When it comes to laid-back football coaches, Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler is about as chill as they come. Even when Butler is mad, his southern drawl and easy demeanor makes it difficult to detect.
That was not the case Thursday afternoon. Four days had passed since the Steelers lost to the Chicago Bears in overtime, and Butler was still hot about his unit’s inability to defend the run.
The Bears rushed for 220 yards in their 23-17 victory at Soldier Field, including 74 on four consecutive runs in overtime.
“We played terrible fundamental football as far as tackling and getting off blocks, taking angles to the ball,” Butler said.
No player, or position group, escaped his wrath.
“If I was coaching the outside linebackers I would have been [ticked] off,” Butler said. “If I was coaching the inside linebackers I’d have been [ticked] off. If I was coaching the D-line I’d have been [ticked] off and the secondary, also. All of us were [ticked] off about how we played. We had an opportunity to go 3-0 and we missed the opportunity.”
Somehow the Steelers managed to lose a game when the opposing quarterback completed one pass to a receiver. Overall, Mike Glennon threw for just 101 yards. But with Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen running all over Butler’s defense and controlling the clock, the Bears were able to eke out a victory.
“We had so many chances to win that freaking football game, and we didn’t win it,” Butler said. “I’m [ticked] off about that. I’m [ticked] off about fundamentally we weren’t sound in what we were doing.”
That makes a game Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens challenging because they always seem to run well against the Steelers. In the past six regular-season meetings, the Ravens rushed for 100 yards or more four times. They are averaging 117 rushing yards per game against the Steelers in that stretch.
The Steelers had problems defending the zone runs the Bears executed, and the Ravens have many of the same types of runs in their playbook.
“It’s a lack of execution,” defensive end and team captain Cameron Heyward said. “That’s all it is. We have to learn from those mistakes. It’s as simple as that. We’re going to get challenged with the same stuff as last week. It [stinks]. You never want to give up 100 yards, and you never want to give up over 200 yards. Now we have to answer for it, and we look forward to doing that.”
The Ravens are the worst offense statistically in the NFL. They are last in the league in total offense (263 yards per game) and passing offense (121 ypg). They’re 23rd in scoring offense, averaging just 17 points per game.
Their one saving grace is their rushing offense. They are fourth in the league, averaging 142 yards per game.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh is using three running backs. Javorius Allen leads the team with 152 rushing yards, but Terrance West (128) and Alex Collins (124) also have run well. Collins is averaging 7.8 yards per carry.
The Steelers, meanwhile, are 22nd in rushing defense.
“They run the stretch play outside, they cut it back, they do a lot of the same things the Bears are doing,” Butler said. “There’s not much difference there. They have good running backs. You know they’re going to try to run the doggone football on us. They’re going to try to protect their quarterback, try to make it a short game. That’s their recipe to try to beat us.”
Even with the Bears running for 220 yards last week the Steelers remain third in the NFL in total defense. But Heyward knows if they’re going to be recognized as one of the best defenses in the league this season the run defense must improve.
“It’s on us,” Heyward said. “Missed tackles, missed execution. When you shoot yourself in the foot, when you’re not in our gaps. … We’re a gap integrity team. When we don’t do that, you’re asking for a butt-whipping. We want to be a complete team, a complete defense. To do that, you have to stop the run.”
Ray Fittipaldo: rfittipaldo@post-gazette.com and Twitter @rayfitt1.
First Published: September 28, 2017, 9:06 p.m.