(10-16-2018, 12:50 PM)Joelist Wrote: Too bad there is no line for Teryl Austin, as after rewatching the Stealers game (lost my lunch in the process) I am thinking more and more the problem is schematic. Dre and WJIII are clearly better in man coverage. Bates needs to be free to react to the ball and use either Williams or Fed kind of like a SS/4th LB.

The scheme problems continue up front where we are doing almost nothing to get Geno and/or Dunlap matched up better. No flips, stunts or anything. How about as an experiment do some downs with Billings and Tupou at Tackle and Geno and Dunlap at the ends? ANYTHING to get the DL into better matchups.

(10-16-2018, 11:34 AM)bfine32 Wrote: Lawson is having a fine season for a rotational sophomore Dlineman. I believe his pressure rate against the QB is one of the better in the league

WJIII is our best corner (Given DD is closing the gap)

Dre is a starting quality offside CB

Shawn Williams has already won a game for us this year.

Folks are just overly emotional after a Steelers loss. This D held Pitt to 6 points for 29:50 of the second half. If our O could have managed 2 TDs in that same half against a poor Steeler D we win.

We are just one week removed from agreeing that the D won a game for us.

I will say I did like what I saw from Adolphus Washington and think he could take Billing's job if given a shot.

(10-16-2018, 01:43 PM)Shake n Blake Wrote: The defense allows 28 points, almost 500 yards, 26 first downs, 8/14 3rd down conversions, with 0 sacks and 0 forced turnovers.

Our offense posted only 275 yards, but they had 21 points, 20 first downs, 6/12 3rd downs, with 3 sacks and 0 turnovers.

The offense wasn't great, but they were clutch at the end. The defense was the opposite of clutch at the end. This loss is more on the defense. No doubt about that. As to the defense winning the game last week, they were also terrible for the first 4 weeks. We can't just forget that happened because they were good one week.

(10-16-2018, 12:09 AM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: I don’t think Dre belongs on this list either. He’s by far our best CB right now.

(10-16-2018, 02:53 AM)grampahol Wrote: Teryl Austin and he doesn't even play.  

(10-16-2018, 11:20 AM)Yojimbo Wrote: He's being used too much in coverage, which isn't his strong suit and a bum ankle makes it even worse. I'm starting to think Haslett either doesn't know or doesn't teach the LB's how to pass cover.

(10-16-2018, 01:43 PM)Shake n Blake Wrote: The defense allows 28 points, almost 500 yards, 26 first downs, 8/14 3rd down conversions, with 0 sacks and 0 forced turnovers.

Our offense posted only 275 yards, but they had 21 points, 20 first downs, 6/12 3rd downs, with 3 sacks and 0 turnovers.

The offense wasn't great, but they were clutch at the end. The defense was the opposite of clutch at the end. This loss is more on the defense. No doubt about that. As to the defense winning the game last week, they were also terrible for the first 4 weeks. We can't just forget that happened because they were good one week.

(10-16-2018, 06:37 PM)t3r3e3 Wrote: No less a linebacking authority than London Fletcher said Haslett was a terrible coach.  London appears to be right.

(10-16-2018, 02:46 PM)Socal Bengals fan Wrote: The last two games WJ3 hasn’t allowed a pass completion. He’s easily the best corner.

(10-16-2018, 07:06 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: If true that’s encouraging. He wasn’t looking great earlier in the season.

(10-16-2018, 07:05 PM)sandwedge Wrote: There has been more than a couple of us on here, that have stated the samething about Haslett

(10-16-2018, 07:04 PM)bfine32 Wrote: Well as long as you have no doubt, we can overlook the multiple dropped catches by the O. and them not scoring anything for 29 minutes of the 30 minute second half. We can attribute it to the D that held them to 20 points (would have been their second lowest output of the season) until they had to sell out to get a sack; instead of a O that had the 2nd lowest (points, yards is probably worse) offensive output against the Steelers all year.

Sometimes you have to consider the opponent. The Steelers have been terrible on D all year while excelling at O. 

(10-17-2018, 01:56 AM)Shake n Blake Wrote: Hack and splice it up however, but the overall stats show a decent game for the offense (despite the drops) and a bad game for the defense.

I am considering the opponent. With these divisional games, you can pretty much throw season rankings out the window. Our offense doesn't typically play well against their defense regardless of their ranking, and it's been that way for many years. Our defense has done a much better job of slowing the Steelers in the past, regardless of how high they were ranked (they've been a great offense for a long time now). 

Ultimately, the offense gave us the lead with 1:18 left. They came through with a clutch drive and the defense just couldn't hold. We're not used to seeing this, but our once mighty D has been looking pretty vulnerable this year.