Again I Say: Why Aren't the Steelers Running a 4-3 Defense?

[bradshaw2ben]

It feels like my semi-annual time to point out that the Steelers would be so much better off playing a 4-3 base D. They could keep base on the field a little more and could have an easier transition when going to nickel––would just mean taking a LB off the field for a CB, instead of the big difference of taking a DL off for a CB.

A Steelers' 4-3

S: Elliott, Thornhill
LB: Cole Holcomb (Sam), Queen (Mike), Payton Wilson (Will)
DL: Highsmith - Heyward - Yahya Black/Harmon - TJ
(Cam plays 3-tech with Black on early downs, Harmon favors passing downs)

Herbig Early Downs for Wilson, Passing situations for Highsmith.

Makes them stouter in interior of base but ability to take away the flats in quick game with more speed on the outside. LBs also clog the quick slants better. the main downsides are:
1. Queen is not dropping effectively into deep middle of Cover 2
2. Herbig doesn't have the size to be an every down DE
3. Depth is a problem at every level of the defense

All three of those are kind of issues now anyway.

[955876]

My shortened version of how to fix this franchise….

- New Rooney that actually gives a fuck about winning needs to assume control. If that Rooney doesn’t exist, sell the team to someone who does.

- Gut the coaching staff.

- break the mold by hiring an offensive minded HC. If you don’t have an offensive minded HC then your franchise will always be replacing OCs. The good ones will get head coaching gigs. The bad ones will need to be replaced. Either way, you’ll constantly have rotation here. So just hire a HC that is the defacto OC like they have in SF and KC.

- Get that HC a QB and let him run his system. Don’t meddle.

- Go back to a 4-3.

- Hire a qualified DC.

[Stlcrtn1974]

One reason, the d lineman fucking suck.

[langer]

[DumlinBumlinStumlin]

My shortened version of how to fix this franchise….

- New Rooney that actually gives a fuck about winning needs to assume control. If that Rooney doesn’t exist, sell the team to someone who does.

- Gut the coaching staff.

- break the mold by hiring an offensive minded HC. If you don’t have an offensive minded HC then your franchise will always be replacing OCs. The good ones will get head coaching gigs. The bad ones will need to be replaced. Either way, you’ll constantly have rotation here. So just hire a HC that is the defacto OC like they have in SF and KC.

- Get that HC a QB and let him run his system. Don’t meddle.

- Go back to a 4-3.

- Hire a qualified DC.

That Rooney does exist, Danny. Time will tell if he steps into the chair. Art2/Dumblin retiring at same time is the best medicine

[bradshaw2ben]

One reason, the d lineman fucking suck.

They've got three guy who can play now, but they don't necessarily suit the roles they're asked to fill. Harmon is a good pass rush penetrator who is being tasked to 2-gap or pull blockers away from TJ. I think he'd be a pretty good 3-tech & nickel pass rusher. Heyward is doing some dirty work for LBs who don't make plays behind him. Of course, he's ancient and won't be around for long. Black isn't really a 0-tech but I think he's a good fit as a 1-tech. In a 4-3 I think you'd see a lot more of him... and that's a good thing. Turns those other DL asshats into rotational/relief players only. Also, from a draft standpoint, when Heyward is gone, Harmon and Black are a nice DT combo, and the next DLs you draft are wide open in terms of type, since you don't have to draft 5-tech capable guys (the toughest to find).

[jebrick]

It feels like my semi-annual time to point out that the Steelers would be so much better off playing a 4-3 base D. They could keep base on the field a little more and could have an easier transition when going to nickel––would just mean taking a LB off the field for a CB, instead of the big difference of taking a DL off for a CB.

A Steelers' 4-3

S: Elliott, Thornhill
LB: Cole Holcomb (Sam), Queen (Mike), Payton Wilson (Will)
DL: Highsmith - Heyward - Yahya Black/Harmon - TJ
(Cam plays 3-tech with Black on early downs, Harmon favors passing downs)

Herbig Early Downs for Wilson, Passing situations for Highsmith.

Makes them stouter in interior of base but ability to take away the flats in quick game with more speed on the outside. LBs also clog the quick slants better. the main downsides are:
1. Queen is not dropping effectively into deep middle of Cover 2
2. Herbig doesn't have the size to be an every down DE
3. Depth is a problem at every level of the defense

All three of those are kind of issues now anyway.

I wonder why they do not switch to a NE style hybrid with the 2 DTs playing 2 gap and the ends playing 1 gap. THey have the personnel and have for a while.

[bradshaw2ben]

It feels like my semi-annual time to point out that the Steelers would be so much better off playing a 4-3 base D. They could keep base on the field a little more and could have an easier transition when going to nickel––would just mean taking a LB off the field for a CB, instead of the big difference of taking a DL off for a CB.

A Steelers' 4-3

S: Elliott, Thornhill
LB: Cole Holcomb (Sam), Queen (Mike), Payton Wilson (Will)
DL: Highsmith - Heyward - Yahya Black/Harmon - TJ
(Cam plays 3-tech with Black on early downs, Harmon favors passing downs)

Herbig Early Downs for Wilson, Passing situations for Highsmith.

Makes them stouter in interior of base but ability to take away the flats in quick game with more speed on the outside. LBs also clog the quick slants better. the main downsides are:
1. Queen is not dropping effectively into deep middle of Cover 2
2. Herbig doesn't have the size to be an every down DE
3. Depth is a problem at every level of the defense

All three of those are kind of issues now anyway.

I wonder why they do not switch to a NE style hybrid with the 2 DTs playing 2 gap and the ends playing 1 gap. THey have the personnel and have for a while.

Yeah, dig it.

[anpsteel]

For years I’ve been saying they need to switch to a 4-3 base, but the challenge with this roster is, imo, they don’t have a real Mike LB on this roster.

Someone who has the speed and range, in addition to being able to fill on run plays

Queen hasn’t shown that he can play that role consistently

[955876]

It feels like my semi-annual time to point out that the Steelers would be so much better off playing a 4-3 base D. They could keep base on the field a little more and could have an easier transition when going to nickel––would just mean taking a LB off the field for a CB, instead of the big difference of taking a DL off for a CB.

A Steelers' 4-3

S: Elliott, Thornhill
LB: Cole Holcomb (Sam), Queen (Mike), Payton Wilson (Will)
DL: Highsmith - Heyward - Yahya Black/Harmon - TJ
(Cam plays 3-tech with Black on early downs, Harmon favors passing downs)

Herbig Early Downs for Wilson, Passing situations for Highsmith.

Makes them stouter in interior of base but ability to take away the flats in quick game with more speed on the outside. LBs also clog the quick slants better. the main downsides are:
1. Queen is not dropping effectively into deep middle of Cover 2
2. Herbig doesn't have the size to be an every down DE
3. Depth is a problem at every level of the defense

All three of those are kind of issues now anyway.

I wonder why they do not switch to a NE style hybrid with the 2 DTs playing 2 gap and the ends playing 1 gap. THey have the personnel and have for a while.

Do you really wonder though???

In case you actually are wondering, the answer is that Jibbs is a very lazy rinse/repeat coach. He doesn’t like to change things. We do what we do.

Players just aren’t executing.

[bradshaw2ben]

For years I’ve been saying they need to switch to a 4-3 base, but the challenge with this roster is, imo, they don’t have a real Mike LB on this roster.

Someone who has the speed and range, in addition to being able to fill on run plays

Queen hasn’t shown that he can play that role consistently

Holcomb can do that but it's not his primary toolbox. I agree with that LB is an issue-- but that's also true in the 3-4 setup.

[anpsteel]

For years I’ve been saying they need to switch to a 4-3 base, but the challenge with this roster is, imo, they don’t have a real Mike LB on this roster.

Someone who has the speed and range, in addition to being able to fill on run plays

Queen hasn’t shown that he can play that role consistently

Holcomb can do that but it's not his primary toolbox. I agree with that LB is an issue-- but that's also true in the 3-4 setup.

Before his injury, Holcomb was probably the closest

But I think he’s definitely lost some speed and he’s been almost as bad as queen at missing tackles

Unfortunately, it’s pretty much a certainty we won’t find out until Tomlin is gone.


It’s become abundantly clear that any expectation of him changing is entirely wishful thinking.

[Thrillsseeker]

I long for the days Mike Fraudlin and Rooney are gone.

This coach with his square peg / round hole mantra is maddening.

Asking Slay to cover and run with WR’s ten yrs younger is laughable.

I know it won’t happen but in a perfect world, this would be the last hurrah for Fraudlin and Rooney, they hire an OC for head coach after gutting the rest of the staff. Draft in the Burgh lands the next franchise QB, sell off any and all aged out vets they can and rebuild.

Fresh start!

[955876]

Asking Slay to cover and run with WR’s ten yrs younger is laughable.

Jibbs is attracted to names not talent.

He can’t coach anyone up (see JPJ, see never developed a DB since he’s been here)

So he brings in past their prime names.

[Mick]

Short answer, we will stick with 3-4 because historically our 3-4 base has been good/excellent (haven’t seen 2025 numbers).

Our 4-2 is/has been bad, which from my read you attribute to chasing 3-4 appropriate personnel. For that, my general comment would be that we should target personnel to field the best possible 4-2 we can, because that’s where 60% of our snaps happen (along with the other 31 teams).