View topic - ESPN breakdown of STEELER offensive and defensive schemes

[Hi5Steeler Profile]

Offensive scheme: The Steelers' offense strikes a balance between power running (frequently out of two-tight end formations) and the four- and five-receiver spread sets preferred by QB Ben Roethlisberger. Coordinator Bruce Arians is more pass-happy than predecessor Ken Whisenhunt, but RB Willie Parker will continue to carry a significant load. Coaches are even working up some formations that put Parker and first-round pick RB Rashad Mendenhall on the field together. Pittsburgh's varied personnel groupings, alignments and tempo -- empty sets, shotgun formations, no-huddle -- can be difficult to prepare for and defend. Arians will give Roethlisberger the freedom to audible and change protection schemes, which may help alleviate some of the problems from last season that threaten to spill over into 2008.



Defensive scheme: Dick LeBeau has perfected the zone blitz, and the Steelers won't change the scheme as long as he is defensive coordinator. More often than not, Pittsburgh uses some variation of Cover 2 or Cover 3 behind a 3-4 front. But LeBeau likes to confuse quarterbacks with varied coverages and bring pressure from the outside to force the issue. This defense isn't meant to stay on the field long and the secondary doesn't match up very well, so the Steelers try to beat offenses with all-out pressure. They need to concentrate on playing better in the fourth quarter. Pittsburgh lost four games last year after failing to make key late stops.

Link to article below shows similar breakdowns for all nfl teams

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/preview08 ... id=3559627

[sbbound Profile]

Lets hope an improved pass rush drastically alters those 4th qtr stats for our defense. I think an improved pass rush will help Troy more then anyone else because he wont be depended upon so much at the LOS. In this way he'll be more the decoy that he should be, not used to rush as much, and be able to drop back in coverage more and just make athletic play after athletic play on the football.

[jstallworth82 Profile]

Well if the team quits being so conservative it may also help. If you allow the O to score and keep scoring then by the time the 4th QTR comes your not trying to hold onto a 3 pt lead. The attitude must improve. They go 3 and out and the O is smiling and joking. With this Offense 3 and outs should become rare and unacceptable. They have the horses so there is no real excuse except for the O-line but everyone but me believes that they will gel and be a strong unit. The O has tons of talent use it. The D is easily strong enough to hold most teams sothey should be able todo well. The coaching staff needs to prepare better.

[WoodsonOfSteel Profile]

Lets hope an improved pass rush drastically alters those 4th qtr stats for our defense.

A more effective pass-rush will do worlds of good for a defense like ours. It's all focused on pressure and trickery. You allow too much time for a QB to think, he'll pick you apart. Hence why our defense always going back and forth from shutdown to suspect. If we're going to be hoping, let's hope the in-practice conditioning will allow 100% over 60 minutes.

Ray Seals... If you're reading this... Your thoughts?

Well if the team quits being so conservative it may also help.

I wonder if this has anything to do with the respectable-ness of the Steelers organization. Perhaps it's this mentality that prevents the Steelers from doing anything other than going into 'turtle-ball' mode, as it's been endearingly referred to, with a lead late in the game.

Maybe it has something to do with trying to keep games competitive. (Now we're dipping into conspiracy theory) What usually happens when a game becomes lop-sided? Yep. If possible, cut over to a more competitive game.

I presume y'all remember the running-the-score uproar from last season? (See Patriots/Redskins game if not.)

Personally, I say TAKE NO FRIGGIN' PRISONERS!!!

The only time I'm against a score being ran is when it's being done AGAINST the Steelers. Imagine that.

Here's to football!

[gutofsteel Profile]

Blame offensive and defensive turtling for blowing late game leads. It's not just a Cowher staple, it's a league-wide epidemic. You can't sit back when it counts and wait for the offense to fail to execute. Even teams with scrub QB's can get it done against a soft defense. Well, unless Carson Palmer is your QB.

Man, I hope Tomlin learned his lesson last year. They got two bullets in the gun with Ben and that defense, and last year they routinely went down without firing a shot.

As for the Steelers offense being tough to prepare for, defenses will pin their ears back and attack that OL. The skill players will have to make plays because there is just no relying on that OL.