LATROBE So far, Steelers defense has regressed from '02

Shoring up a porous secondary is a primary goal.
LATROBE, Pa. (AP) -- The Pittsburgh Steelers' defense still appears to be struggling. In two preseason games, they've allowed 30 first-half points and are worse than they were last season at stopping opponents on third down, while managing one sack and no takeaways.
But defensive coordinator Tim Lewis says statistics aren't everything, although he acknowledged that the Steelers' defense has yet to correct the flaws of last season.
"I'm pleased with where we're going," Lewis said. "I still know we have a long way to go to get to where we want to go, but I'm not dissatisfied with their effort."
Pittsburgh's primary goals this off-season include shoring up the porous secondary, which contributed to the NFL's top defense in 2001 sliding to 20th in pass defense, and stopping teams on third down.
Third-down blues
The secondary overall appears to have improved, holding both Detroit and Philadelphia below 200 years passing. But the Steelers still struggled on third down, allowing opponents to convert more readily than last season -- 46 percent compared to 44 percent last season.
But Lewis contends that stopping on third downs hasn't been the focus this off-season, and the Steelers instead have concentrated on causing turnovers. They have none so far.
"You know how they are. They come in bunches. They come when they come. We'll just keep running to the ball and getting to the ball as hard as we can and the takeaways will come," Lewis said. "The pressure's getting there. Again, people throw quick rhythm against us."
Lewis said the Steelers weren't able to blitz effectively against the Lions or Eagles but have been pressuring quarterbacks, which should lead to more sacks and turnovers.
Defensive end Aaron Smith agreed.
"I think overall the whole front is getting good pressure," Smith said. "It wasn't the same guy every time, so it was kind of nice. A different guy on every play was getting pressure. [McNabb] was throwing them pretty quick Saturday night. They weren't holding it long. They spread it out and got rid of it but I thought we played well."
Increased pressure
Nose tackle Casey Hampton may have put more pressure on Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks than anybody, with three pressures and a forced incompletion that could've been ruled intentional grounding.
"Give us a couple games in the regular season to see how things are," Smith said. "We've got guys playing with different groups and stuff. It's early."
According to Lewis, the Steelers have adjusted to the quick-rhythm passing attacks by using more press coverage with their cornerbacks.
"They're much closer and tighter than they were," Lewis said. "Look at the stats. I don't think the Eagles came close to their average passing yardage from last year."
The Steelers held the Eagles to 133 yards, well below the 222 yards a game they averaged and the 240 yards passing on average the Steelers allowed last season, although McNabb played only one quarter.