Thursday, January 20, 2005
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
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Tedy Bruschi stands large and menacing on the cover of Sports Illustrated this week in full Patriots helmet and uniform, hands on his hips and the word DEFENSE stenciled across his chest.
New England's defense flexed its muscles Sunday against Peyton Manning's Indianapolis Colts and looks as dominant as ever as it defends its Super Bowl championship. And if all that attention bothered those on the defense that actually dominated the NFL all season, the Steelers weren't offering a peep of protest.
"I mean, they are the champs," linebacker Clark Haggans said. "They've established themselves as a dynasty-type team and franchise. It's just their time, they've arrived, and I guess they're getting the attention they deserve."
In virtually every defensive category, the Steelers ranked higher than the Patriots through the 2004 season: Total yards (Steelers 1st/Patriots 9th), rushing (1st/6th), passing (4th/17th), sacks per pass (6th/10th), third-down efficiency (6th/21st), points allowed (1st/2nd tie) and more.
That Steelers defense also dominated the Patriots Oct. 31. New England had 5 yards rushing and quarterback Tom Brady threw two interceptions, one which cornerback Deshea Townsend returned for a touchdown. Joey Porter sacked Brady three times, causing a fumble on one that turned into a Steelers touchdown five plays later. New England left tackle Matt Light will line up opposite the Steelers pass-rushing linebacker again Sunday.
"You know Joey, if you have a problem, he'll beat you all day," Haggans said. "I'm quite sure they're going to come out with some stuff to try to slow him down."
Of course, halfback Corey Dillon did not play for New England that day, and the Patriots fell behind so far so fast, 21-3, they weren't about to run the ball much after that anyway.
"We put pressure on Brady, that was the main thing," linebacker Larry Foote said. "Corey Dillon wasn't there, so they basically came out passing, and our offense controlled the clock. They played our game. I know the time of possession was pretty lopsided [42:58 to 17:02].
"They had to pass the ball and you can just pin Joey's and Clark's ears back and just go after the pass, so it's going to be a long day for anybody."
Adding Dillon, the second-leading rusher in the AFC, to New England's offense should make it more balanced. But nose tackle Chris Hoke, the point man against the run, believes Dillon might not make a difference.
"Of course he's tough, he's a great runner," Hoke said, "but, if we play defense the way we did the last time, it's going to be tough for any back."
Only Cincinnati's Rudi Johnson, in the fourth game of the regular season, managed 100 yards rushing against them.
On Oct. 31, Brady finally threw a touchdown pass after the Steelers ran to a 24-3 lead, and he threw his other one in the fourth quarter with the Steelers ahead, 34-13.
"That was maybe our benchmark, as far as turnovers and touchdowns and [considering] the people you're playing," said defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, voted the top assistant coach in the NFL this week. "But our guys have done a consistent job. I think our defense has played consistently well all year."
In the four games at Heinz Field since their 34-20 victory against the Patriots, the Steelers' defense has allowed just two touchdowns and four field goals. They held the New York Jets' offense to three points last week, which is why, along with Doug Brien, they are preparing for AFC championship game Sunday night at Heinz Field.
"I just go back to that fourth quarter against the Jets Saturday night," Foote said. "We were angry, and everybody was full speed every play. It had to be the hardest quarter we ever played since I've been here."
Coach Bill Cowher again gave credit to LeBeau for helping turn the defense from soft and chewy back to the old Blitzburgh style.
"It has kind of been like going back to old times," Cowher said yesterday.
LeBeau spent the early part of the week studying the Patriots. He looked at tapes from the 2001 championship game, reviewed the Steelers' loss at New England in the 2002 opener and took another look at their Oct. 31 game.
"They have a pretty good cornucopia to pick from in there," he said. "They have so much offense and personnel changes that they're diverse. I think they'll do things that got them where they are."
So will LeBeau's defense, which would like to copy what it did Oct. 31, or whatever other date they played in 2004, for that matter.
"Who has the better defense?" Steelers safety Chris Hope said, repeating a question. "Looking at the season, mathematically, we had the better defense. But, until we beat them, until we go on to win the Super Bowl, they have the better defense."
(Ed Bouchette can be reached at ebouchette@post-gazette.com or 412-263-3878.)
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