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Steelers Tomlin Wants Defense To Dominate, Steeler Nation Chuckles

By Craig Gottschalk

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The Steelers have struggled on defense the last few years.

It’s fairly close to the understatement of the decade for an organization that used to flat out dominate on the defensive side of the ball.

I say ‘decade’ because based on roster moves (and more significantly the non-moves) and the draft selections since Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert started working together we might as well expect a dominating defense by 2020.

On Steelers.com, Mike Prisuta caught up with the Steelers head coach down in Arizona at the coaches meetings. Tomlin mainly spoke of the defense and said that he wants the defense to be the very best once again.

…we might as well expect a dominating defense by 2020.

While reading through his statements, I couldn’t help but chuckle… you know, the laugh that precedes crying.

Seeing that the Steelers defense (beyond the front three and ILB) barely have anyone you would feel good about considering as a starter, lost free agents to retirement or other teams, refused to sign outside veterans, and have a mountain to conquer in the draft.

Tomlin also said,

"I feel like we have a very capable man in Keith Butler, a guy who has been in our program for some time even prior to me being here. Keith and I have a rich coaching history together. We worked together since 1996 in three different cities. Got a great deal of comfort and continuity from that standpoint but also looking forward to the impact he could have in terms of putting his spin on what we’ve been doing and what we’ll continue to do."

Aside from spinning how bad this defense is to the media and fans, I’m not exactly sure what new defensive coordinator Keith Butler’s “spin” will be.

Having any realistic expectation of the defense being the ‘best’ and dominate force it once was when Tomlin first came on as head coach within the next season or two is a joke.

Hence the chuckles.

With players like Cam Thomas, Cortez Allen, William Gay, B.W. Blake, and Mike Mitchell as potential starters on this team and even less depth of talent on the bench, it’s as if Butler has been handed pea shooter and asked to go win a modern war.

Or, maybe given the Majestic paddle boat and asked to win a high speed race at the Three Rivers Regatta. Take your pick.

It’s a mess. Hence the tears.

I like your optimism, coach. Just don’t start making anything short of a promise.

They have a long climb. It will be made even longer if Tomlin and Colbert don’t hit the bullseye come draft time.

Next: Roethlisberger Digging In For 2015

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