Giants @ Bears, 20 Sep 2020, 12 PM CDT

Good recap of the plays where the Steelers front 7 just stopped Barkley cold. If we were assured of Goldman and Quinn being available (obviously no Goldman) then I would be much more optimistic of stopping Barkley, but that is not likely. We have to get penetration and occupy 2 blockers at least. Not likely of Nichols is cleared out and space created by their center when he plays the 0 tech gap. That said if Edwards plays I can hope for more penetration along the line.



Also a good review on how the Pitt´s D is aligned and how they close the gaps on run heavy offenses.

steelersdepot.com/2020/06/the-steelers-2020-defensive-philosophy/

Some Actual Thoughts And Predictions

The basic penetration structure is going to allocate a lot of the glory to the front-4 (or 5 in heavy packages). Dupree, Heyward, Tuitt, Watt, and the occasional complement will be expected to burst through the offensive line on their way to the Quarterback, playing the run as they go. That is an old-fashioned 4-3 approach, but it will be done with the two pass rush specialists falling back into coverage more than L.C. Greenwood and Dwight White ever dreamed. Expect the sack numbers to continue.

That means the hard mental work, team discipline, and clean up duty will fall to the midfield layer. In a classic 4-3 that would be three Linebackers and a Box Safety. In a LeBeau 3-4 it would be the two ILB’s and the Box Safety, with rotating help from a random OLB. Four players either way.

In the 2020 defense I expect the midfield defenders to consist of two starters – Devin Bush and Terrell Edmunds, who will lead the team in tackling by a good margin – plus anywhere from 1-3 helpers according to the particular sub package. These will include Mike Hilton as the slot Corner in Nickel (unless Sutton can take over), Vince Williams and Watt/Dupree in the classic 3-4 look, Ulysses Gilbert III in the light 3-4 look, or an extra box Safety in the Big Nickel look. None of those package players will rack up huge numbers individually. How could they, with the snaps so well divided? But it would not be surprising to see “Mr. Midfield Package Player” end up with a number that’s just a little short of Bush and Edmunds when you add them all together.

The Corners will have cleanup duties of a different kind. All that midfield speed exists to shrink windows as much as making plays. Shrinking windows in the midfield means that opposing QB’s will be forced to look toward the sidelines. I accordingly expect our outside Corners to get tested more often than their skill level would suggest. This will no doubt include the occasional deep ball, but also a lot of fairly safe back shoulder stuff.

The difference maker in the back end will be Minkah Fitzpatrick. I foresee a lot of articles and knowing comments on how Fitzpatrick “created” a big play for Nelson and Haden. Corners have to cede those back shoulder throws if they don’t have a playmaker roaming behind them. With Fitzpatrick they can risk it, jumping on a shorter route without fear of getting burned over the top. The reverse will be true too, though less reported. Playmaking Free Safeties can only afford to jump midfield routes if they have enough confidence in the Corners to abandon the “deeper than the deepest” role.

What will it look like in terms of plays? Innumerable shifting formations and disguises, using the skill and brains of Edmunds and the Corners to free up the Minkah Fitzpatrick X-factor.