The Steelers Are Living in Bizarro World

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Remember Bizarro World? No, not the planet in DC comics where superhero’s are the opposite of what the are on Earth. (Excuse me while I push up my nerd glasses) I’m talking about the Sunday comic strip just below Garfield where there’s a twisted spin on the reality of some pop culture topic – usually funny but always guaranteed to be just weird.

Well the Steelers are currently living in Bizarro World… unfortunately no one is laughing. It’s just weird.

The Steelers have been in the top five in rush defense for the past decade. They are also known as one of the best rushing offenses in the league. They are also known as having one of the worst passing defenses in the league. Well let me lay a stat or two down for you:

NFL Rank

1st: _____

12th: _____

23rd: _____

8th: _____

Would you believe me if I ever told you that the Steelers through three weeks would have the best passing defense in the league? Well be prepared for that spit take – they are #1 in passing defense in the league. They rank 12th in rush defense (not terrible but not characteristic of this team). They rank 8th in the pass and 23rd in rushing offense – now who would have thought that too? Bizarre.

So I ask of you Steelers Nation – What is more surprising?

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sperryr

Scary thought #1: The Steelers #1 against the pass ranking is likely a function of playing two and a half awful quarterbacks in the last two weeks. If we are still within the top ten at passing defense after the Houston game, I will be happy.

Scary thought #2: The run defense allowed a Colts’ team that is never good at running to go for a lot of yards last Sunday and we are near the bottom of the league in yards per attempt allowed. This could also mean problems in the future.

I have this sneaking suspicion that the window of opportunity for this defensive core may have passed last season and we didn’t really appreciate them like we should have. Most fan bases do not get to enjoy a team as good as the Steelers have been for the last 8-10 years in their lifetime.
sperryr

Scary thought #1: The Steelers #1 against the pass ranking is likely a function of playing two and a half awful quarterbacks in the last two weeks. If we are still within the top ten at passing defense after the Houston game, I will be happy.

Scary thought #2: The run defense allowed a Colts’ team that is never good at running to go for a lot of yards last Sunday and we are near the bottom of the league in yards per attempt allowed. This could also mean problems in the future.

I have this sneaking suspicion that the window of opportunity for this defensive core may have passed last season and we didn’t really appreciate them like we should have. Most fan bases do not get to enjoy a team as good as the Steelers have been for the last 8-10 years in their lifetime.
RBolt

All in all the Steelers aren’t a very good team… right now. But hopefully things will slow down a bit so they can get a handle on things. If the O line doesn’t blow an assignment or get man-handled, then they get flagged for holding. It’s a no win for those guys up front. The D line doesn’t cause much of a disruption at all. The turnover ratio is very bad. Is it due to a slow start or are they just simply too old? I don’t think it’s age – yet. I’d be really worried if they struggled against the Seahawks. But they flat out beat them. That should be an indicator that the Steelers are going to be okay. If they had struggled against a bad team – at home, then we have a problem. P. Manning gets all the headlines for the Colts. Everybody forgets they have a really solid D. You have to give credit where credit is due. You put up any D line against the Steelers O line, & I doubt the Steelers win many of those battles. But a good team like the Steelers will find a way to win when the whistle blows. It won’t be pretty.
RBolt

All in all the Steelers aren’t a very good team… right now. But hopefully things will slow down a bit so they can get a handle on things. If the O line doesn’t blow an assignment or get man-handled, then they get flagged for holding. It’s a no win for those guys up front. The D line doesn’t cause much of a disruption at all. The turnover ratio is very bad. Is it due to a slow start or are they just simply too old? I don’t think it’s age – yet. I’d be really worried if they struggled against the Seahawks. But they flat out beat them. That should be an indicator that the Steelers are going to be okay. If they had struggled against a bad team – at home, then we have a problem. P. Manning gets all the headlines for the Colts. Everybody forgets they have a really solid D. You have to give credit where credit is due. You put up any D line against the Steelers O line, & I doubt the Steelers win many of those battles. But a good team like the Steelers will find a way to win when the whistle blows. It won’t be pretty.
steelersfanri

You can’t run the ball well with a poor O-line. The passing defense at #1 may change againt the Texans who love the long ball.Stopping the run stat is the most shocking to me, but then again, Roger Goodell has changed the NFL. Look at how many QBs have thrown for more than 300+ yards. Roger’s bot Tom Brady is sending him love lettersevery week.
steelersfanri

You can’t run the ball well with a poor O-line. The passing defense at #1 may change againt the Texans who love the long ball.Stopping the run stat is the most shocking to me, but then again, Roger Goodell has changed the NFL. Look at how many QBs have thrown for more than 300+ yards. Roger’s bot Tom Brady is sending him love lettersevery week.
steelersfanri

@sperryr Roger Goodell has changed the league. It is a passing league. Steelers can’t run due to a poor O-line minus Pouncey, let’s face it they are horrible.
steelersfanri

@sperryr Roger Goodell has changed the league. It is a passing league. Steelers can’t run due to a poor O-line minus Pouncey, let’s face it they are horrible.
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GAMEDAYGOODS

Here’s another anomaly: they are currently dead last in the NFL in turnover differential at -9. They still have all the talent in place, and the rushing defense has pretty much no where to go but up.
GAMEDAYGOODS

Here’s another anomaly: they are currently dead last in the NFL in turnover differential at -9. They still have all the talent in place, and the rushing defense has pretty much no where to go but up.
Katt661

I know enough about football to know the Steelers are not playing like they did last year. I don’t think it’s age nor attitude. I think the coaching staff …….all of them, has being doing some experimenting or thinking they can play this game from the sidelines. The players seem confused as does Ben Roethlisberger. Something is wrong here.

I even thought that maybe Arian, LeBeau are throwing the season experimenting with new plays for new younger players next year. Conspiracy theory? Yeah, probably, but how else do you explain that they got so bad in just nine months?
Katt661

I know enough about football to know the Steelers are not playing like they did last year. I don’t think it’s age nor attitude. I think the coaching staff …….all of them, has being doing some experimenting or thinking they can play this game from the sidelines. The players seem confused as does Ben Roethlisberger. Something is wrong here.

I even thought that maybe Arian, LeBeau are throwing the season experimenting with new plays for new younger players next year. Conspiracy theory? Yeah, probably, but how else do you explain that they got so bad in just nine months?