The Pittsburgh Steelers and Mike Tomlin have been adamant that it will take a group effort to even try to fill the ginormous void that has been left by Ryan Shazier. The team is using a linebacker by committee approach, they left Sean Davis on an island against Rob Gronkowski and another wrinkle they have thrown in is a heavy defensive front.
Can heavy defensive front help fill Ryan Shazier void?
It is worth noting that the 39 snaps Javon Hargrave has played in the two games following the Shazier injury were season highs. 61, and 65% of the teams defensive snaps were two of just three games this season Hargrave has played two-thirds of an entire game.
This tends to make sense in the idea that without Shazier the middle is exposed. At the least, Hargrave gives you a better chance to bring pressure and stuff run in the middle of the field before it ever starts.
However, what is very interesting to note was the Steelers gameplan on Sunday. They ran a season high of base formation. In nickel situations, they brought Mike Hilton onto the field, and rotated taking off T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree. Aside from the game where he left due to injury the lowest snap percentage Watt played coming into the game was 70%. On Sunday, he played 66%. The low for Dupree was 79% and his snap count drop to 60% of the teams plays.
Even in dime situations. William Gay and LJ Fort came on for the two linebackers.
-
Ep 103: Tom Brady Retires, Sean Payton To Broncos, Super Bowl Primer
by Full Press Coverage on February 5, 2023 at 3:49 pm
On one hand, this makes this sense. The Patriots are a team that uses personnel to put your defense in tough situations. On the other, Sean Spence was on the field five more snaps than Watt and 11 more than Dupree. That just doesn’t sound right. Watt is great in space and it is tough to think he could not do some of the things that Spence can do in these situations. Just the threat of him on the field makes the defense more multiple overall.
Also, adding this wrinkle in a one-game scenario against the Patriots is risky as it is. It takes a team that gets into a groove of doing things a certain way and switches it up. On the play below, you can see the Steelers are shuffling and getting into place as the ball is snapped. In fact, T.J. Watt is at the bottom of the screen running off of the field as the ball is snapped. The issue? There are still just ten players out there without Watt.
Now, Sean Davis who is supposed to watch is Rob Gronkowski is running into place as the ball is snapped and you are a man down. That is what the Patriots do best. They put you in situations that you are uncomfortable being in.
The heavy sets were efficient in generating a pass rush, though, and they played a part in the first Steelers interception of Tom Brady since 2005. It will be interesting to see if this is a concept that was drawn up specifically for the Patriots game, or if this an idea the team will look to consistently as they look to gain that communication and fluidness that avoids a breakdown like that in the playoffs. It is certainly an option as this team still struggles to figure out life without Ryan Shazier.
– Parker Hurley is Pittsburgh Steelers team manager of Full Press Coverage. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @parkerhurley Follow @FPC_Steelers and Facebook.
-
Ep 142: Former Washington Quarterback And Super Bowl Champion Doug Williams Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on February 3, 2023 at 10:19 pm
Former Washington quarterback and Super Bowl champion Doug Williams joins […]
-
Ep 141: Andy Reid, Eagles, And Conference Championship Weekend w/ Joe Bannerby Full Press Coverage on January 27, 2023 at 5:36 pm
Clark and Ira are joined by former Eagles President Joe Banner to talk […]
-
Ep 137: Hall Of Fame Discussion w/ John Turneyby Full Press Coverage on December 30, 2022 at 5:33 pm
Football historian John Turney of Pro Football Journal joins Clark and Ira […]
-
Ep 136: Remembering The Longest Game Ever Played With Larry Littleby Full Press Coverage on December 24, 2022 at 1:09 am
On the 51-year anniversary of the longest game ever played (Chiefs vs. […]
-
Ep 135: Hall of Fame Semifinalist Jahri Evans Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on December 16, 2022 at 3:51 pm
Former Saints guard and 2023 HOF Semifinalist Jahri Evans joins Clark and […]
-
Ep 134: Remember AFL/NFL Star John Hadl with Nick Canepaby Full Press Coverage on December 8, 2022 at 2:39 pm
Former Hall of Fame voter, Nick Canepa, joins Clark and Ira to discuss the […]
-
Ep 133: Hall Of Fame Semifinalist Henry Ellard Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on November 30, 2022 at 4:28 pm
Former Rams and Redskins wide receiver, Henry Ellard, joins Clark and Ira […]
-
Ep 132: Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023 Semifinalists w/ Rick Gosselinby Full Press Coverage on November 22, 2022 at 6:15 pm
Clark and Ira are joined by Pro Football Hall of Fame voter Rick Gosselin […]
-
Ep 131: 'Football Heaven' With PFHOF Senior Advisor Joe Horriganby Full Press Coverage on November 17, 2022 at 5:55 pm
Pro Football Hall of Fame Senior Advisor, Joe Horrigan, joins Clark and […]
-
Ep 130: Remembering John McVay With Hall of Famer Eddie DeBartolo Jr.by Full Press Coverage on November 13, 2022 at 1:42 am
Clark and Ira are joined by Hall of Fame owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. to […]
-
Ep 271: NFL Championship Roundby Full Press Coverage on January 26, 2023 at 1:58 pm
-
Ep 270: NFL Divisional Roundby Full Press Coverage on January 19, 2023 at 1:31 am
-
Ep 269: NFL Playoff Previewby Full Press Coverage on January 12, 2023 at 4:13 am
-
Ep 268: Week 16 Fantasy Rankingsby Full Press Coverage on December 21, 2022 at 9:45 pm
-
(Season 3.3) Commanders Talk w/ NFL Analyst Mark Bullock and Deuce from Redzone in the Labby Full Press Coverage on February 7, 2023 at 10:26 pm
NFL Analyst Mark Bullock joins the "Command the Mic" Podcast hosted by […]
-
(Episode 3.2) Offseason Talk with the "Command This!" Podcastby Full Press Coverage on February 1, 2023 at 3:04 am
George Carmi hosts Steve, Dev, and Phil as they discuss the Commanders […]
-
2/7 - Super Bowl Headlines, Mahomes, Tom Brady Podcastby Full Press Coverage on February 7, 2023 at 3:30 pm
Ian and John discuss some of the headlines heading into Super Bowl 57 […]
-
2/6 - Kyrie Irving Traded, Sean Payton To Broncos, Early Super Bowl Oddsby Full Press Coverage on February 6, 2023 at 3:04 pm
Ian and John discuss the Kyrie Irving trade, Sean Payton heading to […]
-
2/3 - Tom Brady Retires... For Goodby Full Press Coverage on February 3, 2023 at 2:20 pm
Ian and John react to Tom Brady's second, and likely final, retirement. […]
-
1/31 - Tom Brady and the 49ers, Aaron Rodgers Futureby Full Press Coverage on January 31, 2023 at 9:00 am
Ian and John discuss whether or not the 49ers loss in the NFC Championship […]
-
Talkamania Episode 230by Talkamania on September 6, 2022 at 11:43 pm
-
Talkamania Episode 229by Talkamania on August 5, 2022 at 3:37 am
-
Boot 2 The Face Episode 211 "Steel Reserve"by Boot 2 The Face on January 28, 2023 at 6:59 pm
We preview the Royal Rumble and other things in the week of pro wreslting. […]
-
Boot 2 The Face Episode 210 "No Monè, No Monè, No Monè"by Boot 2 The Face on January 19, 2023 at 12:55 am
Rucker and EJ are back discussing Rucker going to Impacts Hard to Kill […]
-
Ep.94: Bracketologyby Full Press Coverage on February 8, 2023 at 6:00 am
-
Super Bowl: Eagles vs Chiefsby Broken Controller Media on February 8, 2023 at 5:15 am
-
Full Press MMA - Tuesday, February 7thby Full Press Coverage on February 8, 2023 at 1:05 am
-
I Wanna Have Your Baby (Canucks) - Feb. 7, 2023by Full Press Coverage on February 8, 2023 at 12:30 am
-
Thunder at Lakersby Broken Controller Media on February 7, 2023 at 11:00 pm
-
(Season 3.3) Commanders Talk w/ NFL Analyst Mark Bullock and Deuce from Redzone in the Labby Full Press Coverage on February 7, 2023 at 10:26 pm
-
Timberwolves at Nuggetsby Broken Controller Media on February 7, 2023 at 10:00 pm
-
Bulls at Grizzliesby Broken Controller Media on February 7, 2023 at 9:00 pm
-
Hawks at Pelicansby Broken Controller Media on February 7, 2023 at 8:00 pm
-
Knicks at Magicby Broken Controller Media on February 7, 2023 at 7:00 pm
-
1/6 - Damar Hamlin Update, Bills/Bengals, AFC Playoffs, Week 18 Picksby Full Press Coverage on January 6, 2023 at 3:11 pm
-
Winter Classic: Bruins Rally To Beat Penguins At Fenwayby Full Press Coverage on January 4, 2023 at 2:09 am
-
1/3 - Bills/Bengals Postponed; Bruins Topple Penguins In Winter Classicby Full Press Coverage on January 4, 2023 at 2:05 am
-
1/2 - Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Week 17, Bills/Bengalsby Full Press Coverage on January 3, 2023 at 3:22 am
-
12/30 - New Year's Eve, Luka Doncic, NBA Talk, Week 17 Preview and Picksby Full Press Coverage on January 1, 2023 at 2:29 am
-
Aaron Rodgers, Packers Win Third Straight; Playoffs In Sightby Full Press Coverage on December 27, 2022 at 7:36 pm