The Steelers defense created 35 take-aways in 2010 as opposed to just 14 so far this season. I went back and watched all off the takeaways from last year to refresh myself with how they were created. 8 of them were caused by getting to the quarterback in some shape or form. 6 were results of good hits on either a ball carrier or strip after a catch. 8 of them were results of bad throws by the opposing quarterback, 5 were nice plays where the Steelers defender jumped the route. 4 were balls that originally came off of a receivers hands and 4 more came on special teams.
Below is a play-by-play breakdown of each and I have included links to each video replay.
Bad Throw 8
Hit On Ball Carrier Or Receiver 6
Jumped Route 5
Sack Fumble 4
Off Recivers Hands 4
Special Teams Tackle 3
QB Hit As Throwing 2
Pressure Forced Bad Throw 2
Muffed Punt 1
Week 1 Falcons
Play: 1-10-ATL 21 (1:45) (Shotgun) M.Ryan pass short right intended for R.White INTERCEPTED by T.Polamalu at ATL 31. T.Polamalu ran ob at ATL 30 for 1 yard.
Cause: Polamalu baited Ryan into a throw to White on the right sideline and jumped the route for the interception.
Week 2 Titans
Play: J.Reed kicks 64 yards from PIT 30 to TEN 6. M.Mariani to TEN 40 for 34 yards (S.Sylvester). FUMBLES (S.Sylvester), RECOVERED by PIT-K.Fox at TEN 46.
Cause: Sylvester great hit on Mariani during return.
Play: 1-10-PIT 16 (5:53) V.Young pass deep middle intended for N.Washington INTERCEPTED by T.Polamalu at PIT -5. Touchback.
Cause: Polamalu intercepts Young on forced ball in endzone.
Play: 3-6-PIT 42 (8:35) (Shotgun) V.Young pass short middle intended for J.Gage INTERCEPTED by L.Woodley at PIT 37. L.Woodley to PIT 45 for 8 yards (C.Johnson).
Cause: Woodley intercepts in middle of the field after dropping into coverage. Poor throw by Young.
Play: 1-10-TEN 23 (1:45) (Shotgun) C.Johnson up the middle to TEN 24 for 1 yard (L.Timmons). FUMBLES (L.Timmons), RECOVERED by PIT-J.Harrison at TEN 23. J.Harrison to TEN 23 for no gain (M.Roos).
Cause: Timmons causes fumble with hit
Play: 2-10-TEN 42 (5:00) V.Young sacked at TEN 37 for -5 yards (J.Harrison). FUMBLES (J.Harrison), RECOVERED by PIT S.McLendon at TEN 35.
Cause: Sack fumble by Harrison.
Play: 3-20-TEN 29 (13:05) (Shotgun) K.Collins pass deep right intended for N.Washington INTERCEPTED by B.McFadden at PIT 46. B.McFadden to PIT 46 for no gain (N.Washington).
Cause: McFadden intercepts overthown ball by Collins.
Play: 1-10-TEN 20 (6:42) K.Collins sacked at TEN 15 for -5 yards (L.Woodley). FUMBLES (L.Woodley), RECOVERED by PIT C.Hoke at TEN 15. C.Hoke to TEN 15 for no gain (J.Scott).
Cause: Woodley hits hand of Collins as he is in throwing motion to causes fumble.
Week 3 Buccaneers
Play: 2-20-TB 35 (8:19) (Shotgun) J.Johnson pass short left to M.Williams to TB 44 for 9 yards (J.Farrior). FUMBLES (J.Farrior), RECOVERED by PIT-R.Clark at TB 49. R.Clark to TB 44 for 5 yards (J.Stevens).
Cause: Farrior strip tackles Williams after short reception to causes fumble.
Play: 1-10-PIT 17 (15:00) (Shotgun) J.Freeman pass short left intended for S.Stroughter INTERCEPTED by B.Keisel at PIT 21. B.Keisel for 79 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Cause: Bad throw to Stroughter and it bounced off hands. Harrison tackles him while the ball is in air and Keisel intercepts.
Week 4 Ravens
Play: 2-10-BLT 22 (12:12) W.McGahee right tackle to BLT 27 for 5 yards (J.Harrison). FUMBLES (J.Harrison), RECOVERED by PIT-L.Timmons at BLT 27. L.Timmons to BLT 27 for no gain (M.Birk).
Cause: Harrison hits McGahee from side and causes fumble. Also knocks out McGahee.
Play: 3-3-BLT 17 (2:10) (Shotgun) J.Flacco pass deep left intended for D.Mason INTERCEPTED by I.Taylor at BLT 33. I.Taylor to BLT 33 for no gain (D.Mason).
Cause: Ike intercepts poorly thrown ball from Flacco. Keisel jumped into lane and may have made Flacco alter throw a bit.
Week 6 Browns
Play: 2-19-PIT 45 (11:24) (Shotgun) C.McCoy pass deep middle intended for B.Watson INTERCEPTED by R.Clark at PIT 18. R.Clark to PIT 29 for 11 yards (E.Moore).
Cause: Poorly thrown ball by McCoy forced into heavy traffic.
Play: 4-22-CLV 47 (8:00) (Punt formation) D.Sepulveda punts 34 yards to CLV 13, Center-G.Warren. C.Stuckey MUFFS catch, RECOVERED by PIT-K.Fox at CLV 13. K.Fox to CLV 13 for no gain (C.Stuckey).
Cause: Muffed punt by Stuckey.
Play: 3-9-CLV 15 (1:52) (Shotgun) C.McCoy pass short right intended for B.Watson INTERCEPTED by L.Timmons (R.Mundy) at CLV 23. L.Timmons pushed ob at CLV 18 for 5 yards (A.Mack).
Cause: Mundy jumped the route and ball deflected off him and Timmons picked it off.
Week 7 Dolphins
Play: 2-8-MIA 38 (13:02) C.Henne pass short right to B.Hartline to MIA 40 for 2 yards (B.McFadden, L.Woodley). FUMBLES (B.McFadden), RECOVERED by PIT-J.Farrior at MIA 42. J.Farrior to MIA 34 for 8 yards (B.Hartline).
Cause: NcFadden and Woodley both hit Hartline after the catch and the ball popped up and into arms of Farrior.
Play: 4-6-MIA 33 (1:33) (No Huddle, Shotgun) C.Henne pass short right intended for R.Brown INTERCEPTED by J.Harrison [J.Worilds] at MIA 34. J.Harrison to MIA 32 for 2 yards (R.Brown).
Cause: Worilds hit the arm of Henne as he threw.
Week 8 Saints
Play: 2-20-NO 8 (2:00) (Shotgun) D.Brees pass deep left intended for D.Henderson INTERCEPTED by I.Taylor at NO 45. I.Taylor to NO 36 for 9 yards (L.Moore).
Cause: Taylor undercut the route for the interception.
Play: 3-4-PIT 20 (8:08) (Shotgun) D.Brees sacked at PIT 27 for -7 yards (B.McFadden). FUMBLES (B.McFadden) [B.McFadden], RECOVERED by PIT-L.Woodley at PIT 27. L.Woodley to PIT 27 for no gain (J.Bushrod).
Cause: McFadden strip-sacked Brees on a corner blitz.
Week 9 Bengals
Play: J.Reed kicks 63 yards from PIT 30 to CIN 7. B.Scott to CIN 25 for 18 yards (E.Sanders). FUMBLES (E.Sanders), RECOVERED by PIT-J.Worilds at CIN 25. J.Worilds to CIN 25 for no gain (R.Kelly).
Cause: Sanders causes fumble on kickoff.
Play: 3-13-CIN 38 (5:17) (Shotgun) C.Palmer pass short middle intended for T.Owens INTERCEPTED by L.Timmons at PIT 48. L.Timmons to PIT 48 for no gain (T.Owens).
Cause: Timmons jumped route as Farrior hate late pressure up the middle on Palmer.
Week 11 Raiders
Play: 1-10-OAK 33 (3:03) J.Campbell pass short middle to L.Murphy to OAK 45 for 12 yards (I.Taylor) [C.Hoke]. FUMBLES (I.Taylor), touched at OAK 45, RECOVERED by PIT-L.Timmons at OAK 35. L.Timmons to OAK 35 for no gain (J.Veldheer).
Cause: Taylor knocks out the ball just after catch.
Play: 1-10-OAK 28 (11:13) J.Campbell pass short left intended for M.Reece INTERCEPTED by J.Harrison at OAK 28. J.Harrison to OAK 28 for no gain (M.Reece).
Cause: Ball bounced off the fingetips of Reese and into hands of Harrison.
Play: 3-10-PIT 24 (:20) (Shotgun) B.Gradkowski pass deep right intended for J.Ford INTERCEPTED by T.Polamalu at PIT 8. T.Polamalu to PIT 46 for 38 yards (J.Veldheer).
Cause: Polamalu undercuts route on a bad throw to Ford from Gradkowski.
Week 12 Bills
Play: 1-10-PIT 31 (8:38) R.Fitzpatrick pass short right to L.Evans to PIT 22 for 9 yards (J.Harrison). FUMBLES (J.Harrison), RECOVERED by PIT-T.Polamalu at PIT 19. T.Polamalu to PIT 19 for no gain (A.Levitre). Caught in flat at PIT 25, slanting to middle.
Cause: Gay had Evans wrapped up and Harrison came in and caused fumble with a hit.
Play: 2-7-PIT 12 (3:00) (Shotgun) R.Fitzpatrick pass short right intended for St.Johnson INTERCEPTED by T.Polamalu (W.Gay) at PIT 1. T.Polamalu to PIT 6 for 5 yards (K.Urbik). Pass tipped in coverage before INT.
Cause: Tight coverage by Gay and ball bounced off the hands of Johnson and Polamalu picks it off.
Week 13 Ravens
Play: 2-5-BLT 43 (3:22) J.Flacco sacked at BLT 38 for -5 yards (T.Polamalu). FUMBLES (T.Polamalu) [T.Polamalu], RECOVERED by PIT-L.Woodley at BLT 28. L.Woodley to BLT 9 for 19 yards (E.Dickson).
Cause: Tomahawk chop on arm of Flacco by Polamalu who came on a safety blitz.
Week 14 Bengals
Play: 2-8-CIN 33 (4:49) C.Palmer pass short middle intended for T.Owens INTERCEPTED by T.Polamalu at CIN 45. T.Polamalu for 45 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Cause: Polamalu jumped the route.
Play: 1-10-CIN 10 (12:27) C.Palmer pass short right intended for C.Ochocinco INTERCEPTED by L.Woodley at CIN 14. L.Woodley for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Cause: Woodley dropped into coverage on the quick pass to the left and leaped to make a nice interception.
Play: 1-10-PIT 16 (2:09) (No Huddle, Shotgun) C.Palmer pass deep right intended for T.Owens INTERCEPTED by T.Polamalu at PIT 0. T.Polamalu to PIT 12 for 12 yards. Lateral to B.McFadden to PIT 12 for no gain (C.Ochocinco).
Cause: Pressure by Harrison up the middle forced a bad throw from Palmer into traffic.
Week 16 Panthers
Play: 1-10-CAR 13 (11:53) J.Clausen pass deep right intended for D.Gettis INTERCEPTED by B.McFadden at PIT 45. B.McFadden to PIT 42 for -3 yards (D.Gettis).
Cause: Overthrown ball that McFadden made a great play on to intercept.
Play: S.Suisham kicks 68 yards from PIT 30 to CAR 2. M.Goodson to CAR 28 for 26 yards (K.Fox). FUMBLES (K.Fox), RECOVERED by PIT-W.Allen at CAR 28. W.Allen to CAR 28 for no gain (J.King).
Cause: Fox with the strip on kickoff return.
Week 17 Browns
Play: 1-10-CLV 48 (14:33) (No Huddle, Shotgun) C.McCoy pass short right intended for B.Watson INTERCEPTED by T.Polamalu at PIT 44. T.Polamalu to PIT 44 for no gain (B.Watson).
Cause: Ball bounced off the hands of Watson and Polamalu intercepted.
Play: 3-7-CLV 25 (6:39) (Shotgun) C.McCoy pass deep right intended for M.Massaquoi INTERCEPTED by R.Clark at CLV 47. R.Clark to CLV 24 for 23 yards (B.Watson).
Cause: Badly overthrown ball by McCoy.
Play: 3-4-PIT 49 (2:42) (Shotgun) C.McCoy pass deep middle intended for B.Robiskie INTERCEPTED by A.Madison [J.Harrison] at PIT 25. A.Madison to PIT 24 for -1 yards (B.Robiskie).
Cause: Harrison hit McCoy as he was releasing ball to cause a bad throw and easy interception.
