3 things we learned from Steelers loss against Cincinnati Bengals

The Steelers defense is ‘taking on water’ and starting to list

The Steelers defense is still a very good unit as evidenced by the fact that we are ranked 2nd in average yards allowed per game, 2nd in average points allowed per game, 1st in INTs, and 1st in sacks.  On paper, we should be undefeated based on the strengths of our defense.

The reason I say that the defense is ‘taking on water’ and is starting to list is this: we are dealing with too many injuries at key positions for us to be able to play the style of defense Steelers fans are accustomed to seeing.

I think Keith Butler, our DC since 2015, needs to perhaps take a step back and be objective in terms of evaluating what is being called and the personnel we currently have to execute said calls.  I have stated an innumerable amount of times that I am not a fan of ‘Cover 1’, which is what we seem to be in 70 percent of any given game.

I like Butler as a DC; I liked him as a player.  I think deep down he knows that we are limited at times with the personnel we have on the field, so that’s the opportunity to revert to a more traditional style of defense that Steelers fans had been accustomed to.

I realize that staying in ‘stock Cover 2’ or ‘stock Cover 3’ could be a recipe for disaster, but it’s less risky than staying in ‘Cover 1’ and getting ‘bombed over the top’, but we do not give up a whole lot of points anyway, so why not be a little less risky with the defensive calls?

The other facet of the defense that I personally think should be scrapped forever is this predilection to have OLBs drop into coverage.  None of our LBs, either OLBs or ILBs, are good in coverage, so just don’t put them ‘in harm’s way’.  Oh and, by the way, ‘Nickel 2-4-5’ is not good against the run so just stop calling that, please.

Let’s take a look at the third thing we learned.