Steelers News: Lake, Boswell, Blitzburgh
By Kim Myers
The Steelers will definitely be enjoying their bye week after a home win over the Browns and having more injuries this season than anyone can keep track of. While the team ices up their bumps and bruises during the bye we’ll be busy looking for mentions of your Black & Gold so we’ve got you covered. Here’s your Steelers Morning Huddle for Sunday, Nov. 22nd.
Bend but don’t break
The Steelers secondary has been a point of contention the last few seasons with the departures of players like Troy Polamalu and Ike Taylor and the puzzling Cortez Allen, who hasn’t been healthy or productive since signing his contract extension.
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Steelers secondary coach Carnell Lake spoke to Mike Prisuta about the difference maker that has come from the secondary this season so far and that’s the ability to take the ball away. The secondary has accounted for eight of the team’s nine interceptions through 10 games this season.
"“We’re playing cohesively but guys are in the right position to make their plays. We have eyes on the football. I don’t want to put more into it than it is right now. I just hope it continues and I think it will if we continue to play smart defense and disciplined defense.” – Carnell Lake"
What to do?
The PPG’s Ed Bouchette brought up an intriguing question on looking ahead towards the Steelers offseason. With Shaun Suisham and Chris Boswell both under contract for 2016, which kicker should the Steelers stick with?
Suisham will cost the Steelers a $2.4 million salary in 2016 but Boswell’s salary will be $525,000. It’s way too early to start thinking about this stuff but it’s a valid question. What do you think the Steelers should do?
Is Blitzburgh back?
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler speculates that the Steelers defense might be returning to the days of “Blitzburgh” except for the passing yards given up. The Steelers defense has shown that they’ll get after the quarterback and prevent scores but they’ll give up a ton of yards in the process.
Going after sacks at the expense of giving up yards seems to be working out for them as the Steelers are fourth in the league with 28 sacks through 10 games. Fowler says that Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler has his team blitzing over 35 percent of the time.
So far that’s resulting in sacks and takeaways but if they can also turn it into not giving up yards this defense will definitely go back to being the feared “Blitzburgh”.