PITTSBURGH, Pa. Chicago Bulls Shirts . - Dick LeBeaus defence is not easy to grasp. For that, the Hall of Fame Pittsburgh Steelers defensive co-ordinator is unapologetic.Yet for all the wrinkles the ever-tinkering LeBeau adds on a weekly basis, there is an underlying simplicity. Containment, not chaos, is the key to success.We always talk about having a lid on the can, cornerback Ike Taylor said. Once that lid comes off man, anything can happen. Anything can come out of that can.All too often this season, it has.While the Steelers (8-5) remain in the midst of a claustrophobic race for the AFC North, theyve done it on the power of an offence that is obliterating the club record book, one thats done its best to overcome the alarming number of momentum-shifting plays allowed by a defence that cant seem to find anything resembling consistency.Pittsburgh has allowed 13 pass plays of more than 40 yards this season, including five in the last four games. Thats only three less than the team allowed from 2011-13 combined. Not exactly the way to end a two-year playoff drought with the erratic but explosive Falcons looming.Its a little bit of everything, safety Troy Polamalu said. Were not executing right and theyre making great plays too. Its definitely something that were going to need to stop, thats for sure.And quickly.While coach Mike Tomlin is quick to defend his secondary, hes well aware the breakdowns need to slow down.We shouldnt be surprised that these guys are capable of getting deep, but at the same time its our job to minimize it, he said.Quarterbacks have been targeting every member of the Pittsburgh secondary deep.Last Sunday, Taylor couldnt get a hand on Cincinnatis A.J. Green at the line of scrimmage in the second quarter. Moments later, Green was racing across the goal line after an 81-yard touchdown.The week prior, Taylor kept his eyes on New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees instead of wide receiver Kenny Stills only to see Stills sneak behind him for a game-breaking 69-yard score. In a victory over Tennessee, Nate Washington darted by William Gay for an 80-yard touchdown. Even Michael Vick and the offensively challenged New York Jets hit the Steelers for a 67-yard strike to T.J. Graham in the first quarter of a 20-13 upset.And Julio Jones awaits in Atlanta. All he did was torch the Green Bay Packers for 259 yards last week.He is that offence, Taylor said.And this version of the Pittsburgh defence hardly resembles the one that went 13 straight years ranked in the top 10, thanks in part to injuries and inconsistent play.Taylor missed eight games with a broken right forearm. Cortez Allen received a five-year deal on the eve of the opener only to lose his confidence, his starting job and ultimately his season due to a busted thumb. Safety Mike Mitchell has yet to make a significant impact and the splash plays Polamalu provided regularly for years have all but disappeared.Now guys like Brice McCain and Antwon Blake, both of whom began the season near the bottom of the depth chart, are learning on the job. And while the Steelers point to progress — namely the way they shut down the Bengals in the fourth quarter last week — plenty of work remains to be done.Best to do it in the midst of a playoff race. It hasnt been perfect — not even close — but thats unnecessary when the offence is more than holding its own.I feel like the concrete is settling with the secondary, Taylor said. I feel like everybody understands now what we need to do.They just need to do it better. Now.NOTES: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was given Wednesday off for the second straight week but it was not injury related. ... Taylor (shoulder/forearm), Gay (quadriceps), linebacker James Harrison (knee) did not practice. ... Right tackle Marcus Gilbert, who has missed the last two weeks with an ankle injury, did practice.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Chicago Bulls Store . Its the second straight year he has decided not to play as he cuts back his schedule. Stricker was replaced in the field by Ryo Ishikawa of Japan. Chicago Bulls Pro Shop . Ashley Wagner will skate in the womens short program for a U.S. team thats in seventh place. Davis and White won the silver medal at the Vancouver Games and are two-time world champions.Tony Romo threw three touchdown passes, two to receiver Terrence Williams, and the Dallas Cowboys routed the New Orleans Saints 38-17 in the Sunday Nighter. Romoss third touchdown pass was to Dez Bryant while DeMarco Murray added two rushing touchdowns and Dan Bailey a long field goal ffor the Cowboys. Chicago Bulls Gear. Drew Brees has touchdown passes to Josh Hill and Jimmy Graham while Shayne Graham also has a field goal for New Orleans scores. With the win the Cowboys improve to 3-1 while the Saints fall to 1-3 on the season. More details to follow. ' ' '
