Steelers vs. Chiefs: what to watch for
By Justin Roem
Pass Rush
Unfortunately, there hasn’t really been anything to watch in this area all season. The Steelers’ pass rush has been nonexistent so far in 2016.
Opposing quarterbacks have dropped back to pass against the Steelers’ defense 128 times in three games. The Steelers’ defense has one sack. For reference, the Steelers sacked the quarterback once every 13 drop backs in 2015.
The Steelers have had high expectations for their defensive front given the progress made by players like Stephon Tuitt and Javon Hargrave, and the presence of Cameron Heyward. However, the impact has yet to surface.
The defense has shown a willingness to keep plays in front of it, and the Steelers have had success in the red zone, but pressure needs to come. While there might not be the same attacking mentality that fans have grown accustomed to, you can’t expect to have an NFL quarterback stand in the pocket for several seconds and not complete a pass.
There were three plays on which the Steelers pressured Eagles’ QB Carson Wentz. One was a successful rush by Anthony Chickillo that forced Wentz to throw incomplete. Another drew a penalty against Tuitt for contact to the quarterback’s helmet. On the last, Wentz avoided Tuitt, broke out of the pocket, and found running back Darren Sproles for a 73 yard touchdown.
With a vocal and passionate leader like Heyward, I expect this group to get it together. Life doesn’t get easier for a defense without a good pass rush.