Pittsburgh.

Around 9 p.m.  Sunday night police were responding to an incident, when they noticed a man urinating beside a white SUV outside McFadden’s on the 200 block of North Shore Drive. The officers approached, only to find out that the man was Steelers tight end Matt Spaeth.

When the officer continued to write Spaeth a citation for urinating in public, Steelers kicker Jeff Reed emerged from the vehicle and began to argue with officers. Reed refused to get back in the SUV, and according to the police affidavit, put up his fists and got into a fighter’s stance. 

Reed was forced to the ground and continued to fight as the police cuffed his hands behind his back.

According to the same affidavit, the officers at the scene said Reed smelled strongly of alcohol and appeared to be intoxicated.

After Reed calmed down, the officers released him to his father who was driving the SUV. Reed was issued multiple citations including simple assault, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and public drunkenness.

He will have to appear in court to face these charges, but this isn’t his first rodeo. This is the second time this year that Reed will face charges of disorderly conduct.

Reed pleaded guilty to charges of disorderly conduct and criminal mischief back in February after he harassed employees and kicked a paper towel dispenser off of the wall in a Sheetz gas station in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.   

According to police reports, several witnesses said Reed became enraged when he found that there were no paper towels in the dispenser on the bathroom wall.

Reed proceeded to damage the dispenser during a profanity-laced tirade directed at the convenience store employees. He continued the tirade even after leaving the store, and was given a citation and fined $543.50, a sum including $210 in damages to the Sheetz gas station. 

The NFL later fined Reed $10,000 dollars for his actions, and the league has promised to investigate the incident that took place Sunday night as well.

According to Reed’s agent Don Henderson, he plans on contesting the charges, but the fact that he has been known for similar behavior before does not give him much of a leg to stand on.

The attitude and behavior Reed continues to exhibit could force the NFL to take action, and second time indiscretions are typically met with harsher penalties.

The Strictness with which the NFL deals with public offenders may be second only to that of the Steelers front office.  The franchise seldom tolerates off the field misconduct, and does not take kindly to the repeat offenders who mistake grace for tolerance.

Reed has been a model of consistency over the last several years. His sure foot has held the Steelers intact through several offensive rough patches in recent seasons. However, his inconsistency this season puts him in a rocky position after refusing to sign an extension offered to him in the off-season.  Being in the last year of his contract, Reed’s off the field issues could have him fighting and kicking for his job rather than to keep from going to jail or to get a larger number on the bottom line of his contract.

The Steelers most likely will not put up with any further issues regarding Reed’s off the field activities. He is going to have to prove himself not only between the lines, but outside them if he hopes to get his new contract and be wearing the number three in Pittsburgh next season.  

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Injured Polamalu Is Not the Answer To Steelers 4th Quarter Woes

 

Houdini, Copperfield, Penn and Teller, there have been some incredible magic acts over the years. Whether it’s illusions or supernatural feats, each magician has something that sets him apart from the rest.

Perhaps there has never been a better disappearing act than the one the Pittsburgh Steelers defense has been pulling in the fourth quarter this season.

Smothering, aggressive defense in the first half is giving way to tentative, cautious defense in the fourth quarter and it’s costing the defending champs on a number of levels.

So what is responsible for the late game defensive stall the Steelers have been experiencing?

The Steelers 3-4 zone blitzing scheme is very similar to a steam engine. What makes a steam engine work is heat and pressure. The more heat you place on the fuel, the more pressure is built up in the boiler pocket. It is this pressure that forces the steam to escape causing an explosive reaction to take place. The higher the heat the higher the pressure, and the higher the pressure in the boiler the faster the steam is forced to escape. It’s a chain reaction that forces a rapid response.

In essence the train moving has less to do with the muscle and sheer horsepower of the engine itself, and more to do with the amount of heat and pressure applied to what fuels it.

The Steelers defense has the muscle to be dominant, but what fuels that muscle is applying the heat and pressure that forces the quarterback to try to escape the pocket. This is when the Steelers defense is at their best.

The ability to begin a chain reaction on the line of scrimmage is what makes the zone blitz package so effective. When the front seven of the Steelers’ defense apply a maximum amount of pressure, it forces the quarterback to try to escape the pocket. If he is able to escape the pocket the scrambling quarterback is forced to make quicker decisions while dealing with the oncoming defenders. By collapsing the pocket and forcing the quarterback to move, the defense has now changed the angle of the field.

By changing the angle of the field you have essentially narrowed the field and created the optimal situation for crossing defensive backs or linebackers to jump routes and create turnovers.  

The Steelers have come out of the gate hot in all four games this first quarter of the season. The heat has been stifling at times as the pre-game adrenaline has been fuel enough to carry them in the first half, but don’t be fooled. The Steelers defense is not running on all cylinders.

In almost every game this season the Steelers have been able to build a comfortable lead in the first half. Rather than stoking the fire at halftime the strategy has changed to a passive approach.

Similar to when a team takes the air out of the ball and decides to run the clock when a lead becomes comfortable, the Steelers have begun to do the defensive equivalent in the fourth quarter this season.

For whatever reason the unyielding, aggressive nature of the defense becomes a give and take mentality. While the goal may be to take away the deep play and keep the game in front of them with a big lead, the Steelers are giving their opponents open flats and intermediate passing opportunities as a result.

The “take” has got to far exceed the “give” if a team is going to be successful with this approach, and even then teams are putting themselves in a high-risk situation playing not to lose.

The Steelers are giving away more opportunities, points and yards in the fourth quarter than any other team in the National Football League this season, and much of it has come from the change in defensive philosophy late in the game. 

The evidence is in the turnover ratio for the Steelers this season. Entering the game yesterday the team had just one interception. Being that Troy Polamalu has that interception to is credit, and has not played since the first half of the season opener it has been a while since the Steelers’ faithful has seen another one.

While many fans are beginning to recognize the importance of Troy Polamalu to the Steelers defense, Polamalu’s absence is not something the team is unaccustomed to dealing with. Remember, the Steelers were without Polamalu for a stretch last season, and many times during his career. The difference between what the Steelers did in his absence last season and this year is the difference between 5-0 and 3-2.

While Polamalu is one of the greatest players in the game he is not the only deciding factor in the team’s defensive success. The issues lie solely on the shoulders of Dick Lebeau and the Steelers’ coaching staff.

The Steelers biggest weakness defensively is their pass defense. The loss of Bryant McFadden has hurt them more than anyone wanted to admit in the preseason. William Gay has underperformed especially in coverage inside of 15 yards from scrimmage, and the rest of the secondary has not covered well in zone and cover two schemes once the pass rush has been halted in the fourth quarter.

While it is encouraging for Steelers fans that the team played relatively well against the Lions, there are two concerns remaining. One, it was the Lions, and they were playing without Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson. Two, while there was a bit more pressure this week than in weeks prior, there was still a noticeable defensive lapse in the fourth quarter.

Until the Steelers find a way to get over whatever insecurities they have about late game blitzing, opponents will continue to exploit them when given the opportunity. While they have managed to win in recent weeks despite looming problems, the Steelers will not have the same easy schedule after the Browns come to town next week.   

Brett Favre’s Vikings mixed with the rest of the NFC North, the undefeated Broncos and two scheduled street brawls with the rival Baltimore Raven’s makes for tough going the rest of the 2009 season.

If the Steelers are going to make the playoffs with the intentions of doing more than taking up space for a week, they are going to have to regain 2008 form defensively in order to do so. Ultimately it would be in the best interest of the team to remedy the current problems before Polamalu returns. If they are able to do so, his presence will not be the stable, calming force the fans are calling for him to be, but rather the disruptive one he is meant to be.

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The Five Players the Steelers Cannot Do Without If They Hope to Repeat as Super Bowl Champs

Every season there seems to be a theme or at least a fad that starts in week one and continues throughout the year. Whether it is the season of the rookie quarterback like we had last year, or the reemergence of a particular defensive scheme, there are always new factors being introduced to the league that make it that much more interesting.

Injuries are a reoccurring theme every year, and this year the plot is getting thick pretty early in the story. No one wants to see a guy get hurt. Everyone cringes at the thought of losing a superstar or one of those key players that could shift the destiny of an entire team.

Names like Brian Urlacher, Matt Cassel, and Donovan McNabb have appeared on the injury report after week one, and each situation will have a definite impact on their team’s chances to make the playoffs.

With Troy Polamalu going down already in Pittsburgh, injuries are and should be on the mind of the Steelers and all who follow them. After all, the teams that manage to stay healthy usually have the best chance of hoisting a Lombardy Trophy at season’s end.

So then I pose this question: What five players must stay healthy this season for the Pittsburgh Steelers to have a chance of repeating as Super Bowl Champs?

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Steelers Sign Another Offensive Lineman Long Term

The Steelers resigned another Offensive Lineman today. Bringing the running tally up to four since February.

I bet you can’t name them all right now. Better yet I dare you to post a comment right this second and name four of the five starters going into Thursday without looking.

Go ahead I’ll wait…

Chris Kemoeatu, Max Starks, Trai Essex and now Center Justin Hartwig (who missed most of camp with a broken toe) have all been given contract extensions during the “off and pre-seasons.”

The soon to be 31 year old Hartwig received a new four year contract that keeps him under wraps until 2012. Avoiding unrestricted free agency looming after the twenty ten season.

Hartwig was one of the few Steelers to start every game last season while injuries plagued the Offensive Line.

His most memorable moment came in Super Bowl XLIII against the Arizona Cardinals. His holding penalty in the endzone during the fourth quarter scored a safety for the Cardinals. Giving them two points and the ball back. Setting up the drive that Arizona would take a 23-20 lead on. The penalty negated a first down catch by Santonio Holmes that would have all but sealed the game for the Steelers.

Avoiding “Scape-Goat” status Hartwig helped the team on the game winning drive, and the rest is history.

Now tell me this, how is it wise to reward a group of players that more closely resembled swiss cheese than an Offensive Line with long term contracts?

Max Starks was given top tier money to play Tackle over the off-season and he struggled to make the starting lineup after having one good season. His new four-year $26.3 million contract included $10 million in guaranteed money.

Kemoeatu signed a five-year deal worth $20 million, including six million in guaranteed money and a four million dollar signing bonus. While Kemoeatu seems to have the most upside out of the group, a great deal of cap space has been tied up in order to keep an Offensive Line together that most would call average at best. 

While many in Steeler Nation become angry at the first inclination of someone questioning the team or their possible success, I feel obliged to play the devil’s advocate here my friends.

Add up the injury prone nature with which this present group has operated in recent past with the combined amount of cap room tied up in salaries for that same group, and the current situation could equal a major problem over the course of the next four to five years.

While there is such a thing as high-risk high-reward, this Offensive Line has a lot of improving to do if the Steelers hope to get a reasonable return on their investment. And it all starts with staying healthy enough to be on the field this season.  

 

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Pittsburgh Steelers Re-Sign Veteran to Shore Up Defensive Line for the Long Term

The Pittsburgh Steelers re-upped with another veteran yesterday, signing defensive end Brett Keisel to a five-year deal. The deal will keep Keisel under contract with the Steelers through the 2013 season.

The Keisel signing comes just before the teams self imposed deadline of the beginning of the regular season for contract negotiations. Brett has gotten use to waiting to the last minute after being drafted with the 242nd pick of the draft.

Keisel was drafted by the Steelers in the seventh round of the 2002 draft. He made the team that season as a special teams guy, and eventually made a name for himself because of the athleticism he showed throwing around his 285-pound frame.

The first investment paid off better than anyone ever expected for a seventh round choice. If the most recent investment brings in the same dividends, the Steelers prudence will once again bring them a great return in the long term.

After coming on the scene in 2002, a shoulder injury sidelined him for the entire 2003 season, but he instantly made his presence known upon his return, giving special teams coordinators nightmares with his ability to break the wedge on kickoff coverage.

Keisel took over the starting right defensive end position in 2006 after the departure of veteran Kimo von Oelhoffen to the Jets. He has filled his role quite well since.

Keisel adds a dimension to the defense that his predecessor was unable to. Not only does he stuff the run and get to the quarterback on occasion, but he also has the athletic ability to drop back into pass coverage.

While Keisel has never been one to rack up big numbers, he brings an intangible to the field that adds to his worth. His disruptive, versatile style of play forces opposing offenses to account for him on passing downs as well as running the ball.

“I am extremely happy for a lot of reasons,” said Keisel. “One I have the opportunity to play my entire career with one team. Two, this team, I can’t say enough about how I feel about it. I genuinely love and appreciate the players I play with and have gotten a great relationship with the players too. To be able to stay here and be a part of hopefully more Super Bowls was a dream of mine and it’s surreal that it’s going to happen.”

The signing comes as a surprise to some after the team drafted Ziggy Hood with their first round pick this year, but with the advancing age of All-Pro Aaron Smith on the other side of the defensive line, the Steelers have set themselves up to bring Hood along without the pressure of having to start right away.

Hood will have a definite role this season, but the security of having Keisel signed gives them added confidence in the case that either veteran goes down to injury.

Smith will most likely play one or two more seasons. While their will be large shoes to fill for Hood in this case, having Keisel signed gives the franchise security for the future at the position while keeping another character player in the locker room during the prime of his career. 

Defending the Bling in the Burgh; Surprises from the preseason and how they will effect the Steelers this season

The halfway point of the NFL preseason has come and gone. For every expected occurrence this preseason there have been just as many surprises.

Michael Vick found his way back into the NFL, and with the Philadelphia Eagles of all places. Donte Stallworth spends less than a month in jail for hitting a man with his car, and finds himself suspended for the entire season without pay. Oh and how could I forget Plaxico Burress shooting himself in the leg in a New York nightclub. Landing him in Jail for the next two years and all but certainly ending his NFL career at the age of 32.

Surprise, surprise, surprise…

So think it not strange that the defending Super Bowl champs have had a few surprises of their own this preseason. Some for the better, some for the worse, but no matter how you look at it the surprises have made this one of the more memorable preseasons in recent memory.

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