My Concern With The Steelers Run Defense

[@PaulBuccigrossi]

Those 2 Lineman formations with the LBs just standing around or moving side to side is not producing any penetration allowing RBs to have lots of room to run. There is no one in the middle of the field, Queen and Wilson are 5yards back, just standing there. Get some penetration.

[@erice9506]

Queen has shown some improvement over the weeks against the run but his expectation to be a premier ILB was over-hyped. Wilson is a rookie so he gets a pass.

[@Meneszoe]

They just gotta spit on it

[@_Josh_98]

It’s normal for off ball LB’s to have 5 yds of depth but the need to do a better job of identifying and coming down hill and blowing up gaps

[@_Josh_98]

It’s normal for off ball LB’s to have 5 yds of depth but the need to do a better job of identifying and coming down hill and blowing up gaps

[@nathananderson3681]

I've noticed that during Ravens games, Watt/Highsmith will hit Lamar on every RPO like this. It seems like they tell whichever one is free to commit to Lamar, if he holds on to the ball he is getting drilled into the ground, and it's worked rather well. Yes, it takes the backside pursuit away, but prevents the big runs from Lamar

[@josiahwilliams1441]

In H.S. we were taught to always hit the QB first on options regardless if he keeps or not for the most part. Maybe they have a similar philosophy on it. Make it a lose lose for him personally.

[@SteelersLosAngeles]

Ya'll two understand basic football

[@Runescape_God]

I love when they do that, especially against Lamar

[@Alan_Page]

Thanks for doing this.

[@brianjonker510]

My wild ass guess is Smith was acquired to deal with the Ravens rush attack. After watching this perhaps not such a wild guess after all

[@JW0143]

Well Smith has a 67.6 run defense grade. Watt 93.2, Highsmith 76.7, Herbig 69.3 so if you're looking for a huge improvement from Smith defending on the EDGE you're probably in for a disappointment

[@brianjonker510]

@@JW0143 I was thinking something more along the idea of an extra body on the DL

[@JW0143]

@@brianjonker510 He's an EDGE that plays standing up but he's definitely nice depth that we needed even if he's not the player he was a few years ago

[@HuyNguyen-bm2un]

@@JW0143 hes not playing the run. they need him to hold the edge and force the rb to bounce back inside

[@JW0143]

@@HuyNguyen-bm2un That's playing the run

[@niyidelano]

The issue is the wide 9 base we are always in. If we are playing against an Athletic QB, we should not be in that base if the QB is in the shotgun, it creates huge gaps.

[@Alex_Kozora]

That's a fair thought.

[@markbrophy554]

A lot of nickel defense vs. Giants, when Giants were in 11 personnel. I guess if Steelers stayed in base Okie then the Giants would throw on those downs? Also, 99 is easily blocked. He doesn't bring much to the defense. After 2 years of heavy draft investment in O-line, it's time to get the D-line some talent.

[@josiahwilliams1441]

99 has always been an issue in my eyes. I think once Holcomb is back it's up for Q. Holcomb Erob and Wilson. Same for Leal. It's up for him too if the new trade from GB does solid.

[@jlamedia744]

Alex brother you’re the best at what you do because I have same concerns

[@Alex_Kozora]

@@jlamedia744 thanks for watching!

[@jlamedia744]

@@Alex_Kozora I’ll watch you I’m done with DK sports 🤣 Steeler Nation since 83

[@ajjax89]

It's the same issue every year: either the middle is wide open, or a player is wide open/ uncovered outside the numbers. IDK if it's the type of over-coverage or someone isn't paying attention. We better fix these errors, especially when we play against the Taylor Chiefs, Eagles, and Ratt Birds. It's frustrating!!! If we're trying make it to the SB; gotta fixs these "small mistakes"

[@rogerrrabitt]

It’s the cover two. We do not have the zone discipline to keep running that .. our linebackers and corners tend to jump the short routes leaving the stuff behind them open .. you see it often..

[@WesHatchett]

Great as Usual Alex! I think our run defense is going to struggle in the last half of the season. I think we didn't play well at all against teams that statistically can't run the ball.What happens when we play Baltimore, Cleveland, eagles,commanders, and chiefs teams that run the ball efficiently.I believe it's gonna get ugly Steelers fan just be prepared!Keep up the good work Alex

[@Alex_Kozora]

Thanks, Wes!

[@isaacjameson]

To me the whole team seemed a little off on rush def. I expected Heyward to have a big day and did not see it from him.

[@lynnfowler4631]

Inside linebackers have to step up, move laterally and control these rushing qb’s. Speed demon linebackers like Payton Wilson are tailor made to stop these type qbs.

[@virdinbarzey3805]

Highsmith is waaaay too wide on that play against the Giants. I'll be honest with you Alex. In looking at these videos, I 100% agree with you but our ILBs are not hitting the holes quick enough once they determine its a run. They have to hit those gaps hard and fast like Shazier used to do. Too often they are getting picked off by the o-line. I am more concerned about this defense against the run than most.

[@volumeturneddown9600]

So can Preston Smith track down Lamar or Daniels? Or maybe they'll create a "Derrick Henry package."

[@Steelsharks412]

Alex what can they do schematically different in nickle ??

[@Alex_Kozora]

Heavier boxes, I suppose. Roberts has been playing more in nickel to improve the run defense.

[@socaliguy81]

Preston Smith will help a lot.

[@pplebite8844]

6:41 So, who's responsible for keeping an eye on Richardson, when the Colts go RPO? There's always the risk of the QB keeping the rock and running up field. This should be expected anytime you have a QB that's athletic enough to be a dangerous runner. It almost seems like Queen wasn't expecting Richardson to run there, even though this is exactly what Richardson will do. Maybe the Steelers need that extra DL involved, or add an additional LB or DB up front to help Queen out? This is a sizeable issue for the Steelers. Ogunjobi and Heyward can present a problem for offenses, but they're not a force to be reckoning with. The RB-QB combos coming up in the 2nd half of the schedule is going to be a pain in the rear, of which, includes Chubb and Winston. People tend to sleep on Winston, but he's a better QB than he's given credit for. And he will take off in the most obvious situations. In the upcoming game with the Commanders, you have Daniels and Robinson jr is returning. Brian reminds me of a younger Jamaal Lewis. He'll be a big problem if he gets into a good rhythm. Austin better make some changes, or things will get ugly.

[@chaseschneier1076]

Poor, inconsistent LB play also a major concern. Queen and Wilson not impressing.

[@DeeFreeman-m5y]

Wouldn't it be cool if the players and coaches actually watched these type of videos? To see what we see. My tip for the offense: Protect the balll. You're about to play some power hungry teams. Their defense loves to go after the ball. They love to try to punch the ball or force the ball out because these teams have something to prove (Commanders, and Ravens and 🙄 the Chiefs) Defense: Go after the ball the way Shazier used to before he got hurt. If that man didn't get hurt...😞 And our defense has a bad habit of leaving the middle of the field wide open, and the way that they tackle sometimes, just rushing and diving at people, no make sure that they have the opponent in their grasp.

[@alexallegood1040]

The only good thing other than the players, is the interceptions and punching the ball out for fumbles, which is a result of specialty coaching

[@jakemercer1337]

If Tyrone Tracy can rip us up for nearly 150 yards rushing, imagine what Derrick Henry is going to do. I think the secondary is pretty average as well. A lot of our deficiencies are masked by our pass rush.

[@SteelersLosAngeles]

On that RPO the end has to crash hard on the QB everytime and hit him so that he thinks twice about his fake and or keeping it. Easily defendable. If he wants to run like a running back then hit him like one. Old school football. That is basic coaching

[@Alex_Kozora]

@@SteelersLosAngeles Yes that is the "mesh charge" which they have used against Lamar before. But that still takes the backside player out of the run fit so you're down one guy to stop the run

[@EdmacZ]

Reminds me strongly of 2017 where the Defense couldn't stop anybody. I hope that isn't the case here. The Giants game was highly concerning.

[@SteelersLosAngeles]

That was a very limited defense talent wise

[@ragekage1234]

Kinda scary considering we still have 2 games against lamar, and one against the eagles lol

[@Alex_Kozora]

Yeah a big test.

[@rick.d]

You can't show "good" run d with 5 linemen (3 tackles and 2 d ends - they are NOT linebackers) and then show "bad" run d with only 4 linemen (2 tackles and 2 rush ends) all spread out like that. That 4 man front spread out all over creation is only good if they hold their ground and linebackers/safeties make great reads.

[@e7engle]

I was going to point that out too. Almost all of the bad run defends are when the Steelers are in a nickel defense. They aren't stopping the run in that formation.

[@Alex_Kozora]

I'm talking about the backside players and how they defend it. That's my focus here. How aggressive/non-aggressive they are depending on the run threat at QB.

[@michaelhawk3155]

Even qbs with a hint of athleticism gash them. Richardson was killing them and he’s terrible. Same with jones

[@jameshunt4437]

Yes… Daniel jones is the fastest qb in the league

[@extendedp1]

6 is just cashing paychecks at this point.

[@Unknown-qp9ur]

He seems to read well but can't shed a blocker at all. Need to see if he was like that at Baltimore or was he used differently

[@Steelers-rk3ig]

I think Patrick Queen has been Bush lite….he doesn’t press the attack, rarely first guy to engage, can’t get off guards blocking second level and lacks the TFL we need from our inside LB’s. Rather see Roberts and Wilson playing.

[@Shawn-n1r]

Really bad showings isn't that a tomlin specialry?