NFL Steelers' defense enjoys turnabout last two contests

The Steelers' defense has soared to a No. 3 ranking with help from Jason Gildon and Kendrell Bell.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Something was missing from Pittsburgh's defense, and it wasn't just the Steelers' aggressive pass rush or their ability to control top passers.
Jason Gildon was missing, too.
Gildon, an All-Pro linebacker for the NFL's top-ranked defense a year ago, has been invisible much of the season as the Steelers' defense struggled not only to live up to pre-season projections, but its past performance.
Through 12 games, Gildon had only 31/2 sacks -- down from his 2001 season's total of 12 -- and twice had only two tackles in a game. With Gildon being negated by opposing blocking schemes, a change in his own assignments or a combination of both, the Steelers' defense tumbled into the bottom third of the league.
Now, after two of the best defensive performances in the NFL this season -- not just by a team, but by a player -- the Steelers' defense has jumped to No. 3 overall. Only a couple of weeks ago, it ranked only 18th.
The reason? Several teammates said it is simple: The Steelers have turned loose Gildon and Kendrell Bell, last year's NFL defensive rookie of the year.
"They've taken the handcuffs off and said: 'Go get the quarterback,' " said linebacker Joey Porter, whose play carried the defense much of the season. "They're letting them do the thing they do best."
Asked to play differently
A few weeks ago, Gildon refused to get into specifics, but said he was being asked to play much differently than last season, when he and Bell combined for 21 sacks.
Because teams were throwing so effectively against Pittsburgh early, Gildon found himself dropping into coverage more than he was pass rushing, thus eliminating the most effective of the Steelers' blitz specialists.
Defensive coordinator Tim Lewis said Bell also is settling in after missing most of the first month of the season with a sprained ankle. He also needed time to adjust to new inside linebacker James Farrior, who replaced Earl Holmes after he left for Cleveland.
"We're just [pass] rushing more with Jason and I," said Bell, who has four sacks in the last three games. "I think we play a lot better when we're rushing the quarterback and going downhill."
Will face Buccaneers
The Steelers (8-5-1) will get a better idea Monday of how far their defense has come when they go against Tampa Bay (11-3) and the league's top-rated defense. The Buccaneers allow 249.9 yards per game, followed by Miami (282.6), Pittsburgh (295.4) and Philadelphia (296.2).
After limiting Houston to 47 total yards -- the fewest ever by an NFL winning team -- the Steelers held Carolina without a yard in the first half Sunday. That meant, in a span of six quarters, or 11/2 games, opponents gained 47 yards -- or about 8 per quarter. Carolina managed 131 yards in the second half of its 30-14 loss.
The Steelers had 10 sacks in the two games -- 41/2 by Gildon, who seems much more comfortable now that he's back in an aggressor's role.
"Jason has gone back to bull rushing," Lewis said. "He's overpowering blockers, which is the best way for him to get to the quarterback. Earlier in the season, he was speed rushing, trying to get around blockers, and that's not his way."
Of course, the opposition helped: Carolina (No. 31) and Houston (No. 32) are the NFL's two worst offenses.