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'Blitzburgh' just a distant memory
Steelers' Troy Polamalu
Christopher Horner/Tribune-Review
Jerry DiPaola is the Tribune-Review high school sports editor. He can be reached via e-mail.
Into UPMC'S indoor practice facility walked Pitt defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads, who immediately spotted his counterpart on the Steelers, Tim Lewis, chatting with reporters.
"Hi, coach," Lewis said as Rhoads jogged past.
Two embattled coaches. Two guys looking for answers for defensive units that have fallen on hard times late in the season.
"Do you guys ever get together to discuss your problems?" a reporter asked Lewis.
Lewis laughed heartily, something he hasn't done much of recently.
"There's not enough beer," he said.
And, maybe, not enough time.
The Steelers' 3-7 record is certainly a team effort, thanks to the lack of a running game, dropped passes by usually reliable wide receivers, an offensive line whose performances have been spotty at best and a defense that simply does not make many big plays.
In the past four games -- three losses -- the Steelers have forced one turnover, a fumble recovery by defensive end Kimo von Oelhoffen against the Arizona Cardinals. The Steelers haven't intercepted a pass since a 17-14 loss in Denver on Oct. 12. They had two, but free safety Brent Alexander dropped one that could have changed the course of the game.
For the season, the Steelers are tied with the Buffalo Bills for last in the AFC in takeaways (11) and next-to-last in the conference with a minus-eight giveaway/turnover differential (19-11). They are on a pace for the franchise's fewest forced turnovers since 1969.
The problem? It may be nothing more than bad things happening to bad teams.
"They're giving effort, and it's being emphasized," Lewis said. "Sometimes, it just doesn't bounce the right way. You have to get close enough to make them and when you have the opportunity to catch them, you have to catch them."
Coach Bill Cowher and every defensive coordinator in his employ since 1992 -- from Dom Capers to Dick LeBeau to Jim Haslett to Lewis -- has stressed turnovers. Lewis' defense had 36 last year -- the most since 1993 -- and 35 in 2000. Both totals are more than the Steelers had in 1995 (34) when LeBeau's defense helped lead the team to the Super Bowl.
"You'll see them running to the football, trying to get the thing out trying to strip it and tackle it," Lewis said. "It's something you don't obviously control, other than giving effort to get there. They're giving effort, and it's being emphasized. Sometimes it just doesn't bounce the right way."
Lewis pointed to a big hit cornerback Chidi Iwuoma put on San Francisco 49ers punt returner Jimmy Williams, who dropped the ball.
"It bounces out of bounds," Lewis said, forlornly. "That's why it's shaped the way it is. It goes where it wants to go.
"I know it's frustrating, probably more frustrating for them. It's frustrating for me because I have to answer these questions about them. But I played the game, too. I know. I dropped some. I don't know if there is a man who has been perfect. It's going to happen.
"It's not from a lack of effort or a lack of understanding. Sometimes, it just doesn't happen."
In Lewis' four seasons as coordinator, the Steelers' defense never has been ranked out of top 10 (seventh, first, seventh and ninth). But in the past 28 games, opponents have scored 30 or more points 13 times.
"We're a little bit of a high-risk, high-reward defense," he said. "We come after it pretty good and with coming after it, you have to make plays. You have to win more than you lose."
Only a handful of big plays beat the Steelers in San Francisco -- 61- and 28-yard passes by backup quarterback Tim Rattay and a 78-yard run by Kevin Barlow. All three ended up in touchdowns, but the Steelers also allowed the 49ers to get close enough to kick three field goals.
"Nine points and 21 points equal 30," Lewis said. "That kind of has been the story of our season. We've given up big plays at critical times and have not been able to recover."
