Mike Tomlin, These are YOUR Pittsburgh Steelers

While experiencing success as head coach of the storied Pittsburgh Steelers franchise, it has been hypothesized that a large part of that success is credited to Mike Tomlin inheriting a dominant team left behind by former head coach Bill Cowher.

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach since 2007, Mike Tomlin - photo courtesy of AP.

Now in the ninth season as head coach, Mike Tomlin has only a remnant remaining of the defensive powerhouse that was the Pittsburgh Steelers when he stepped into his new job prior to the 2007 season.  The Steelers were only two years (or one season) removed from a Super Bowl XL Championship team, led by a defense that was top five in total yards allowed (4th), total points allowed (T-3rd), and rush defense (3rd, 86.0 YPG), and an offense that was top five in rushing (5th).

Fast-forward to 2015.  Of the Championship Pittsburgh Steelers team mentioned above, only four players remain today, with only one of those players on the defensive side of the ball.  Ben Roethlisberger, Heath Miller (both on offense), Greg Warren, and James Harrison are the only players who still find themselves fighting for a third Super Bowl championship whose journeys all started out with Bill Cowher at the helm.  Of the 53 players that make up an NFL team roster, precisely 7.5% of Tomlin's team are Cowher leftovers.

While only two years ago the team still contained a fair-share of the former coach's draft selections and undrafted free agents, it is safe to say that as of 2015, the Pittsburgh Steelers is now Mike Tomlin's team.  With that said, it is worth noting that how Tomlin has taken over this team is to be commended.  He respected the lives and careers of the coaches Cowher had in place, and for the most part held on to the staff left behind, which is a stark contrast to what occurs when a regime change takes place in the NFL.  Tomlin has slowly transitioned to coordinators and coaches he has influenced the hiring on.  So it will be interesting to see if the former defensive backs coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and former defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings can carry over such success as five interceptions in a Super Bowl victory (2003 Tampa Bay), or leading the league in fewest yards allowed against the run (2006 Vikings) with now having complete control over the once feared Pittsburgh Steelers.

The intention of this article was to provide a compare and contrast between the last Cowher year (2006 season) and the most recent Tomlin year in terms of offensive and defensive performance.  However, that analysis will be more analytically appealing after the 2015 season.  I will, however, end with this:  Mr. Tomlin, here are the keys to the Pittsburgh Steelers.  The team is completely yours, but there are a few things you will need to take note.  While the roster is brand new and under your control, there is a tradition that is old, vintage, steeped in pride and worn proudly... the Steelers own an image of being intimidating to opposing teams around the league.  Every contest may not have been won, but the opposition left the field knowing they just played the Pittsburgh Steelers.  The offense imposes it will on defenses by stuffing the ball between tackles and wearing down linebackers and defensive backs.  The defense ran ferociously and furiously around the field, making ball carriers think twice about touching the ball.  We trust you to drive this new team in the manner you deem efficient, but we will demand you carry on the tradition of this great franchise, where our "heads [may be] bloodied, but unbowed."  I know you know where that comes from, now feed your team on it.

Mike Tomlin, we present to you, the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Steelers 2015 Defense Has Bullies

In a matter of hours from now the 2015 Steelers open the season in Foxborough, Mass. for a Thursday night visit to Gillete Stadium to match up against the New England Patriots.  The Steelers defense will have their hands full as Patriots QB Tom Brady has suspension overturned by NY judge and is allowed to return to the field as a full participant in NFL competition.

Heyward a disruptive force in the Steelers defense - image may be subject to copyright.
 

Steelers fans everywhere welcome the first regular season meeting of the 2015 season as the preseason has been slowly painful to watch for several reasons.  First, the Steelers 2015 preseason was extended due to playing in the Hall of Fame Game.  Watching five games that do not count can get tiresome and increase anticipation.  While five exhibition games provides more opportunities to watch the Black and Gold in actual contests, the "slow and painful" comes into play when said contests results in a 1-4 preseason record.

As we all know, a 20% preseason win ratio translates to absolutely nil in regards to the regular season standings and success rate of the team.  What contributed to the losses, however, was lingering torture for any long time Steeler fan who thrives in the identity of the Black and Gold being impossible to move the ball on.  The preseason was filled with subpar offensive athletes picking apart the Steelers defense with a duo of attacks; pounding the ball on the ground turning 1st and 10s into 2nd and shorts, or aerial assaults with the ball finding its way into the hands of non-contested receivers.  When I say "non-contested" I mean not a black and gold uniform in sight.  Needless to say, watching two and half quarters or more (as was the case for the game in Buffalo, NY) per game almost became nauseating.

With the preseason now concluded, rosters down to a league-mandated 53 hats, and Week 1 of the 2015 NFL Season currently underway, Steelers fans aren't the most confident in what we've witnessed, defensively.  Considering what is on tape from the five weeks prior, and taking into account that they face Tom Brady and the current reigning Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots, it is hard to display confidence in a defensive unit that was carved up like Thanksgiving Day turkey under new coordinator Keith Butler.

Well I'm here to put your nervousness to rest, and to inform uneasy fans with that what we've seen in the preseason is not a forecast of things to come for the 2015 Steel Curtain.  The defense now states its case and presents its findings:

Evidence 1 - There were zero snaps in the preseason where all eleven defensive starters were on the field together.  I repeat, zero.  Some have asked is this cause for concern.  While a valid question, and an answer in the affirmative can state its case, I'd beg to differ.  This is actually why our nerves should be settled.  Why?  It indicates that we, at no point, saw what will translate into the Steelers defense during the majority of the snaps of the regular season.  So the defense we witnessed get marched down the field time and time again is not what will be on the field verses Tom Brady.

Evidence 2 - Aside from one series against Green Bay starters which included Aaron Rodgers, the Steelers were aligned in basic packages and formations, which included very little stunts and/or exotic blitzes and coverages.  There was one blitz called for Shamarko Thomas to get his execution on tape, which I might add, turned out to be successful and a display of his quickness and toughness.

Base coverages are called more for the emphasis of getting game plays on tape to study player execution of assignments.  They are not designed to put pressure on opposing offenses.  Understand this;  Keith Butler is very aware that there is currently no game tape on his defensive schemes and game plan.  He understands that this seemingly irrelevant fact can play to his advantage.  Knowing this was not worth sacrificing for the sake of picking up a preseason victory.  As it stands right now, the Patriots have no tape to gameplan against the Steelers defense.  Advantage?  Steelers.

Evidence 3 - Let's examine that one (1) series in preseason Game 3 hosting Aaron Rodgers and what is expected to be an explosive Green Bay offense.  This is a series that, while not all starters were on the field for the Steelers' D, Butler did exercise the freedom of calling in some plays designed to put some pressure on the Green Bay offense.  The series followed a perfect punt by Jordan Berry which dropped inside the five yard line and was downed at the Green Bay one yard line by Antwon Blake, which is where the Packers started their second offensive series.

On 1st and 10, the Packers ran the ball off-tackle which was quickly covered and stuffed by Bud Dupree for no gain.  On 2nd and 10, Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt backed up the center and guards into the pocket forcing a hurried throw by Rodgers, which fell incomplete in front of a WR covered by Boykin.  It was on the subsequent 3rd and 10 where we witnessed what will most likely resemble a Steelers defense under Butler.

Personnel?  Blake joined all four starters in the secondary (Mitchell, Thomas, Gay, Allen).  Shazier was joined in the linebacking corps by Spence, Dupree, and Harrison.  Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt anchored the defense (both starters) at defensive tackle.

Offense Showing?  Packers have four receivers wide, two to each side, including the TE split two yards off of the strong side tackle.  Rodgers is in shotgun joined by RB.  From what is being shown, there are six (6) offensive players in pass protection (5 linemen and 1 RB).

How it plays out?  Spence is covering the split TE, which we will find out is a decoy and the TE is picked up by Shazier.  What Rodgers is viewing as a four-man rush, with a potential of five, will turn out to be a six man rush.  So you have a six-man rush against a six-man pass-pro.  We already know the play resulted in a sack safety credited to James Harrison, who did beat his man.  Watching the video, below, we learn why Harrison and three others ended up on top of Aaron Rodgers in his own endzone.

The result of the play is Deebo, Dupree, Spence and Tuitt all wind up on the quarterback and with the first two being credited for incredible play.  The unsung hero here who did not receive any credit, let alone, accolades for the play is Cam Heyward.  The video is stopped at what allowed this play to result in a sack.  It is a case of Cam Heyward's brute disruptiveness, with a little help from Stephon Tuitt, and a mere case of simple math.  Heyward is lined up as a 5-technique tackle, but his long and quick first step with low, angled shoulders allows him to shoot the A-gap before the center and guard can get to their first pass-pro step.  Heyward's first step requires a double-team from the center and guard, but his threat in the backfield early quickly requires attention from the other guard.  Tuitt stunts behind Heyward from 2-technique, which draws in the offensive tackle on the strong-side (opposite side of where Heyward was).  The weak-side guard working on Heyward tries to stop Tuitt on his stunt.  You now have the interior offensive linemen all working on one guy...Heyward.  The strong side tackle moves in to account for the gap created by the same side guard assisting on Heyward.

Let's do the math; one defender taking on three linemen.  There are five rushers remaining against three in pass protection.  Of the remaining three, one is out of position because Heyward is having his way with the interior linemen, one is taking on Deebo one-on-one (I think we know who wins), and the third is a running back taking on Sean Spence.  This leaves two rushers (Dupree and Tuitt) to go QB head-hunting.  While both ended up on the pile, Dupree did not make initial contact for the sack, staying home to spy Rodgers, respecting his mobility.  Spence effortlessly backed Eddie Lacy up into Aaron Rodgers, clogging up the throwing lanes.  Deebo mercilessly left the tackle out of his shoes, laying a spine-numbing hit on Rodgers to result in a sack safety.  The genius of it all (credit to Butler) is that Shazier could have rushed the QB and there still would have been adequate coverage down field.

Conclusion - If there is any question around the effectiveness using the preseason as a barometer, it is whether or not the Steelers can stuff the run on first downs.  With Heyward, McClendon, and Tuitt leading the charge, and if Timmons is back healthy enough to be who he is, and Shazier showing up around the ball like a dog playing fetch, I think the Steelers defense has what it takes to stuff the run.  If that can happen, I think you'll see Brady taking on a multitude of black and gold jerseys on many occasions, or throwing the ball away to avoid what Harrison is still capable of.  After tonight, however, Butler will need to stay in the lab concocting a mix of attacks and pressures to keep opposing offenses guessing.  The defense will show up in 2015.  There aren't any concerns of what the Steelers are capable of in that department.  Quite frankly, I am more concerned to see how we get out of these first four weeks without what I project will be our most threatening offensive weapon in 2015, Martavis Bryant.  And can D'Angelo Williams hold up taking the majority of the snaps four straight weeks in a row?  Nevertheless, I'm anxious to find out and excited for kickoff in a few hours.  Worried about our defense?  I am not!

Carolina Panthers at Steelers (2015 Preseason Game 4): Halftime Updates

As the 2015 NFL Preseason draws to a close and players state cases for themselves to make a 53-man roster across the league, the Steelers play host to the Carolina Panthers on Thursday evening.  Here are some closing game halftime notes for the Steelers, as they trail the Panthers 17-0.

• Defense continues the trend from Buffalo Bills preseason game 3 (fourth preseason game for the Steelers) of giving up big plays on the first series.  Must avoid starting slow and work on tackling at the point of contact.
• Allow me to repeat... POOR TACKLING by the Steelers defense.
• Secondary can't catch, from the starters on down the chart.  Another dropped would-be INT.
• So far, Josh Harris will not make it beyond the 75-man roster this year.
• Mitchell Van Dyke is a liability and will get somebody hurt in the NFL.
• Carolina did not throw the ball on their second offensive series for eight (8) straight plays.  The Steelers defense could not stop the run.  Carolina is more physical at the line of scrimmage.  The first pass was a screen play, which netted 16 yards.  Sean Spence missed a tackle in the back field.
• Vince Williams is the only Steelers defender who remembers how to tackle.
• Steelers just look ill-prepared, again, tonight.
• Dan Smith appears to have coached-up special teams, as the Steelers looked solid in the "teams game" as Coach Tomlin so eloquently phrases it.
• Dri Archer must stop calling fair-catches on punt returns when he has at least a 10-yard head start on the covering team.  He must feel a false sense of roster security.
• Is Dick Lebeau laughing, in his Titans coaches polo?

Summary:
You know, I was putting together an article on why fans should not worry about the Steelers defense after the Bills game.  The write-up pointed to three key facts.  The first point being that the defense will probably perform closer to what we saw in the Green Bay game.  The second point being that Cam Heyward will be the difference maker on defense, with help from Lawrence Timmons, assuming his return is somewhere on the horizon.  The final point is irrelevant, at this point.  After witnessing two straight weeks of flat performances, being out done physically, outmatched at the line of scrimmage, and quite frankly, outclassed all around, there is becoming a small sense of concern around this 2015 Steelers football team.

Someone will be quick to say, it's the preseason and it doesn't count.  That argument has some merit, as it is the preseason and the games do not contribute to team standings in regards to the playoffs.  However, the concern is not around the scoreboard.  The concern is around the coaching and team preparation.  It is indicated by poor, poor performances put on by those below the first line on the depth chart.  Look at it like this: we are playing second and third string players on the opponents' team.  The difference between execution of the opponents' lesser players and our own is night and day.  It is this observation that pushes me to raise the question: if our second and third string players are not competitive, and they are what makes up the Steelers scout teams which the first string players practice against, how well prepared are our first teamers if this is the competition facing them on practice days?

Another area of concern is, some of these players the Steelers have been putting on the field to compete for jobs this season are the Steelers back-up players.  Allow me to repeat -- they are the BACK-UP!  Aside from Ben and the offensive line, no player gets 100% snaps on game day.  Two, if one of the starters goes down (as the trend has been so far in 2015), these second and third teamers are the guys who are stepping in to play starters of the Patriots, the Seahawks, the Broncos, the Cardinals, the Chargers, etc.  Do I need to mention that it will be for official standings?

In closing, Mike Tomlin needs to shake things up.  Cut some of those players who think their roster spot is secure.  Show the rest of the team this is the big leagues.  And for goodness sakes, get Ian Wild on the line!  This guy at least shows up on game day with enthusiasm and a willingness to play tackle football.  Trust me, we are not going to miss a Mitchell Van Dyke.  Tomlin, this is on you coach!

Steelers Aim to Keep Brown Happy With Pay Raise

Prior to offseason team activities for the 2015 season, it was rumored that Pittsburgh Steelers star wide receiver Antonio Brown was planning to hold-out, seeking a new deal following a season in which Brown led the NFL in receptions and receiving yards.

Antonio Brown, the NFL's leading wide-out in 2014 - courtesy of footballperspective.com

In 2014, Antonio Brown established himself as one of the league's premier wide receivers after racking up 1,698 yards on 129 receptions, leading the NFL in both statistics.  He also tacked on 13 touchdowns as Brown became a leading weapon on a potent Steelers offense.

Heading into 2015, wide receivers have established themselves as top earners in the NFL, where historically quarterbacks, defensive tackles and edge rushers, and blind-side offensive tackles have been the top earners.  Wide receivers can now consider themselves in the upper echelon of contract earning potential.  With this trend, Brown has watched wide-outs such as Demaryius Thomas, Dez Bryant, and more recently, Julio Jones all receive huge paydays heading into the 2015 season, leaving him, now (following the Julio Jones contract) as the 15th highest paid wide receiver in the league (per www.overthecap.com), behind even Mike Wallace, the former Steelers wide-out who Brown has surpassed in terms of production.

With AB being the top receiver in 2014 in terms of receptions and total receiving yards, the threat and rumors lurking of a hold-out, while not popular with fans nor teammates, is certainly merited.  Take into account Brown being the league's premier receiver, yet was due more than $10 million less than the top earning wide receiver is scheduled to receive in 2015, and one can understand Brown's frustration.

Obviously, the Steelers not only sensed Brown's frustration but are seeking to keep the standout wide receiver content until after the 2015 season.  News broke this afternoon that the Steelers have restructured Brown's contract to give their number one offensive threat in the passing game a $2 million pay increase this year.  While this still doesn't put Brown even close to the $14 million due to Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas, it communicates to AB that the Steelers front office is interested in keeping the Pro Bowl talent happy.  The contract structure also communicates to Brown that the Steelers are interested in incentivizing his performance, but sticking to the rigid Steelers rule of not negotiating contracts during the offseason.

The restructuring comes as part of a three-player restructuring to clear up some cap room, with preseason winding down, and Steelers needing to address the contract of recently traded kicker Josh Scobee from the Jaguars who was due $3.4 million this year.  In the move, Kevin Colbert took $2 million of the salary due to Brown in 2016 and applied it as a 2015 signing bonus.  Brown's 2015 earnings increase from the $6 million salary he was due this year to $8 million.  The other two players included in contract restructurings were TE Heath Miller and K Shaun Suisham.

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