Pittsburgh Steelers: Blitz, Blitz, Blitz on Defense To Beat The New York Jets

For the past two weeks, the Steelers have relied heavily on their defense to make plays and win close, divisional games. For the past two weeks, the defense has delivered in spades by making key plays, killing off drives out of scoring range, and forcing huge turnovers.

Against a team that sports another staunch, difficult defense, Pittsburgh's unit will need to once again stand and deliver. The best way to beat the New York Jets is to stop their offense.

Here's a look at what Dick LeBeau's game plan should be against New York.

The Blitz Is Your Friend

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ORCHARD PARK, NY - NOVEMBER 28: James Harrison #92 of the Pittsburgh Steelers sacks Ryan Fitzpatrick #14 of the Buffalo Bills during their game at Ralph Wilson Stadium on November 28, 2010 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Karl Walter/Getty Images)

Dick LeBeau has been dialing up a particularly ferocious set of blitzes lately, harassing quarterbacks Joe Flacco and Carson Palmer continually in the past two games.

Against Mark Sanchez, who's struggled mightily lately, the Steelers need to continue using their exotic blitz schemes.

The Jets' offensive line has been roughed up the past two weeks, so capitalizing on their ineffectiveness with middle linebacker blitzes and safety blitzes is a must. Also, the Steelers have been effective at different times using Ike Taylor and William Gay on corner fire blitzes. This kind of play, while it may not lead immediately to a sack, will likely rattle the struggling Sanchez.

If the Steelers can blitz effectively against the Jets, Mark Sanchez won't have time to find his key targets (former Steeler Santonio Holmes and tight end Dustin Keller) and will be forced out of the pocket where he's even more ineffective.

Mixing It Up

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PITTSBURGH - OCTOBER 17: Lawrence Timmons #94 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs with the ball after catching an interception against the Cleveland Browns during the game on October 17, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wicke

In almost two years in the NFL, Mark Sanchez has shown an inability to consistently make reads and adjust to defenses that mix up their styles.

LeBeau would be wise to continue his trend of mixing things up.

Have linemen stand instead of dropping to a three-point stance, then drop them into stances. Show blitz and back off, then come with an all-out blitz, overload to one side and then blitz one player from the other, the list is endless. The more different looks Sanchez gets, the less likely it is that he'll be able to make plays.

This defense has playmakers all over the place, so there's very little chance that opponents can account for everyone. Against a rattled quarterback who's suffering from a lack of confidence, that could be poison.

Ah...Mr. Holmes and His Partner Mr. Keller

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 25: Santonio Holmes 10 of the New York Jets celebrates a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals at New Meadowlands Stadium on November 25, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Jets defeated the Bengal 26-10. (Photo by

Was it really just last year that Santonio Holmes was catching passes from Ben Roethlisberger? With the emergence of Mike Wallace and rookies Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown coupled with the return of Antwaan Randle El, it seems like it's been a much longer time.

Holmes is still making plays, now for Gang Green, and he isn't alone. The Jets other main target in the passing game is Dustin Keller, a second-year tight end with excellent skills (think Heath Miller).

Covering these two is beyond important. It's vital.

The best plan is to have Ryan Clark shadow Keller while occasionally allowing Polamalu to play him as well. It also wouldn't hurt to bring in the nickel on obvious passing downs and slide William Gay in to cover him along with Clark.

For Holmes, it needs to be a dose of Ike Taylor. Bryant McFadden is too slow and too easily fooled to cover the shifty Holmes. Taylor doesn't have blazing speed, but he is adept at coverage.

For Taylor, it will also be essential to avoid the pass interference penalties that he's so good at drawing.

Creating Turnovers

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PITTSBURGH - NOVEMBER 21: Troy Polamalu #43 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs with the ball after catching an interception against the Oakland Raiders during the game on November 21, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerh

Fumbles, interceptions it doesn't really matter. Forcing the Jets into mistakes is also important.

Mark Sanchez has been relatively awful. We've covered that. He's thrown interceptions at an increasing rate in the past eight games. In the past two, the Jets have lost games thanks to his play.

Pittsburgh can create turnovers anywhere. I'd at least explore sending Polamalu on the same blitz that he used against Joe Flacco to turn around the Ravens game. Having Polamalu come up to the line then drop back suddenly is also an effective technique.

Outside linebacker blitzes can also create fumbles with Sanchez, who isn't particularly good at getting away from pressure.

With interceptions, it's all a matter of disguising double coverage against the team's top receivers. If there's a player spying Sanchez, he can then slide onto his target to make a play. Sanchez has been particularly victimized by defenders undercutting routes, so having the corners or safeties play even with receivers and allowing one safety to play deep on longer routes would be a great tactic.

If Pittsburgh wins the turnover battle, they win the game. It's that simple.