The Pittsburgh Steelers had an extended, ugly historical past towards the best soccer participant of all time, Tom Brady. Brady beat the Steelers 12 instances in his profession, together with a 3-0 document towards Pittsburgh in AFC Championship video games.
In a world with out Tom Brady, Roethlisberger greater than probably reaches one other Tremendous Bowl or two, particularly through the “Killer B’s” period within the mid-2010s. However Brady was round for some time, and regardless of how sensational the Steelers’ protection was, they at all times struggled to defend Brady and the Patriots. Brady went 9-3 towards the Steelers throughout his time in New England and 9-4 general.
Former Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler joined the Talegate Podcast with Al Blanton on Friday to debate his lengthy soccer profession, and he offered some perception into the difficulties of enjoying towards Brady.
“[Tom Brady] was a really sensible soccer participant. They gave him numerous alternatives to verify on the line of scrimmage…Brady at all times did job of his pre-snap learn. He at all times tried to go on totally different counts. What you do with a security is you attempt to maintain them in a sure place till proper earlier than the snap, after which they need to get to the place they need to get to. [Brady] would make you present him what you’re doing earlier than you probably did that.”
It’s well-known that Tom Brady operated an offense like a genius army tactician. Earlier than each snap, he was in a position to learn a protection like no different quarterback, evaluating potential weaknesses and holes within the formation that he might exploit. To the informal fan, it usually appeared like a bunch of straightforward check-down passes, which they could credit score to the play calling of the offensive coordinator fairly than the pre-snap reads of Brady.
However Keith Butler was in a position to witness Brady’s distinctive talents firsthand because the Steelers’ linebackers coach from 2003-14 and the defensive coordinator from 2015-21. Soccer, many different group sports activities, is a chess match between the offense and protection, with either side making an attempt to get the opposite to disclose their subsequent transfer. As Butler mentioned, Brady was persistently in a position to expose a protection’s true formation by getting the safeties to maneuver earlier than the snap. His pre-snap checks, different cadences, and utilization of motions have been all ploys to get the safeties to point out their hand earlier than the play began. From there, making the best learn was as straightforward as quarterbacking in a yard soccer sport for Brady.
Over the previous 5-10 years, the quarterback place has drastically modified. Some critics have identified the shortage of Tom Brady or Peyton Manning-style tacticians on the place. Guys with the professional means to course of the sport, and choose aside defenses on lengthy drives whereas primarily sitting within the pocket. As an alternative, the QB place is trending towards freak athletes, with the working means of gamers like Lamar Jackson and Jayden Daniels, or the arm energy and expertise of Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen.
Among the really elite quarterbacks are additionally nice processors. Cincinnati Bengals star Joe Burrow could be one of the best present instance. Nevertheless it’s not fairly as frequent for younger quarterbacks to showcase these talents.
For the Pittsburgh Steelers this season, Aaron Rodgers could have the possibility to point out what 20 years of NFL expertise has taught him so far as studying defenses. His ridiculous arm expertise won’t be what it as soon as was, however his information of the sport and what defenses are attempting to do continues to be nearly as good as any QB within the league. He’ll have the possibility to get some minor revenge for Steelers followers used to watching their protection get carved up by Brady once they face the New England Patriots in Week 3.
