Two 3rd-and-9 Plays, Two Years, Two Completely Different Results

Sunday's 25-17 win over New England showed tremendous growth and maturity within Pittsburgh's secondary. Especially considering how badly Patriots QB Tom Brady beat them up and down the field in their previous meeting, the relative lack of offensive production by New England's high-powered offense was impressive.

There was a play in 2010, set up very similarly to a play in 2011, that highlighted the differences between this year and last year.



It's no secret the Patriots shredded the Steelers in the air in their Week 10 game in 2010. The Steelers struggled to get any pressure on QB Tom Brady, and their coverage was not tight enough, both in design and in execution.

The Patriots had the ball on a 3rd-and-9 at the Steelers 18 yard line. Brady had basically been untouched up to that point.




Before the snap, the Steelers show a man under coverage scheme, with the corners pressing at the line (man coverage) and two safeties back deep in zone. DE Ziggy Hood is down on the offensive left side, and former Steelers DL Nick Eason is playing the nose tackle.

http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2011/10/31/2527133/Steelers-patriots-game-analysis-week-7

I don't think enough credit can be given to Carnell Lake for the job he's doing with the secondary. As I've said before, he's the only variable that has changed from the past few seasons.