for the Pittsburgh Steelers defense Jerome Bettis Jersey , it would be fair to say that their performances have shown noticeable signs of improvement as of late. While still far from perfect, the team is second in the league in sacks and have held their last two opponents to only 19 points, a far cry from their average over the first four weeks of 29 points a game.The Cincinnati Bengals were held to just 62 yards rushing and 229 yards passing on Sunday and the Steelers have slowly begun to climb out of the ranks of the league’s worse defense statistically. Currently ranked 21 st overall giving up an average of 380.2 yards a game, the Steelers sit just behind the New England Patriots in that regard. When speaking to reporters on Tuesday, cornerback Joe Haden noted the changes that new defensive backs coach Tom Bradley had brought to the secondary and the points of emphasis he had been working on with his players over the past six weeks or so to fix their issues. However, the most revealing part of his conversation with the media might have been his answer to a question about the involvement of Mike Tomlin in the defense and his input in addressing the problems that have plagued the secondary during the early part of the season. As a former defensive backs coach in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it should come as no surprise to note that is where Tomlin chooses to focus his efforts defensively. But while he deserves some praise for the improvement of the secondary recently, he also deserves more than his fair share of the blame for the level of play we have seen from this unit to start the season. Given the criticism Keith Butler generally receives for the deficiencies of the defense on game day when things are not going well, it is perhaps only right to consider him partially in charge of the unit in partnership with Tomlin.Faced with two of the league’s better offenses in their last two outings, the signs of life from the Steelers’ defense are encouraging and Haden clearly likes the direction the group is heading in.If Pittsburgh could just fix Artie Burns or find someone competent to play opposite Haden, this secondary might actually turn out to be quite good. Bracketing the best teams in the past 50 years of Pittsburgh Steelers history never to win a title. Who do you consider the "Best of the Rest" between the 2001 Steelers and the 1976 version?"WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Latest NewsSteelers Film Room2018 NFL Draft AnalysisLatest NewsLatest NewsFeatures and Long FormRound 2 of Pittsburgh Steelers March Madness: The Best of the Rest featuring No. 2 seed 2001 vs. No. 8 seed 1976New,5commentsBracketing the best teams in the past 50 years of Pittsburgh Steelers history never to win a title. Who do you consider the “Best of the Rest” between the 2001 Steelers and the 1976 version?EDTShareTweetShareShareRound 2 of Pittsburgh Steelers March Madness: The Best of the Rest featuring No. 2 seed 2001 vs. No. 8 seed 1976BTSC continues to search for the best and most-memorable Steeler team to not win a title. Last time around, you voted a 15-1 team featuring a star rookie QB that fell short of the Super Bowl over a team that came close to a huge update over Dallas in SB XXX. Here are the final tallies.No. 1 - 2004: The 15-1 Ben-ginning of a new era - 63%No. 10- 1995: More than one Big Nasty D - 37%Here is the remaining schedule for Round Two:No. 2 Seed: 2001 (13-3) vs No. 8 Seed: 1976 (10-4)No. 3 Seed: 2017 (13-3) vs No. 6 Seed: 1994 (12-4) No. 4 Seed: 1972 (11-3) vs No. 5 Seed: 2010 (12-4)Once again Merril Hoge Jersey , you may not agree with the seedings...but they were done by record in the regular season and then postseason success. This time around we pit a 13-3 AFCCG team against a team that may have three-peated if not for injury. Be sure to vote for the team that remains the most memorable to you or the one you feel is simply the “best of the rest”. Your choice. Be sure to wax poetically in the comment section below. No. 2 Seed: 2001 (13-3) Inaugural Heinz Field Heroes After three-straight years out of the playoffs, the Steelers christened the newly-opened, Heinz Field with their best record in 13 seasons. The season started out rocky with a 21-3 loss in Jacksonville. After two weeks off due to 9/11 and a scheduled bye, Kordell Stewart and Jerome Bettis led the way to wins in 13 of the next 15 regular-season games. Hines Ward and Plaxico Burress each went over 1,000 receiving yards. The signature win came in Week 14 at Baltimore. After beating the Ravens in the Divisional Playoffs at home, the Steelers fell to the Patriots at home in the AFCCG 21-17Pro Bowlers: Kendrell Bell, Jerome Bettis, Alan Faneca, Jason Gildon, Kordell Stewart, Hines WardFirst-Team All Pros: Alan Faneca, Jason GildonSecond-Team All Pros: Kendrell Bell, Jeff HartingsTeam MVP: Kordell StewartFirst Round Selection: Casey Hampton Rookie of the Year: Kendrell BellNo. 8 Seed: 1976 (10-4) After winning their first two titles the previous two seasons Franco Harris Jersey , it seemed likely that the Steelers could three-peat as an even stronger unit. However, Chuck Noll’s team shockingly started off as a disappointing 1-4. To make matters worse, QB Terry Bradshaw was injured in a Week 5 loss in Cleveland. Bradshaw sustained the injury after the infamous Joe “Turkey” Jones slamdown. Fortunes would turn with Mike Kruczek behind center, as the rookie set a NFL record (later broken by Ben Roethlisberger in 2004) for wins to start a career. Bradshaw would return intermittently throughout the remainder of the season, but most of the Steelers success was due to a suffocating defense (five shutouts and a mere 28 points surrendered in those final nine games) and the rushing tandem of Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier. Harris (1,128 yards/14 TDs and Bleier (1,026 yards/5 TDs) were basically the entire offense, as the leading receiver (Lynn Swann) had a mere 516 yards and three scores. On a defense that included five All Pros, Mel Blount and Glen Edwards led with six interceptions a piece and Jack Lambert had two picks and six fumble recoveries. In the playoffs, the Steelers pounded Baltimore 40-14. Bradshaw threw three TD passes, two of them to Swann and Reggie Harrison had two rushing scores. Harrison was in due to injuries in the game to Harris and Bleier. Unfortunately, No. 46 and the Steelers weren’t as productive without the pair of 1K rushers the next week in the AFC Championship against Oakland. The Raiders went on to play Minnesota in SB XI, while Steeler Nation saw one of their best teams in franchise history wonder what might have been.Pro Bowlers: Mel Blount Donnie Shell Jersey , Terry Bradshaw, Glen Edwards, Joe Greene, L. C. Greenwood, Jack Ham, Franco Harris, Jack Lambert, Andy Russell, Lynn Swann and Mike WagnerFirst-Team All Pros: Jack Ham, Jack Lambert and Glen EdwardsSecond-Team All Pros: Joe Greene and Mike WagnerTeam MVP: Jack LambertNo. 1 Draft Pick: Bennie CunninghamWhile the 2001 team had a 13-3 season, Kordell and Co. may not evoke memories of one of the greatest defenses of all time. Vote and comment below.