Way back in 2009, Pittsburgh brought back the motto as the City of Champions. However, the Steelers collapsed on their way to defending another Super Bowl title, losing 5-games in a row after a 6-2 start. Bad teams like the Chiefs and Raiders pulled off unlikely victories by overcoming 4th-quarter deficits. Sound familiar? The late-season meltdown served as the first indication that the once-vaunted black and gold defense had suddenly and unexpectedly become “old and slow.”
Since then, nothing – not even back-to-back 12-4 seasons and a return trip to the Super Bowl – has been able to restrain this notion. In 2012, when much of the defensive lineup remains unchanged from 2009, the Steelers defense should be an alarming combination of older and slower. But here’s the problem with this diagnosis: The defense’s biggest problems this season stem from a handful of players failing to play to their potential, almost all of whom are young and presumably fast.
Through 5 games, safety Ryan Clark (33 years old) and linebacker Larry Foote (a 32-year-old former back-up) have been the Steelers most consistent players on defense. Cornerback Ike Taylor is having a miserable season, while aging stars James Harrison and Troy Polamalu continue to battle injuries. For the first time since Dick LeBeau returned in 2004, the Pittsburgh defense desperately needs an infusion of young talent.
It’s all there, right? Five former 1st or 2nd round picks age 26 or younger, all in the front seven. Hungry young defensive backs lighting it up on special teams. Budding starters nipping at the heels of the old guard at nearly every position.
It sure looks good on paper. But, as Kenny Mayne once said, “Games aren’t played on paper, they’re played inside TV sets.” Hi-def doesn’t lie: The next generation of Steeler defenders has been, so far, thoroughly disappointing.
Let’s begin with linebackers LeMarr Woodley and Lawrence Timmons, who were expected by many to continue the long tradition of Pro Bowl linebackers wearing black and gold. Both were signed to huge, multiyear contract extensions after the 2010 season. However, both remain neither has produced consistently enough to justify the megadeals.
Woodley makes his fair share of impact plays, and he’s had terrific seasons in the past. But his level of play has dropped slowly since 2009, when he finished with 13½ sacks and made his only Pro Bowl. He’s missed 7 of the last 13 regular-season games with injuries, and it appears he will miss a few more after leaving the Eagles game.
Timmons is a more perplexing case. Many still think the 26-year-old former 1st round pick could be a budding superstar. No one doubts he has skills or play-making ability to take his game to the next level. But too often in his career, he’s been unable to make his presence felt. This season, he has no sacks – and he’s whiffed on several good opportunities – to go with one forced fumble, one interception, and one pass defensed. Not bad, but not the numbers of an elite player.
One of the longtime hallmarks of the Steelers defense is that there always seem to be future starters making the unit better by excelling on special teams and pushing veterans for playing time. Today’s defensive leaders such as Harrison, Taylor, Brett Keisel and others spent multiple seasons in backup roles before blossoming into solid starters. Even Polamalu didn’t start and played mainly on special teams as a rookie. But today’s backups either aren’t ready for prime time or can’t seem to get off the sideline.
Keenan Lewis – tapped to replace the disappointing William Gay, who replaced the disappointing Bryant McFadden – has been underwhelming in his first five games as a starter, perhaps displaying only a knack for dropping easy interceptions (another hallmark of this defense). Cam Heyward, a first-round pick in 2011, can barely get on the field and has five tackles in five games.
Ryan Mundy has been given every opportunity to prove himself at both safety positions, but he hasn’t played either one at an acceptable level and is back on the bench. Ziggy Hood, another first-round pick, has trouble just getting his name mentioned during broadcasts.
At the linebacker position, there doesn’t appear that a future Joey Porter or Jason Gildon is waiting in the wings. Of all the backups and role players, only nose guard Steve McLendon appears ready and able to assume a regular starting position.
And what of the patron saint, Dick LeBeau? A living legend at 75 years old, LeBeau is nearly immune from criticism. And anyone looking to place the blame squarely on his shoulders should first look at where the Steelers have ranked in total defense over the last five seasons: 1st (2010), 2nd (’10), 5th (’09), 1st (’08), and 1st (’07).
Even today, after being shredded by two of the worst teams in the league, only 4 teams have given up fewer yards per game than the Steelers. This suggests that their early-season struggles are a bit of a fluke. But the surrendering of 4th quarter leads is merely a continuation of a troubling trend that began, in earnest, way back in – you guessed it – 2009.
In 2012, the Steelers this season have played unusually passive, blowing four 4th quarter leads already. They can’t get to the quarterback (11 sacks in five games) and they have dropped more interceptions than the 2 they actually caught (only Dallas has fewer). LeBeau deserves some blame for the rough start, but it’s true that the majority of his players are letting him down.
Finally, there’s the case Taylor, the embattled cornerback. He hasn’t played this poorly since 2006, when Bill Cowher benched him midway through the season. Could he be demoted again? Well, consider his backups: Curtis Brown and Cortez Allen, 2nd-year players, both young, both fast. And, of course, neither one is ready to play. They should fit right in on this defense.
