Steelers Secondary Gets Stronger
September 22nd, 2018
Key CB returns for Steelers.
One thing Bucs fans are licking their lips over is the Steelers, a once proud defensive club, have been positively offensive with their pass defense.
Pittsburgh, once known as “Blitzburg,” is getting blitzed by the long pass. But the Steelers learned yesterday they are getting a lift with the return of veteran cornerback Joe Haden, who is expected to play Monday night against the Bucs.
Haden blew a hamstring in the second half of the Steelers’ season-opening tie with the Browns. Mark Kaboly of The Athletic explains how important Haden is in stopping the big play.
When the Steelers acquired Haden before the start of last year, he instantly stabilized a secondary that was quite unstable. The veteran leadership he provided was largely the reason, but his ability to limit the deep ball wasn’t far behind. And for some reason, something that he can’t even explain, that trickled down to the rest of the team. It’s quite evident with the numbers put up by opponents when Haden is in the game and when he’s not concerning chunk plays.
Haden has missed 28 quarters, or seven full games, since joining the team 19 games ago. Without Haden in the lineup, the Steelers have allowed 23 plays of 25 yards or longer through the air. Even worse, the secondary allowed six touchdown passes of 39 yards or longer. When Haden has been in the lineup, including the playoffs (48 quarters), the Steelers have allowed 10 plays of 25 or longer with four of those coming in last year’s meaningless season finale against the Browns.
This year alone, the Steelers have allowed seven passes of 25 yards or longer including two touchdowns without Haden in the lineup. With him, they have given up two.
It has to be Haden, right?
Yeah, Haden is good. The thing is, the Bucs come with talented receivers in swarms, not just one or two guys.
And the Bucs already have check-mated Haden’s return with the return of cornerback Brent Grimes.
September 22nd, 2018 at 8:05 am
Haden may be vulnerable to tweaking that hamstring since it happened only 2 weeks ago. I’d test him early and often. They may be rushing him back.
September 22nd, 2018 at 8:09 am
Yup. A questionable hammy will be no match for the speed of Evans, Godwin, or Jackson. Better be at 💯 or he’s toast.
September 22nd, 2018 at 8:12 am
The Browns are so stupid for letting haden go………….
………….yeah, he’s that good…..better than Grimes unfortunately
If Fitz High points the balls to OJ and Evans……..<——–they'll win every single time
September 22nd, 2018 at 8:14 am
One man cant cover 6 receivers
DJAX
Evans
Hump
Godwin
OJ
And don’t forget Brate
September 22nd, 2018 at 8:25 am
IMO they are rushing Haden back too fast. If anyone knows how long hamstrings take to heal, it’s a Bucs fan. I won’t be surprised if he reinjures it trying to cover DJax in the first series.
September 22nd, 2018 at 8:35 am
let Hayden and the other CB worry about the deep outside -this game is OJ and Brate with 7-8 catches each for 200 yds and 4 TDs – watch what Kelce did to them and we have 2 of him – Hayden is not covering the TE’s, it’s their SS and mismatched OLB’s that we should expose early and often – Hump on the crossers and quick hitches –
You have to believe after hearing the HC openly “apologize” to Brate and Hump that both should see more targets this week
If the Steelers have any sense they are trying to double both Jackson and Evans over the top – we might have to settle for a whole bunch of 8-15 yard plays instead of bombs away but that keeps Ben on the bench too…
Going to be a great game, can’t wait!!
September 22nd, 2018 at 9:14 am
Wow, Joe Haden sounds a lot like Brent Grimes in terms of his value to the Secondary. But I agree with Ryan, if he just blew out his hamstring about 2 weeks ago, it’ll still be tender. And trying to keep up with DJax and Godwin and OJ and ME13 could be difficult with a tender hammie.
September 22nd, 2018 at 9:15 am
Is Grimer gonna play WR or something… How is it check mate???
Counter Attacked…
Wont matter, one more game of Fitzmagic Tricks is on Deck…
#NoPressure
Just Win Baby!!!!
September 22nd, 2018 at 9:22 am
Mike Evans Owns Joe Haden!!!! Not worried!
September 22nd, 2018 at 9:38 am
I agree with everyone else. Pulled many a ham string playing soccer. That’s usually two to three months to heal, depending how badly it’s torn, a big muscle.
September 22nd, 2018 at 9:46 am
Free, are you a noodle head? Having Grimes back likely means the Steeler D will be on the field all day long. That translates into Hayden getting a lot of snaps on that sore hammy.
September 22nd, 2018 at 10:09 am
So thats Check…. But is it Mate???
Still need our #WeaponsForWinston to show up and put the lipstick on so everyone sees the pretty girl vs the pig…
Doubt Grimer will Check Mate the Steelers… He will provided a nice counter attack however…
Monken and Smitty on the other hand…
Noodles Away
September 22nd, 2018 at 10:17 am
This is going to be a tough game. Of course I said that in the first two and we killed it on offense so much that Monken threw away the playbook in both games half way through the 3rd qtr. I see this as a tough one because the Squealers will be hungry after eeking out a tie and getting thrashed in the next one. With that said, the cream always rises to the top and we just simply are a better team without a dysfunctional locker room. If we win this game Antonio Brown may not stop crying until next Sunday.
September 22nd, 2018 at 10:50 am
Well he obviously didn’t blow out his hammy if he’s returning within 2 weeks…
September 22nd, 2018 at 10:57 am
Coming from a die hard Gators fan: Haden is WAY overrated.
September 22nd, 2018 at 12:27 pm
Hamstring fixed in 2 weeks…..I’m scared to death!!!!
Djax will make him blow his groin, glutes, hammy and calves!!!!
Barber/Wilson show will become alive Monday night!
Go Bucs!!!
September 22nd, 2018 at 1:28 pm
All Haden can take away is one WR. That is fine. Fitz is a Harvard Grad and will simply throw to all our other weapons just like Atlanta did to us avoiding Grimes all games long and destroyed us both times. Haden will be no problem!