Stephen A. is very concerned about the Steelers’ defense 👀 ‘They are already depleted!’ | First Take

fall. Aaron Rogers home Steelers debut could have gone better. The four-time MVP completed 18 of 33 passes through two interceptions. The Steelers defense not much better, allowing Sam Darnold to overcome two early INTs and throw for nearly 300 yards, two scores in a win for Seattle. The result was a 3117 loss for Pittsburgh. Stephen A, our resident Steelers fan. What is the bigger concern for Pittsburgh right now? Is it the offense or the defense? I think it’s the defense, me personally, because the Steelers have already given up as many 30-point games in the first two games of this season than they did all of last season. I’m very, very concerned about that. And I’m very, very concerned because of injuries. Joey Porter Jr. is out. Deshaawn Elliott is out yesterday during the game. Alex Highmith, Isaiah Laddermill, Patrick Queen, and Pton Wilson all left the game due to injuries. And so now you’re expecting at least a couple of them to miss a couple of weeks or so because of the high ankle sprains, and they’re already depleted. And so I’m very very concerned about that because they can’t stop the run. They’re surrendering about 150 yards a game, 4.4 yards a carry. You look at Kenneth Walker the third right there, that’s 19 yards. He walked into the end zone untouched. 19 yards and nobody touched him. That’s not a Steelers defense that I’m accustomed to seeing. And that’s what has me concerned. Coming into this season, we expected their defense to be stout. It was their offense that we had legitimate questions about. I’m not saying you still don’t have those questions about the offense because they can’t run the football. Naji Harris has gone to the Chargers. One year, $5.25 million. You would have thought you could have kept it for that amount of money, but they didn’t do so. And so now you’re relying on Warren who can ball, but you’re not getting much help, much production from your running back spot. So these are the Steelers that can’t seem to run and can’t stop the run, but also got a bevy of injuries in their secondary and they’re giving up 30 plus points. Right now, the defense would be more of a priority for me than the offense in terms of what’s ailing them. But across the board, things don’t seem good right now as far as I’m concerned. But it’s only week two, and they did week win week one. So, Aaron Rogers, I think, is absolutely right. You got to roll with the highs and the lows the same way. You can’t overreact to either. You would. Yeah. Listen, um I’m more concerned about the offense. Um and and here’s why. because they cannot run the football. And like the whole premise of this offense under Arthur Smith, they want to run it and they want play action pass. When you take away the run aspect, you you basically put everything on Aaron Rodgers. Aaron Rogers was sacked four times last week against the Jets with even more countless more pressures. That Seattle defense got after Aaron Rod. Again, guys, we’re talking about a 41-year-old quarterback that’s right now playing in a one-dimensional offense. If they can’t run the football, it will be open season on Aaron Rogers, and he will, trust me, he will not last throughout the season under the constant barrage of opposing defenses because they’re onedimensional. So, I got the offense. Uh, I’mma second that with you, too, Woody, because this is the thing that I said even last week. Uh Stephen A with your steel curtain uh ambition. Where’s the amenities, bro? Like Dquavius Kea Metaf. I don’t know what DK stand for, but we going to just make that up. Where is he at, bro? Like because you we acquire him in the off season with an addition to to Aaron Rogers. You’re like, “Okay, this is a match made in heaven.” When you have your starting running back leading the receiving charge, that’s never a good sign. And if we’re not talking about Christian McCaffrey here, we’re not talking about Alvin Kamura. We’re not talking about Jir Gibbs. We’re not talking about, you know, Dejon Bejian Robinson. We’re talking about a person that’s like, “Hey, if you have all these uh assets that is not living up to expectations, and I’m I’m not saying that he’s not capable. He needs opportunity in DK to really perform.” And we’re just not seeing that. Right. When I’m looking at Aaron Rogers, I’m seeing a depleted uh source of valuable options. And that’s a little concerning to me for them to be in the division that they’re in being able to go against the likes of the Cincinnati Bengals, even with, you know, a quarterback issue. You got the Cleveland Browns who played great defense or stopping the run, which makes you one-dimensional. And then obviously the Baltimore Ravens. When you going against those guys, we’re not used to seeing the Pittsburgh Steelers handle uh uh uh really go about things like this. When you think about the lineage and the ancestry of this specific team, Jerome Bettis, uh, Mendenhal, like these guys that come to mind when you’re thinking about, you know, the running game and we haven’t seen it yet. I feel you. I feel you. I understand it. Um, it’s a concern, but I got news for y’all. 10 or more plays. Yes. 10 yards or more. All right. 10 or more yards per play. How many of those plays do you believe the Pittsburgh Steelers defense allowed yesterday? Take a guess, guys. I have the answer. Double digit. You guess, Woody. What about you, Cam? How many How many do you think they allow? This is the point. 12. Take a guess. 18. 18 plays for 10 or more yards. Four of them for 20 or more yards. And who are their receivers? Is this CD Lamb? Is this Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison? Is it Jamar Chase and T Higgins? No, the Steelers gave that up to Jackson Smith in Jigboo and Cooper Cup. Did you hear what I just said? That’s what they did for the most part. And Kenneth Walker, of course, with his plays. Are you kidding me? Now, this is a team that’s in the same division as Jamar Chase and T. Higgins as Z Flowers and Baitman and and and and Adams and these boys or DeHop, I’m sorry. This what we talking about. This is a problem. It’s a problem. So, I get what y’all coming from in terms of running the football. I agree with you. No doubt. They need to do better. Okay? And they need to recognize that 41y old quarterback behind center. He can still fling that football, but you need to protect him. He’s been sacked seven times already. Okay? Guys need to get open. DK Metaf, very, very good point. Where’s the stud that I know and love? I haven’t seen him. Even though he caught a touchdown yesterday, I haven’t seen him. I need more to see more from DK Metaf. All of that is true, but nothing is more alarming as what we’re seeing from this defense, which is why TJ Watt, the new $41 million man, said, “Yo, we need to look ourselves in the mirror. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music]

On First Take, Stephen A. Smith, Cam Newton and Damien Woody debate whether the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense or defense is the bigger concern right now.
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48 comments

  5. As a Steelers fan I’m just happy we haven’t played any divisional games so far we would get smoked by all of them but biggest disappointment other then the defense or running game is special teams how do you watch that ball sit in the end zone all preseason including training camp that’s all coaching and yes, it falls on Tomlin very poor week two game against the Seahawks not sure how we rebound from this may be another year of sneaking into the playoffs and getting bounced in the first round by the Buffalo Bills. But we have to have hope.

  8. Seattle Seahawks defense is for real and they are definitely going to be a problem and they are definitely going to be top 10 on defense . The defense is going to be the reason they win games🔥💯🙌

  15. When it comes to the YT quarterback, it’s everyone else’s fault, but when it comes to the black quarterback, it’s always his fault 🤦🏿🤦🏿🤦🏿, if you’ve been watching football and nfl media for over 20 years , you’ve have seen it over and over again, maybeeeee some of yall are not paying attention… but that should tell you a lot about yourself (FYI)

  16. Jerry BONEHEAD Jones will always have this 🏆 for eternity no one will ever obtain again the only sports owner in world history to fire their head coach after winning back-to-back championships in their sport congratulations you STUPID IDIOT 🤪

  20. Idk about the online Steelers community, but the city is like 80% ready ready to move on from Tomlin 20% wants to keep him around. Most understand he'll here for the rest of his current contract (2 years) and be gone. Innovation is long gone and he lacks the willingness to change. All respect to the man and what he's accomplished but unfortunately the damage is done. The last 5 years of non-existent draft class development and mid-round selections will haunt us for a decade.

  21. To say JSN isnt nothing is beyond stupid east coast bias. Shoot he leading the league in receiving not lamb, chase or Higgins, or whoever he mentioned. Stop being stupid.

  22. Highest paid defense and ALL they have is excuses….bunch of overpriced, over aged bums. Most organizations invest in youth, low salary guys. Steelers spent 90% of their salary cap on 30 + years of age, past their prime, bums on BOTH sides of the ball!!!

  25. Proof that the National media has no idea what goes on in Seattle. JSN was the best receiver with DK on the roster last year. Also DK is talented but has his flaws with the drops and not getting open against good cornerback play. GMs don’t let trade those players without a reason. Not to mention that Seattle’s defense was top 10 last year.

  38. I'm concern about Bozo for the Steelers Quarterback 😂😂😂
    He hasn't recover since Dez caught the ball and that onside kick from seattle in the playoffs

  43. Pittsburgh failed again to put together an offensive. Didn’t draft a QB or they did but one absolutely nobody was checking for. Let a perennial 1k plus rusher go…kept a backup…let go of a young stud WR because he was frustrated with 4 YEARS OF A LACKLUSTER PASS GAME. and got a 40 yr old QB

  46. every year same thing …man when we gunna point to Mike Tomlin ! they've had so much roster turnover for the better yet the same results ..who is the common denominator ?

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