From a 3-4 to a 4-3? Not With This Defense

 

Much has been made about the Steelers poor play on defense in the last month of the season, and many have talked about the team making that switch to a 4-3 defense from a 3-4 entering the 2008 season.  Not going to happen.  Mark it down, the Steelers will employ the same 3-4 defense that counts on linebackers making big plays and will continue to use blitz packages all over the place that made the team a top defense for the first 3 quarters of the season.

Part of the reason why the Steelers played badly on defense over the last month was simple – injuires.  How quickly we forget that D-lineman Aaron Smith was gone with a torn bicep, a huge blow to the team.  How about the loss of Troy Polamalu, who even when he was in there you could tell was less than 100 percent.  Bottom line is that if you discount those two injuries, your not someone who knows much about football.

I am exicted to see how the defense comes out in 2008.  Mastermind Dick Lebeau will be back, and you can bet with a LB core of James Harrison (Pro Bowl), LaMarr Woodley (taking over for the departed Clark Haggans), James Farrior and Larry Foote, to go along with a healthy Polamalu and Smith, the Steelers will be back to form.  Put the last month of the season behind you, the defense is going to be just fine next season.