December 2, 2012;Baltimore, MD, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cortez Allen (28) breaks up a pass intended for Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith (82) at M

When defensive players are drafted by the Steelers, they have to be pretty good to see the field, much less start. For corners in the Dick Lebeau system, they often do not start until their third season, if at all. Keenan Lewis didn’t start until his 4th season, barely contributing as the 3rd corner until 2011. It takes a special player to contribute as a cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers for at least 3 years, even Ike Taylor, a staple in the Steelers secondary, didn’t make major contributions until his 3rd season.

A little more than 2 years ago, the Steelers drafted Cortez Allen, a 6’1 296 lb corner out of The Citadel. Allen was seen as a project, but the Steelers knew that this “project” could turn into a product with a little coaching. Last summer, Ike Taylor was quoted saying that Cortez Allen could be “way better than me.” Between being in the same defensive backs room, to Allen working out with Ike during the offseason, Ike Taylor would know better than anyone what Allen is capable of.

Does Cortez Allen’s play on the field support Ike Taylor’s claim? I decided to break down Cortez Allen’s film after his first two seasons in the NFL, because as they say “the eye in the sky will never lie.”

“PLEASE STOP IT!”

Granted, it would one incredible story if Pittsburgh decided to “nut up” and began to reel off “W’s” into January and February.  Unfortunately, unlike the teams I alluded to above, the 2012 Steelers will fail to accomplish anything during postseason play because of their shortcomings in two extremely important areas of the game: Creating a consistent pass rush, and recording ample amounts of Takeaways.

I. The Importance of a Consistent Pass Rush

If there is one thing that any Defense must be able to do when they face the best Quarterbacks in the Conference in postseason play, they must be able to collapse the pocket and take the signal-caller down with consistency.   It is not rocket-science ladies and gentlemen, if opposing signal-callers of playoff caliber teams are allowed to stand like statues and step into throws and up into the pocket without the fear of getting their “bells’ rung,” a Defense has little to no chance of success.  Don’t believe me?  Check out how the ’97 Broncos, the ’00 Ravens, the ’05 Steelers, the ’07 & ’11 Giants, and the ’10 Packers did:

’97 Broncos

Although the ‘97 Broncos will always be known as the team John Elway won the first of his two rings on, many forget how underrated their Defense was, especially their Defensive Line.  A 4-3 team built to pressure the Quarterback with their guys in the trenches, the Broncos had quite the beastly Linemen on their roster during the 1997 season.  Defensive Ends Neil Smith and Alfred Williams both logged 8.5 Sacks apiece, while the stout Maa Tanuvasa also registered 8.5 Sacks too from his Defensive Tackle spot.  With contributions from Keith Traylor (2.0), Rookie Trevor Pryce, and veteran Mike Lodish (1.0) as well, the Broncos brought the heat upon their opposition during 1997 and finished the regular season ranked 10th in the League in Sacks (43.0).  The Sack parade however carried over into January too as Denver’s Defense put up 11.0 Sacks during their 4 postseason games on their way to a Super Bowl title.

’00 Ravens

While the Ravens’ Defense did not necessarily possess many “Sack Masters,” (35.0 Sacks ranked shockingly 22nd in the League that season), they still had a number of players who could get to the Quarterback.  Defensive Ends Rob Burnett (10.5) and Michael McCrary (6.5) did a solid job of providing heat off of the edge with Linebacker Peter Boulware (7.0) that year.  Although their Total Sacks ranking amongst N.F.L. teams that season appears a bit pedestrian, Baltimore’s Defense only amped up the pressure when the postseason started as they recorded 14.0 Sacks, and only allowed 16 total points as a unit during their 4 game playoff run.

’05 Steelers

I do not need to go into too much detail to describe how adept the 2005 Steelers were at getting to the Quarterback, but for the sake of remembering the “good times,” I will refresh everybody’s memories.  Of course Pittsburgh’s Outside Linebackers’ were the Sack Masters’ that season as Joey Porter (10.5), Clark Haggans (9.0), and backup James Harrison (3.0) all terrorized the opposition that season.  The Steelers also received significant contributions from their Defensive Ends as Kimo von Oelhoffen (3.5), Aaron Smith (2.0), and backup Brett Keisel (3.0) all did their best to collapse the pocket in passing situations to boot.  Pittsburgh even received terrific efforts from their Defensive Backs as Troy Polamalu (3.0) and Deshea Townsend (3.0) showed how good they were when they were allowed to blitz.  Pittsburgh’s Defense was relentless with their pocket collapse during the postseason as they Sacked Peyton Manning 5.0 times in Indianapolis and recorded 15.0 Sacks during their 4 game run.

’10 Packers

Two years ago, Green Bay’s Defense led by Coordinator Dom Capers benefited greatly from their relentless pass rush over the course of the season.  The Packers ranked 2nd in the League in total Sacks (47.0) as Clay Matthews (13.5) led the team and emerged as a complete force off of the edge.  Green Bay also received significant contributions from their Defensive Line as both Cullen Jenkins (7.0) and B.J. Raji (6.5) stepped up big for the unit.  Capers’ Defense put up 11.0 Sacks during their tear through the postseason, and I don’t think I need to bring up Super Bowl XLV, do I?  Remember that Pick-6 Big Ben threw to Nick Collins?  I do, because Ramon Foster was beaten on that play when the pocket collapsed at the Goal Line and Roethlisberger was forced to throw an errant pass.

PIttsburgh’s Defense will likely prevent them from going deep into the postseason. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

’07 & ’11 Giants

The ‘07 and ‘11 Giants were absolutely stacked on the Defensive Line, and used their pocket-collapsing awesomeness to keep their playoff hopes alive all season long.  In 2007, New York led the League in Sacks with 53.0 as their Defensive End rotation of Osi Umenyiora (13.0), Justin Tuck (10.0), and Michael Strahan (9.0) made life hell for opposing Offensive Tackles, and Defensive Tackle Fred Robbins chipped in with 5.5 Sacks of his own.  The crowning moment of the season for New York’s pass rush of course came in Super Bowl XLII as they Sacked Tom Brady 5 times are were instrumental in New York’s 4 game run to glory.

Last season, New York was able to consistently deliver pressure all season from a strong rotation along their Defensive Line.  Defensive End Jason Pierre-Paul led the team with 16.5 Sacks, while Umenyiora (9.0), Tuck (5.0), Dave Tollefson (5.0), Chris Canty (4.0), and Defensive Tackle Linval Joseph chipped in also.  The Giants finished Tied for 3rd in the League with 48.0 total Sacks, and registered 11.0 Sacks during their 4 playoff games as they once again shut down Tom Brady and New England’s high-powered Offense on the game’s biggest stage.

’12 Steelers

Unlike the teams I listed above, the 2012 Steelers do not know the meaning of the word “pressure” or the phrase “pocket collapse.”  I will admit that it is not necessarily the Defense’s fault, especially since James Harrison has been hobbled for most of the season, LaMarr Woodley is injured yet again and will probably contribute nothing down the stretch as he is likely out of shape, and backups Jason Worilds and Chris Carter have been either inconsistent (Worilds), or non-existent and injured (Carter).  So far this year though, the Steelers rank 22nd in the League in Sacks (26.0), and their lack of a pass rush has caused their subpar Secondary filled with underperforming veterans, injured players, and inexperienced youngsters to be carved to pieces numerous times by the likes of Carson Palmer, an elderly Matt Hasselbeck, Philip Rivers, etc..

I tip my hat to Adam Muema and the Aztecs. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-US PRESSWIRE

With a 5-3 record and their starting Quarterback sidelined, the Aztecs could have just mailed it in like some professional football teams when they have had their starting signal-callers go down (*cough*cough*).  Nobody would have blamed S.D.S.U., and it seems to be all the rage in the N.F.L. right now amongst some franchises without adequate backup situations in place.  You know, in spite of some writers expressing their doubts at the beginning of the year about a team in the A.F.C. North and their inadequate Quarterback depth.

But there was “No Quit” in this Aztecs team.  They simply relied on their veteran backup Adam Dingwell and the masterful running of Adam Muema (1,355 Yards, 16 TD’s) and Walter Kazee (822 Yards, 8 TD’s) behind their stout Offensive Line.  The Defense, led by stud Cornerback Leon McFadden (please Steelers, please consider drafting him) also stepped up down the stretch to help the team reel off some incredible Wins like their 21-19 triumph over then-#19 Boise State on the “Smurf Turf.”

I understand that this team will not get any sort of recognition outside of Mountain West fanbases or Southern California.  And you know what?  That’s fine.  But lack of headlines aside, I just wanted to extend a “Thank You” to Head Coach Rocky Long and the rest of his staff and players for their hard-nosed and physical play.  As a San Diego native and long-time Aztecs fan, I just wanted to say that you guys were truly a treat to watch and follow during your adversity filled season.

Wallace being boxed out for the ball. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-US PRESSWIRE

Sunday’s Slop-Fest

Do not get me wrong, I knew that the Steelers would have their hands full yesterday, and I even picked Cleveland to upset them.  But yesterday’s game was downright painful to watch, and although it makes me sad to type, here are my thoughts from the 20-14 Loss:

• Kevin Colbert, whatever moves you make this offseason, please allow Mike Wallace and Rashard Mendenhall to walk after the season.  From his poor ball-security, to his inability to run between the Tackles, and his recent Knee and Achilles injuries, I believe that Mendenhall’s career is at an end with the Black & Gold.  To me, there are plenty of Backs around in April’s Draft (Stepfan Taylor, Johnathan Franklin, Mike Gillislee, to name a few) who could easily make up for his loss and eventually exceed his productivity on the field, and could be had at a much lower price.

• As for “Dropsy McDropsalot,” his bouts with drops and being boxed out on deep balls has become tiresome to watch.  Emmanuel Sanders (5 Catches, 75 Yards on Sunday) might not be the type of deep threat Wallace is, but he is a productive target and can catch whatever he gets his hands on whenever his number is called.  This team would be better off looking towards the Draft for another speedster to replace Wallace, receiving a 3rd Round Compensatory Pick in exchange, and allowing a team like the Cowboys or Redskins to overpay and “make it rain” for Wallace’s “Clifford Franklin-like” skill-set.

• Am I the only one pleased with the way Jason Worilds played yesterday?  When healthy, Worilds is a downright force off of the edge, leads the team lead in Sacks (5.0).  In fact, I noticed almost zero dropoff in production and play from #93 all day long as he was effective against the run and attacked Brandon Weeden when he dropped back to pass (4 Tackles, 2.0 Sacks, 1 PD, 3 QB Hurries).  Heck, I would say that Worilds played a better game yesterday than LaMarr Woodley ($61.5 Million) has played over the last two years.  How or why Mike Tomlin or Dick LeBeau have not rotated Worilds (when healthy) in with James Harrison & Woodley to keep them fresh over the last two years has been quite perplexing.  And as bad as it has been to see hobbled and over-paid veterans struggle on the field this year, it has truly been a shame to watch youngsters like Worilds, Steve McLendon, and Cameron Heyward rot on the bench when they could be receiving valuable game-experience and reps.

• This team has nobody to blame but themselves for their backup Quarterback situation, and deserve to reap what they sow right now.  How or why veterans like Byron Leftwich and Charlie Batch were left on this roster without a young, Pro-Style, and potentially effective Quarterback also being groomed behind Big Ben over the last seven seasons is a downright joke.  Omar Jacobs?  Brian St. Pierre?  Tyler Palko?  Dennis Dixon?  Jerrod Johnson?  Troy Smith?  These guys were not the answers in the least bit, and should have never been considered viable options in the first place!  Sure, the Brian Hoyer signing is nice, but a “too little, too late” move in terms of him doing anything of relevance this season.  Even with Hoyer’s addition, I still hope this team can bring in some competition from somewhere else this offseason to really solidify the depth behind Big Ben.  Remember, Roethlisberger will be entering his 10th season in 2013, and it would be comforting to have some depth behind him that is not calcifying by the day or at the very least can lead the Offense on a scoring drive or two if they must replace him.

• 8 bleeping Turnovers?!  The Steelers coughed up the ball entirely too often yesterday.  As I alluded to before, the stable of Backs on Pittsburgh’s roster are not cutting the mustard, and now that Chris Rainey looks to be out for a significant period, help must come and must come fast from talent outside of the organization.  There is no excuse for the type of lackadaisical ball-security this team put on display on Sunday afternoon, and it will continue to be a problem until better personnel is brought in, or jobs are in jeopardy because of piss-poor execution.

• For those of you whining about how the Steelers did not get that Fumble around the 2 Minute Warning, STOP IT!  Does it stink that the rule is in place?  Heck yes!  Is it unfortunate that the call affected the Steelers at such a crucial time?  Heck, yes!  But you know what?  The rule is the rule, and it would not have made a difference if Pittsburgh’s Offense had not turned it over 8 times during the game!  Hey, I know, maybe the team should have rushed for more than 49 Yards.  If you want to place blame anywhere, start with the team, not the officials.

• The utter lack of discipline this team has displayed throughout the year in terms of their penalties is terrible, and I really hope that Tomlin and the rest of his staff instill some discipline this week.  Tomlin has always been one to talk tough with his “Standard is the Standard,” “Excuses are for the Incompetent,” “Unleash Hell,” and “5 Star Matchup” mantras, but now that he has an undisciplined, under-manned, and under-achieving team at his disposal, it is time for him to step up as a Coach, clean up the undisciplined messes, and make the best out of his current situation.  The Steelers looked ill-prepared to go out and win a football game yesterday, and Tomlin must rally his troops to salvage an “almost lost” season.

Final Thoughts

At 6-5, this team still has a shot to make the postseason, and the final 5 games should be a fantastic litmus test for the players and Coaching Staff.    I want to see if some members of this team have any “fight” left in them, or if they are simply content to “mail it in” like some members did in 2009.  I am also intrigued to see some of the younger players I alluded to before (Worilds, Heyward, McLendon), as well as like Cortez Allen, Curtis Brown, and see if they can step up when they are asked to contribute.  I still have some faith in this team as there are some on the roster (Heath Miller, Sanders, Worilds, Lawrence Timmons, Ryan Clark, Larry Foote, Harrison to name a few) continuing to play at a high level.  Whether or not other members of the team can step up their play though is an entirely different issue altogether, and I hope that if the Coaching Staff begins to see some “mailing it in” down the stretch, they are disciplined swiftly and made accountable.

Readers:  Is the season lost?  How awful was that game?  Who deserves the most blame?  Can this team recover?  Why?

Figures and Stats Courtesy of: Pro Football Reference.com and ESPN.com

No Big Ben & Other Assorted Injuries

Tomlin needs to rally his team. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE

No disrespect to Byron Leftwich and Charlie Batch, but there is no way they can replace a future Hall of Famer in the middle of the best statistical season of his career.  To be fair, I can probably count the number of Quarterbacks in the League on one hand who could come in and adequately replace a guy like Roethlisberger and his 66.1% Completion Percentage (209 for 316), 2,287 Yards, and 17 Touchdowns.  Sadly for the Steelers, Big Ben’s shoulder ailment does not make him the only one on the roster with injury issues.

Pittsburgh’s best all-around Wide Receiver, Antonio Brown, is dealing with an ankle issue, and starting Right Tackle Marcus Gilbert has not played in over four weeks due to an injured ankle as well .  The Running Back position has also been in flux in recent weeks as Rashard Mendenhall has missed significant time with an Achilles problem, Jonathan Dwyer has had a quadriceps problems, Isaac Redman has dealt with ankle issues, and Chris Rainey’s ribs were hurt on an illegal hit against the Giants.

As for the injuries which have piled on on the Defensive side of the ball, things are basically being held together with scotch tape at the moment.  Future Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu is still nursing his calf injury, and has not played since Pittsburgh’s Week 5 game against the Eagles.  What makes this just as terrible is that Polamalu’s Safety-mate Ryan Clark recently sustained his second concussion in three weeks against the Chiefs on Monday Night.  And when they have been out on the field, Outside Linebackers James Harrison (knee) and LaMarr Woodley (hamstring) also have been less than effective and hampered by their injuries as well.

Porous Run Defense

I have discussed in previous weeks that Pittsburgh’s Run Defense has not been as effective as it has in years past.  In typical fashion, my thoughts have been met with scorn and dismissed by members of “Steeler Nation” trumpeting the “They Rank 6th in Total Rushing Yards Allowed/They Rank 1st in Total Defense” pablum all season long.

Pittsburgh’s Run Defense though has been helped out all season long by an Offense which has A) Been able to score & sustain drives, and B) Ranks 2nd in Total Time of Possession.  With effectiveness in these specific areas, opposing Offense’s have been forced to the air more often and less liable to run.  Do not be fooled though readers, Darren McFadden (113 Yards), Chris Johnson (91 Yards), and Jamaal Charles (100 Yards) have all enjoyed solid days against the Steelers’ supposedly “elite” Defense.  And do not forget how well the Bengals performed on their 15 play 80 Yard 7:57 Drive opening drive three weeks ago (which ended in a Touchdown and incorporated effective 10 Run plays).  These type of performances have illustrated just how effective a commitment to the run could be/is against Pittsburgh’s Defense.

Worst of all though, Monday Night’s slop-fest illustrated just how weak Pittsburgh’s Run Defense could be in its supposedly stout Base 3-4 set.  The most glaring weaknesses existed on LaMarr Woodley and Ziggy Hood’s side.  I do not want to place the entirety of the blame on Hood and Woodley, because the Front 7 (excluding Lawrence Timmons & Brett Keisel) were manhandled much of the night.  Yet Kansas City had a solid measure of success as they beat Pittsburgh at the point of attack and ran to their right (19 Rushes for 85 Yards and 1 TD).  With these weaknesses on film, I fully expect teams with elite Running Backs like Baltimore with Ray Rice to run unbalanced sets or multiple Tight End sets on a consistent basis to attack Pittsburgh in that direction until they are solved.

Subpar Coaching & Lack of Discipline

Can I for one say that Mike Tomlin’s decision-making has become downright ridiculous as of late?  I mean, the decision to go for a Field Goal from 54 Yards away against the Titans, and the decision to unintentionally “ice” Shaun Suisham in that situation was ridiculous.  Going for an unnecessary 2-point Conversion in the 1st Half against the Bengals also made zero sense.  Remember the Fake Field Goal against the Giants?  Or how about last night’s choice to run the slow-footed Redman with a short play-clock on 4th Down from mid-field instead of trying to pin the Chiefs back in a tie game?

Speaking of ill-fated Redman rushing attempts, can I be frank and just say that the “Fat Back Shotgun Draw/Dive” needs to be phased out of the playbook, Mr. Haley?  Do not get me wrong, you have done some fabulous things with this Offense, but attempting to run larger Backs out of the Shotgun as opposed to an I-Formation or Pistol makes zero sense when they have no “head of steam.”

As far as the undisciplined nature of this team goes, I am downright sick of it.  Pittsburgh has averaged 67.1 Penalty Yards per game this season (30th out of 32 teams), and taken two Special Teams Touchdowns off of the scoreboard because of them.  Speaking of the coverage units, please stop with the penalties.  It is bad enough when scores are being taken away, but when solid returns/coverages are negated, it is disgusting to watch.  Also, Willie Colon, if you do read this, please refrain from swearing at the officiating crew.  Did you not see what happened to DeAngelo Hall at Heinz Field close to a month ago?  I love your aggressive nature on the field, but there is no need for that type of undisciplined behavior which you and your teammates appear to practice and not be outwardly punished for by your Coaching Staff.

Final Thoughts

If I wanted to, I could have gone into how Pittsburgh allowed their fifth 4th Quarter meltdown on the season, but that would have only made my stomach turn even more.  For now however, I will simply say that with these aforementioned issues working against them, Pittsburgh will be in a load of trouble unless they are fixed.

So what exactly do I see on the horizon for the 2012 Steelers?  Well, I am sure that in the weak A.F.C. Pittsburgh will back-door themselves into the playoffs much in the manner that the Bengals did last season.  Although they will be nowhere the team they were before Ben’s injury, the team’s schedule features some favorable opponents (Cleveland x2, Cincinnati, Dallas, San Diego).  And with 6 wins already, Pittsburgh should be able to win three or four of their final seven games to make the postseason via the Wild Card.

As for winning on the road in the postseason, that will likely be a different story.  Houston, Baltimore, Denver, and New England are in my opinion far more talented than the Steelers.  Things could get ugly for Pittsburgh if any of the A.F.C.’s best are ready for them and take advantage of their postseason home games’, and I try not to think of the immense whippings which might indeed occur down the road.

I will continue to hold out hope that the issues plaguing the Steelers can be fixed and “The Standard” is not deviated from to a large extent.  I however will not dismiss any of the problems that I discussed above as “easily fixable.” and am definitely not sold on a Steelers team without Ben Roethlisberger and others against the best of the A.F.C.  “The Standard” should be in question right now, because what exactly is it at this point, “Steeler Nation?”

On paper, the “Standard is the Standard” and “Next Man Up” rhetoric championed by Mike Tomlin appears to be pretty inspiring.  But you know what readers?  These phrases and mantras do not apply and work in every circumstance.  In fact, each could be essentially moot if Pittsburgh’s Pro Bowl Quarterback is sidelined due to injury/is in the delivery room for what could be the most important stretch of the 2012 regular season.

All I can say now is that I am definitely intrigued to see what happens against the Ravens on Sunday evening.

Chime in readers:  Are the Steelers doomed?  Can they rally together?  Does it matter?  Etc..

Stats Courtesy of: Team Rankings.com, ESPN.com

Injury Reports Courtesy of: Steelers.com

The 2012 Pass Rush or Lackthereof

Harrison and the pass rush are needed badly this weekend. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE

The Steelers have had their fair share of issues when it has come to pressuring the opposition this year, and have been largely infrequent guests opponents’ backfields over their first 7 games.  Whether it has been due to injuries, poor schemes, or just downright sub-par play, Pittsburgh’s pass-rush has been as non-existent as ever this season.

Overall, Pittsburgh’s Defense has only registered 12.0 Sacks on the year (T-24th), and have their 33 year-old Inside Linebacker (Larry Foote), and spot-starter/rotational player at Outside Linebacker (Jason Worilds) leading the team in the statistical category.  The team’s $61.5 Million Dollar investment LaMarr Woodley has been largely ineffective (2.0 Sacks) due to his nagging hamstring.  Plus, I am sure that it has not helped that one of the big reasons behind his past statistical success, James Harrison, has been injured as well and is playing like the recently returned from a knee injury 34-year old he is.

While the Sack numbers are low, the lack of any sort of pressure on a consistent basis has left Pittsburgh’s weak and injured Secondary exposed numerous times and ripe for the plundering by the opposition.

Have we seriously not forgotten about the complete carving administered by a fresh-off the neck injury Peyton Manning in Week 1?   How about when Carson Palmer and the Raiders racked up 34 points and had ZERO punts in the 2nd Half in Week 3?  Michael Vick with a go-ahead 17 Play 79 Yard drive that lasted 8:18 late in the 4th Quarter of Week 5?  What about the 4th Quarter meltdown in Tennessee?  You know, the game in which Ike Taylor was absolutely abused by Kenny Britt all night?  Heck, the Redskins’ back-up pass-catchers were running free all Sunday long, and had acres of space at their disposal as “RGIII” stood like a statue for most of the game!

How the Giants Could Capitalize

The biggest reason why the Giants will be such a tough opponent for the Steelers’ Defense and their anemic pass-rush has to do with their Offensive Line’s performance this year.  Much like Pittsburgh’s, New York’s six-man combination of Center David Baas, Guards Chris Snee and Kevin Boothe, and Tackles David Diehl, Sean Locklear, and Will Beatty have congealed, improved, and played well over the course of this season.  In fact, after New York gave up 3 Sacks in their season opening loss to Dallas, the Giants’ Offensive Line has only surrendered 4 over their last 8 games.  On the season, the Giants have allowed the fewest amount of Sacks (7), and the stat is even more incredible when one considers the fact that New York has attempted the 7th most passes (296) of any team in the League!

In addition to their ability to keep the pass-rush at bay, New York’s Offense will be at a decided advantage if they hold the Steelers’ pass-rush back because of Pittsburgh’s numerous issues in the Secondary.  I tip my cap to the Steelers’ Secondary because without Troy Polamalu, they are at a decided disadvantage against most opponents, but still gave gutty performances over the last two weeks. Nevertheless, I still would really like to see is whether or not the members of Pittsburgh’s Secondary can step up their games’ against some tougher competition personnel-wise, not the likes of Ryan Whalen, Andrew Hawkins, Aldrick Robinson, Josh Morgan, an aging Santana Moss etc..

Watching starters Ike Taylor and Keenan Lewis try to contain Victor Cruz (52 Catches, 650 Yards, 7 TD’s) and Hakeem Nicks (26 Catches, 380 Yards, 1 TD) will be a difficult task in and of itself if there is little to no pass-rush.  What I truly fear however is if Cortez Allen, Curtis Brown, Lawrence Timmons, and whichever Safety combo is healthy (Ryan Clark could be out & Troy Polamalu is), cannot adequately cover some of New York’s secondary pass-catchers like Domenik Hixon, Martellus Bennett, Rookie Rueben Randle, or even the big Ramses Barden.  I am sure the Giants have seen how the Steelers’ Defense has been torched over the years when spread out and attacked with a quick and accurate passing game.  If New York does go this route, and Manning can actually take his time in the pocket, no Defensive Backs or personnel in pass-coverage, no matter how good they are, can hold the Giants Offense off for extended periods of time.

Final Thoughts

I for one could not be happier to see this Defense face-off against the Giants this weekend, because we as viewers will be able to better gauge exactly how improved/not improved this unit actually is against a formidable foe.  In addition, I am intrigued to see if there are any signs of life from the pass-rush, and continue watching how Harrison is responding on a week-to-week basis off of his injury.  Pittsburgh might be a formidable Defense on paper, but I still have my reservations about this unit.  They not only have displayed issues with accumulating Sacks and creating pressure, but they also have had their problems taking the ball away (7 Takeaways T-31st), and getting off of the field on 3rd Downs (44.05% Opp. Conv. 28th).  I just hope that the pass-rush will bring their “A Games’” this weekend to help the Defense improve in these aforementioned areas.  Otherwise it will be a long day if Eli Manning is allowed to scan the field and pick apart Pittsburgh’s inconsistent and injured Secondary with his bevy of pass-catching weapons.

Chime in Readers:  Will the Steelers’ pass-rush show up this weekend?  Will it show up at all this season?  Will the Defense step up against a more formidable foe?

Stats Courtesy of: Team Rankings.com, ESPN.com