Larger text
Smaller text
Print
E-mail
Run defense latest Steelers letdown
Deuce McAllister
AP Photo
Jerry DiPaola is the Tribune-Review high school sports editor. He can be reached via e-mail.
Ward meant them as encouraging words for those who believe the Steelers have no hope of reaching the playoffs. But the fact that there are 12 games left in the season also can be looked upon as bad news for a team that is near the bottom of the league in pass defense, turnovers committed and turnovers created, rushing offense and victories.
Unless some of the problems are fixed, especially the latest one that popped up like a big, red pimple — run defense — Sunday, the Steelers could have a difficult time making the playoffs.
It's no longer enough to blame the 32-29 loss to the New Orleans Saints on a poorly conceived scheme — such as Cowher being surprised by the Oakland Raiders' 65 pass attempts last month.
This time, the Steelers were ready. They just didn't have enough speed to catch Saints running back Deuce McAlister, enough discipline to stay in their lanes on defense and enough big plays among the highly paid defensive backs to stop quarterback Aaron Brooks and wide receivers Joe Horn, Jerome Pathon and Jake Reed. Speaking of big plays, there were almost none on defense — two sacks and no fumbles recoveries or interceptions — while the Saints had eight plays of 15 yards or more.
"It was a good defense for us," nose tackle Casey Hampton said. "It was just missed tackles and taking bad angles."
Next up are the Cincinnati Bengals (0-5) and running back Corey Dillon, who is an excellent cutback runner and one of only seven rushers in the NFL (before Monday) with more than 400 yards rushing. Dillon has rushed for 99, 120, 128 and 91 yards against the Steelers in each of the past four seasons.
Nonetheless, there are waves of optimism and confidence flowing through the Steelers' locker room as they prepare for the winless Bengals.
"When we had time," said quarterback Tommy Maddox, who was sacked four times by the Saints, "I think we were able to keep the defense on its heels a little bit."
For example:
"We're close. We're not bad," Ward said. "One day, we have to get the defense and offense playing together. The defense did its job and the offense didn't particularly play well (last week against the Cleveland Browns). This past Sunday, the offense played particularly well and the defense didn't."
Meanwhile, the schedule and the AFC North appear to be the Steelers' best friends. The team's first four opponents — the New England Patriots, Raiders, Browns and Saints — are 13-6, but the next four — the Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, Baltimore Ravens and Browns — are 7-11.
Plus, the Steelers need only to win the division to make the playoffs, and they are one game behind the first-place Ravens, who are 2-2 after an 0-2 start.
"It's encouraging," Ward said. "We haven't played our best ball yet and we're only one game behind Baltimore. We're 1-3 right now, but everybody else in our division is struggling, too."
"What was most impressive," Maddox said, "is that guys were fighting tooth and nail until the end of the game. It was exciting to see guys feel like we still had a chance to win and playing as hard as we did on the first play.
"We have to come in here Wednesday and realize where we are and what we have to get done and just say we're going to get it done and don't let anything stop us."
Maddox believes it's possible.
"I've been on teams that by the end of the season, you couldn't even remember the first four games," he said.
