Steelers Insider Ed Bouchette: 'This Is Not Your Father's Defense'
PITTSBURGH (93-7 The Fan) -Post-Gazette Steelers Insider Ed Bouchette joined The Fan Morning Show on Monday following the 34-28 loss to the Miami Dolphins that may have dropped the curtain on the season.
"It was a bad one," Bouchette said. "But, there have been a lot of bad ones. How about we go back and look at the home opener?"
The Steelers' offense put up 28 points, which should be good enough to win a home game against a team from Florida playing in the snow, but it wasn't. The defense had holes, missed tackles and you combine that with some bad coaching decisions and you have a team that is now 5-8 with all hope dashed.
Make no mistake, this one was on the defense.
"It's not your father's defense," Bouchette said. "This is not the defense we are used to seeing giving up so many big plays."
Bouchette said Defensive Coordinator Dick LeBeau prides himself on not giving up the big plays, but they have given up so many of them this season. But he doesn't blame LeBeau for that.
"It's not his fault for guys missing tackles," Bouchette added. "He needs players."
According to Ben Roethlisberger, it wasn't his fault either. He made sure to throw Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley under the bus. When asked why the Steelers got away from the run when they had success with it early, Ben said, "Ask Coach Haley. He is right over there."
Bouchette points out that Ben is not shy about pointing out that he called the plays when things are going well and he usually doesn't put the blame on anyone, but in a sly way he did today despite being the one calling most of the plays in the second half.
"He can't help himself," Bouchette said. "He knows what those words are going to do."
The Steelers will have many tough decisions to make after this season like is it time to move on from Troy Polamalu and Ryan Clark? Who will stay Woodley or Worilds? Those decisions will be much easier if they finish 6-10 instead of winning out to finish 8-8 for the second straight season.
Bouchette is not so sure that one of the changes everyone is expecting to be made with Todd Haley will be made. It would only set the team back two years learning yet another new offense.
Does Ed think they can finish with three straight wins?
"No," Bouchette said. "But, it's possible. We are not thinking they can still make the playoffs, but it's still possible."
Listen to the full interview here:
Ed Bouchette 12-9
Ed Bouchette joins The Fan Morning Show every Monday at 8 a.m. during the Steelers' season on Sportsradio 93.7 The Fan.
