 PITTSBURGH - Even with the Steelers dominating the NFL's defensive rankings, Dick LeBeau calls his unit a "work in progress."
So is the second-story room where we stood inside team headquarters.
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The pressure being applied by Harrison and Woodley has allowed LeBeau to use Polamalu less as a blitzer and more in coverage. Polamalu has an NFL-high six interceptions, while Clark's return has helped Pittsburgh allow only one completion of 40-plus yards all season. The Steelers are even better against the run, surrendering just 3.1 yards a carry. Smith and Pro Bowl nose tackle Casey Hampton are particularly adept at tying up offensive linemen while inside linebackers James Farrior and Larry Foote fill rushing lanes. Orchestrating it all is LeBeau, the innovator of the zone-blitz defensive scheme. One opposing offensive line coach whose team has already lost to the Steelers described that experience as "miserable." He believes the only style of offense that can challenge Pittsburgh is the kind Dallas fields — one with big-play receiving threats and blocking that can give the quarterback a few extra seconds to throw downfield. "Dick uses a completely different style of 3-4 than other teams," the coach said. "It's all the zone blitzes and the way it's a sideways-pursuing defense, which typically represents great team speed. They run to the ball and are very disciplined. It's more to do with their system, the way it's taught and everyone being accountable. He does a great job." LeBeau passes the praise to the players, who are especially adept at running his scheme from having worked together for so long. Nine of 11 starters have played exclusively for the Steelers. Eight have at least four seasons of NFL experience. "We just know how to feed off each other," said Smith, a nine-year Steelers veteran. "Sometimes if we have to do a little something extra, guys know how to make the adjustment and compensate. That's a big advantage compared to most teams. "This is also the closest team I've ever been on. I think there's a genuine love and appreciation for each other that most teams don't have. The difference with us is we don't care who makes the play. It's much more important for us to do our responsibility. That's the type of attitude that's made this defense so good." But "so good" will mean so little in Pittsburgh if the Steelers don't win the Super Bowl. Clark points to the fact that championship units like the Steel Curtain are the ones remembered among the best of all time, not the 1991 Philadelphia Eagles that was the last team to lead the NFL in total defense, run defense and pass defense. There also aren't any displays inside Steelers headquarters celebrating anything but NFL titles. "Look at the (2007) Patriots," Harrison said. They went 16-0, won every (playoff) game, got to the Super Bowl and lost it. I bet you they'd give anything to lose a different game besides that last one. "If you don't win a Super Bowl, all this is for naught."
Author:Fox Sports
Author's Website:http://www.foxsports.com
Added: December 6, 2008
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