What will the Steelers defense do against Brady?

[Legacy User]

Well, if there is a time to switch up how the Steelers typically play defense (and moreso against Brady) - I believe it has to be this week.

I think zone is death, and the run support cushion on the corners will result in Brady carving this defense up with clocking eating touchdown drives.

Trust the corners, at least try to disrupt the routes, and give your interior pressure time to at least push the pocket back. I'd much rather be susceptible to getting beat a bit downfield rather than let Brady run his short timed passing game.

[Steelafan77]

Not sure what they'll do exactly but if they expect to slow the cheat offense they have to disrupt WR's routes at the line. Should they do that it gives the DLine time to get in their back field. If they play zone marsha will pick them apart. They'll also have to stop Dion Lewis and the cheat run game. JMO

[Legacy User]

Sure hope they play press man as they did in 2012 (was it) when they spanked the Pats at home.

To me, I agree, zone is death.

Without Gronk, I think they definitely have the personnel to do so.

[Legacy User]

Take away Edelman

Make someone else beat you

Just like they are gonna try w AB

[alancac98]

In the last game, Edelman ran crossing routes all day. I expect them to do much of the same this game. Gotta disrupt him at the line and force him to go around you or outside. If he goes outside, get ready to undercut the throw.

[BethlehemSteel]

Wes Welker was a guest on 98.5 the sports hub in September to discuss his 'working out with Brady' during suspension and other charity functions.

He actually outlined this as the way to beat Tammy and the Cheats......yes i heard and documented it. A lot of this aligns with our 2012 game plan. You can add pressure up the middle with 3-4 lineman, as we know that does work.

Welker's How to Beat NE (Success Secrets)

“Must Play Man Defense” No Zone – Check
“Must press the receivers at line of scrimmage” – Check
Don't fall for the “Rub Routes against Zone/Man Audibles” – Illegal Picks, we did it because we could, and still do – Check
“Quick Passes after Snap” – help with Bad Line issues – Check
“Home field advantage for 15 yrs – well coached, we’re really good, etc”?? – Check
“Call BB’s Bluff” – Check
“Don’t use the past play calls again you used before that worked – change it up” – Check
“4th and Inches – we are always going for it” – Check
“Tom and BB always watching films” – Check
“BB chastizes Tom when he makes a mistake to set an example all the time” – check
“BB is listening to everyone’s comments, everywhere, press clippings too” – Check

[Thrillsseeker]

Hopefully abuse him and knock the ever loving shit out of him. Rattling him incapable of a comeback and then wave goodbye as NE exits the field.

That's my hope.

[Donnie Brasco]

Take away Edelman

Make someone else beat you

Just like they are gonna try w AB

This

Edelman is his security blanket.

Treat him like Kelce (Harrison or another LB bumping) and we'll be in good shape.

[Legacy User]

It's neighborhood backyard football style defense this week. Your headed to the street behind you to play those jags on their turf. Everyone take a man. Erase your man.

Side note: are we supposed to be able to work this week? This game is all I can think about.

[Tundralag]

Take away Edelman

Make someone else beat you

Just like they are gonna try w AB

Not just take him away I think you should have said take away in a cart.... Take a 15 yarder or two and take his fucking block off every time he comes across the middle.. those alligator arms will show up quick..

[COS]

Get physical with their receivers, and Deebo/Dupree need to have a similar game to Woodley vs the Pats in 2011. Having Bud give Brady the ol' "Matt Moore" would also be nice

[Jobu]

Get physical with their receivers,

Take away Edelman

Not just take him away I think you should have said take away in a cart.... Take a 15 yarder or two and take his fucking block off every time he comes across the middle.. those alligator arms will show up quick..

Everyone take a man. Erase your man.

“Must Play Man Defense” No Zone – Check
“Must press the receivers at line of scrimmage” – Check
Don't fall for the “Rub Routes against Zone/Man Audibles” – Illegal Picks, we did it because we could, and still do – Check
“Quick Passes after Snap” – help with Bad Line issues – Check

In the last game, Edelman ran crossing routes all day. I expect them to do much of the same this game. Gotta disrupt him at the line and force him to go around you or outside. If he goes outside, get ready to undercut the throw.

Sure hope they play press man as they did in 2012 (was it) when they spanked the Pats at home.

To me, I agree, zone is death.

Not sure what they'll do exactly but if they expect to slow the cheat offense they have to disrupt WR's routes at the line.

ALL OF THIS!

[Legacy User]

Defensive backs need to turn around on deep passes. If they do, there will be INTs.

[COR-TEN]

I'm going to guess we will see zone coverage in the first quarter, at least. And monitor the score and see how the offense is doing. If BR, AB and Bell are scoring and dominating the LOS early and score TD's, zone will remain in place until the second half with press coverage sprinkled in. I also think the blitz packages will be vanilla unless it's 3rd and short -medium inside the steelers 35-40 yard line, and even stingier inside the 20. Until the second half. Then the blitzes come and press coverage will probably be more frequent in Q3. Expect a boring 2nd and 3rd quarter offense from Haley. He should come out blazing in Q1 and 4.

Just guessing.

[Legacy User]

I generally like safeties back against a team that can throw. That allows the CB to be closer. Question is can all of our CB play bump and run?

Then I like to see stopping the run with the front 7 and getting pressure with as few as possible.

Will take very good efforts at each level. Harrison Bus Hargraves Tuitt need to at worst hurry the throws at best plant that fucker on his back.

Timmons shaz have to be johnny on the spot. Cockrell and burns have to be aggressive and smart. Mitchell Davis too. Communicate well read the play attack.

Weird thing is I believe steelers can hold pats under 21. Yes I said it.

[TTP]

I agree with tight man coverage vs. Pats. This will make Brady hold the ball a touch longer and allow the pass rush to hit home. One of the hidden secrets about the Pats dynasty is that their OL is usually pretty terrible, talent wise. They are able to cover that up because they are well coached and don't make mistakes and to a large extent because Brady always gets them into the right play and gets the ball out on time. Individually, the Steelers main pass rushers are better than the guy blocking them. If you make Brady hold it, Harrison/Dupree/Tuitt/Hargraves will get there. You may end up giving up some more chunk plays when the rush doesn't hit home but at least you won't die from a thousand paper cuts.

It's a tradeoff. Are you willing to trade a higher possibility of big plays for an increased chance to get off the field on 3rd downs? The problem with the Steelers usual approach to the Patriots is that Brady is able to dink and dunk them to death AND is also able to get some big plays (usually Gronk but others too). Can't have both.

[BethlehemSteel]

what i posted was direct from Welker's mouth on how to beat NE.

Must play man and press

[bradshaw2ben]

I think I see this game differently than most here. I don't think the Pats are going to plan on throwing the ball downfield much. Last week, they didn't throw it at all in the middle of the field and the way to beat the Steelers is either have the time and balls to throw it intermediate middle, in front of the safeties OR runs and screens. I think the Pats are going to try to slowly crush us with power runs with Blount, every kind of screen in the book, the occasional 3rd and short unstoppable conversion to Edelman/Amendola... and then change up runs or dumpoffs with White. They will test the patience of the Steelers safeties. If the safeties start to creep, then go over the top. If Bennett or Gronk were 100& healthy, maybe they'd try a different tack-- but expect to see the version of the Patriots that's all runs and super short, quick throws.

[BethlehemSteel]

I do share your opinions on the Blount runs. We need to do a better job on the edges. He's killed us there. But we've been a bit better there as the season wore on.

[Thrillsseeker]

It's neighborhood backyard football style defense this week. Your headed to the street behind you to play those jags on their turf. Everyone take a man. Erase your man.

Side note: are we supposed to be able to work this week? This game is all I can think about.

Funny you mention this. I'm taking vacation Friday, Monday and Tuesday to help. LoL.

Take away Edelman

Make someone else beat you

Just like they are gonna try w AB

Not just take him away I think you should have said take away in a cart.... Take a 15 yarder or two and take his fucking block off every time he comes across the middle.. those alligator arms will show up quick..

I like the take him away in a cart idea!

[Old School Steeler]

I'm going to guess we will see zone coverage in the first quarter, at least. And monitor the score and see how the offense is doing. If BR, AB and Bell are scoring and dominating the LOS early and score TD's, zone will remain in place until the second half with press coverage sprinkled in. I also think the blitz packages will be vanilla unless it's 3rd and short -medium inside the steelers 35-40 yard line, and even stingier inside the 20. Until the second half. Then the blitzes come and press coverage will probably be more frequent in Q3. Expect a boring 2nd and 3rd quarter offense from Haley. He should come out blazing in Q1 and 4.

Just guessing.

Don't think so. We cannot fall behind in this game. Have to score on the opening possession, hold them and then score again. We have to install some new looks that Belicheat has never seen before and that was one of tomlin's concerns about a shortened week. Have to attack them from the get-go and use zone later to preserve and try to control tempo

[Legacy User]

Burns should be trusted to man up on Hogan. Edelman with his rub routes we will probably bracket with Gay but underneath coverage will be key. LBs will have to disrupt passing lanes, which is difficult because Brady is so precise. They need to be unpredictable in their drops and hand placement.

Hargrave having a coming out party would be huge. Need pressure up the middle against Brady. How well Dupree and Harrison get the edge will not be a huge factor this week.

[955876]

How well Dupree and Harrison get the edge will not be a huge factor this week.

Still need to contain their running game. Especially that speedy fuck.

[Legacy User]

Early season bad Carson Palmer and Ryan Tannehill
Brock Osweiler twice
Tyrod Taylor twice
Charlie Whitehurst
Cody Kessler
Andy Dalton
Landry Jones
Russell Wilson
Colin Kaepernick, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jared Goff, Joe Flacco, Trevor Siemian, Bryce Petty, and Matt Moore.

Let those impressive names soak in for a moment.....

Those are the QB faced by the Pats this season. The obvious best of the bunch is Wilson who the pats played at Gilette stadium and they lost. This will be a tough win but imo the pats are so so vulnerable and imho we are winning this weekend.

[COR-TEN]

I'm going to guess we will see zone coverage in the first quarter, at least. And monitor the score and see how the offense is doing. If BR, AB and Bell are scoring and dominating the LOS early and score TD's, zone will remain in place until the second half with press coverage sprinkled in. I also think the blitz packages will be vanilla unless it's 3rd and short -medium inside the steelers 35-40 yard line, and even stingier inside the 20. Until the second half. Then the blitzes come and press coverage will probably be more frequent in Q3. Expect a boring 2nd and 3rd quarter offense from Haley. He should come out blazing in Q1 and 4.

Just guessing.

Don't think so. We cannot fall behind in this game. Have to score on the opening possession, hold them and then score again. We have to install some new looks that Belicheat has never seen before and that was one of tomlin's concerns about a shortened week. Have to attack them from the get-go and use zone later to preserve and try to control tempo

When I said "monitor the score and see how the offense is doing" that means if it's competitive and the steelers have the lead. If they fall behind all bets are off. I think they will try vanilla first to see how Brady reacts to set him up later. It's not like they can change the defense in one week. They've played plenty of zone throughout the year.

[R_S]

Early season bad Carson Palmer and Ryan Tannehill
Brock Osweiler twice
Tyrod Taylor twice
Charlie Whitehurst
Cody Kessler
Andy Dalton
Landry Jones
Russell Wilson
Colin Kaepernick, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jared Goff, Joe Flacco, Trevor Siemian, Bryce Petty, and Matt Moore.

Let those impressive names soak in for a moment.....

Those are the QB faced by the Pats this season. The obvious best of the bunch is Wilson who the played at Gilette stadium and they lost. This will be a tough win but imo the pats are so so vulnerable and imho we are winning this weekend.

pretty sad state of quarterbacking in the NFL.

[Steel Ubaldo]

Early season bad Carson Palmer and Ryan Tannehill
Brock Osweiler twice
Tyrod Taylor twice
Charlie Whitehurst
Cody Kessler
Andy Dalton
Landry Jones
Russell Wilson
Colin Kaepernick, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jared Goff, Joe Flacco, Trevor Siemian, Bryce Petty, and Matt Moore.

Let those impressive names soak in for a moment.....

Those are the QB faced by the Pats this season. The obvious best of the bunch is Wilson who the played at Gilette stadium and they lost. This will be a tough win but imo the pats are so so vulnerable and imho we are winning this weekend.

pretty sad state of quarterbacking in the NFL.

If Ben plays like he did last week, you will be adding his name to that list.
The Steelers must be better in all 3 phases.

Please, just win.

[Pabst]

pretty sad state of quarterbacking in the NFL.

Not really.

You've got a crop of very good QB's in Andrew Luck, Big Ben, Derek Carr, Philip Rivers, Eli Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Matt Stafford, Drew Brees, Cam Newton, and Matt Ryan.
Then there are savvy vets capable of leading a team to the playoffs in Alex Smith & Kirk Cousins
And there are quite a few promising up and coming QB's like Marcus Mariotta, Jameis Winston, Carson Wentz, and Dak Prescott.

That's half the teams in the league with either a good QB or a promising young QB.....and the Patriots didn't face a single one of them.

[lifelongsteel]

pretty sad state of quarterbacking in the NFL.

Not really.

You've got a crop of very good QB's in Andrew Luck, Big Ben, Derek Carr, Philip Rivers, Eli Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Matt Stafford, Drew Brees, Cam Newton, and Matt Ryan.
Then there are savvy vets capable of leading a team to the playoffs in Alex Smith & Kirk Cousins
And there are quite a few promising up and coming QB's like Marcus Mariotta, Jameis Winston, Carson Wentz, and Dak Prescott.

That's half the teams in the league with either a good QB or a promising young QB.....and the Patriots didn't face a single one of them.

A+ post. Only nit is that they did play Wilson and Flacco who fit into categories 1 and 2. Great QB play in the league relative to previous years. NE got a serious pass. This is not a great Patriots team by any stretch.

[Steelperch]

First passing play I'd hold every damn receiver on the field to buy an OLB enough time to drive Brady into the turf. Live with the flags and play on. Brady wilts when hit hard early. Make his receivers pay for those crossing routes across the middle. Mike Mitchell needs to set the tone.