Will giving up 400 yards a game get it done next year?

[Gashman]

Loved every minute of this ride. Hats off to this awesome team.

However once the party gets cleaned up, we have to start looking at next year and our limited resources. There are questions to be asked.

Like what can we do to keep giving up all these yards on defense? Do we blitz enough, or do we have the right personnell, or DC going forward. Thoughts?

[H8R]

I think if Suggs, McPhee, Pollard and Webb come back healthy... we'll be MUCH better on defense . We still had a great REDZONE d.

[Tiz]

No but we won't

[jdynamite]

The defense will get back to Top 10 next year. Plenty of young talent that will continue to develop: J.Smith, C.Upshaw , McPhee. Veterans coming back healthy Suggs, Ngata, Webb.

There is no way to know yet what FA, RFA we will be able to retain. But I think things will be much improved. The defense was much better the second half of season.

[Guest llwillow1231]

I think having a consistent healthy defense will help once ngata went down they ran all over us that is huge .my fear is he retires then what

[SteelersCanada]

[quote name='Tiz' timestamp='1360157769' post='1347568']
No but we won't
[/quote]

Well, hang on a second, you have to look at the Ravens' schedule now. Losing Webb was devastating and, in my opinion, was bigger than losing Lewis. However, we play the AFC East and NFC North next year which includes Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. It's worse for you guys, though, as you guys have the first place schedule and play Houston as well. That, combined with facing a (hopefully, for God sake) healthy Roethlisberger could ultimately end up being big-yardage games against you guys.

Keep in mind, the Steelers didn't even need a legitimate running game against the Ravens either time but more specifically, in M&T the last time we met for Batch to put up big numbers. If Batch was able to poke holes in a secondary that had Reed playing in it, it's not unreasonable to say that it's plausible that 3 of the top 6 Quarterbacks do the same thing.

[Hardbaugh]

This organization has proven for over a decade they know how to build defense.

Lots of resources have been invested in the offensive side and it looks like they have it right were they need to be.

The defense as it stands I believe will be top ten next season with the draft and cost effective pieces brought in the they'llbe right back to where they belong. Dean Pees proved many of us wrong since he made the transition to the booth and did superb with less pieces than past coordinators. We're in good hands.

[VA_Fan]

I wouldn't care if teams put up over 600 yards of Offense against us as long as they got ZERO points in the red zone. But I think we will be in top form again next year.

[ravensfan2430]

[quote name='VA_Fan' timestamp='1360177576' post='1347895']
I wouldn't care if teams put up over 600 yards of Offense against us as long as they got ZERO points in the red zone. But I think we will be in top form again next year.
[/quote]

Just about to say the same thing.

[Gordo52]

I think our offense will be top 5, 10x better then it was Week 1 this season.

Our Defense should improve with Webb coming back,Suggs & Ngata heathy, and all the expierence/extra confidence our young guys have now. But if we lose Reed, that will obviously hurt. If we lose Ellerbe it will really hurt.

Depends on who we draft/resign but I trust that we'll be reloaded. And I expect us to land a defensive superstar in the draft. We haven't really had one for awhile. And I can just see that happening, it's just a gut feeling. Ray Lewis helps us scout.

[Tiz]

[quote name='SteelersCanada' timestamp='1360175174' post='1347846']


Well, hang on a second, you have to look at the Ravens' schedule now. Losing Webb was devastating and, in my opinion, was bigger than losing Lewis. However, we play the AFC East and NFC North next year which includes Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. It's worse for you guys, though, as you guys have the first place schedule and play Houston as well. That, combined with facing a (hopefully, for God sake) healthy Roethlisberger could ultimately end up being big-yardage games against you guys.

Keep in mind, the Steelers didn't even need a legitimate running game against the Ravens either time but more specifically, in M&T the last time we met for Batch to put up big numbers. If Batch was able to poke holes in a secondary that had Reed playing in it, it's not unreasonable to say that it's plausible that 3 of the top 6 Quarterbacks do the same thing.
[/quote]

Great post and I'm forced to change my answer from "no and we won't" to the longer version
No it wouldn't get it done and we won't give up that much yardage again

[Ravenseconbeast]

[quote name='Gashman' timestamp='1360154877' post='1347541']
Loved every minute of this ride. Hats off to this awesome team.

However once the party gets cleaned up, we have to start looking at next year and our limited resources. There are questions to be asked.

Like what can we do to keep giving up all these yards on defense? Do we blitz enough, or do we have the right personnell, or DC going forward. Thoughts?
[/quote]

We might lose Ellerbe/Kruger/Reed because of Flacco's inflated contract.

If that happens then yeah.. our defense is going to suck. Drew Brees/Saints style.

[Tiz]

[quote name='Ravenseconbeast' timestamp='1360196290' post='1348418']


We might lose Ellerbe/Kruger/Reed because of Flacco's inflated contract.

If that happens then yeah.. our defense is going to suck. Drew Brees/Saints style.
[/quote]

I remember when there was panic at the thought of having to rely on Kruger or ellerbe as everyday starters. This team drafts well and if need be will replace those guys just like those guys replaced others. Its not like coming In to this year Kruger was expected to be this stud. There was concern about him setting the edge and that's why upshaw was drafted.

Sorry but with how many times we have seen the ilb opposite ray replaced and production remain, I'm not concerned if we had to replace ellerbe but I doubt he leaves

[redrum52]

I wouldn't care if we game up 600 if they repeat. I doubt that happens next year though. Players coming back 100% healthy and Webb. The numbers kept getting better after the bye and the team now understands what Pees is trying to do.

[wayne]

We should be able to retain Reed, Ellerbe, and Kruger and Ellerbe and Kruger haven't done nearly enough to demand a big contract or even close to a nice size contract ( Ed will take the hometown discount ). As far as Cary, I like him but it makes since for us to lose him with the emergence of Graham with Jimmy Smith getting another year of experience and with Webb coming back. I feel we should cut McClain myself and pick up someone else to play along side Ellerbe ( would be nice to get one of the top MLB's in the draft as it's like 3-4 of them that can be NFL ready right away ). Our D next season will definitely be better than this past seasons defense with all the injuries we endured and players rushing back playing around 80-90% and our first year playing under Pee's scheme.

We will be back to Top 10!

[codizzle]

Defenses of the future for the nfl.. Offense will charge down the field but if you hold them to 3 and keep them from getting the big play then ur golden