Both the losses the Steelers have suffered have shown the defense wearing down after only giving up one touchdown in the first half and then surrendering 30 or more points by the end of the game. It wasn't a complete collapse in the sense that the defense did not know where to go or what to do, but more of how a defense that has to be out there for around 70 plays in a game.
The defense was missing both its best players in Cameron Heyward and Ryan Shazier, but it still had its chances with Vince Williams and the rookie Javon Hargrave with a rotation that included Ricardo Matthews and occasionally Dan McCullers. Though they allowed Jay Ajayi to run for 204 yards, most of that came in the second half, as the defense saw fatigue kick in and more breakdowns occur.
EARLY RUN DEFENSE
This play came immediately after the second interception thrown by Ben Roethlisberger. The defense had just blocked a field goal after a long drive to start the second half and then had to go back on the field after not getting any help from its offense. As a game wears on and a defense that isn't full of studs and stars has to be on the field for 70 plays or more, fatigue sets in, mental breakdowns are more likely to happen and opportunities for big plays become more apparent for opposing offenses.
Watch how Williams hesitates to flow with the run and attacks the wrong gap on this play. He goes too far inside and takes himself out of the equation, which allows safety Robert Golden to be sealed further inside and open up the huge rushing lane for Ajayi. If Williams gets to the outside, he would have been able to occupy the right tackle and in all likelihood force Ajayi further outside and right into Golden.
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