In the loss to the Minnesota Vikings over in London, the Pittsburgh Steelers defense registered 15 missed tackles, according to Pro Football Focus, and it played a big part in the outcome of the game. However, since that game, the Steelers defense is back tackling well again.
In their first win over the New York Jets a few weeks ago, the Steelers defense only missed six tackles and in the win Sunday over the Baltimore Ravens, they missed just three, which just so happened to be a season-low.
According to ESPN.com, Ravens running backs Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce combined to rush for a season-low 11 yards after contact against the Steelers and that in itself is a huge accomplishment.
Perhaps the most remarkable thing when it comes to tackles in the game against the Ravens is the fact that linebacker Lawrence Timmons was credited with a career high 20 tackles, 17 of them solo stops, by the team. Not only that, he wasn’t charged with a miss tackle by PFF.
“I was trying to make all of the plays for our defense,” said Timmons, according to steelers.com. “Coach (Dick) LeBeau trusts me and put me in position to make plays and I try to do that for our team.”
Moving forward, the Steelers defense can’t rely on Timmons making that many tackles in a game, but  at least it appears as though the coaching staff has reemphasized the importance of wrapping up firmly.
