Pittsburgh Steelers season forecast: Clouds moving out giving way to clear skies
On the rise defense
Every year prognosticators and sports pundits point to the perceived weakness of the Steelers defense – the secondary. They often overlook the defensive line which is the heart and soul of the defensive unit that has performed more than adequately.
When the Steelers can get a full healthy season out of Stephon Tuitt and a more seasoned Javon Hargrave, that front line is comparable to other top units in the league. Even yet, the secondary is on the rise with a full training camp for Joe Haden, the continued improvement of Artie Burns, the change to free safety for Sean Davis and the trade for skilled veteran Morgan Burnett.
These players are complemented by Mike Hilton and Cam Sutton that form to make a solid core in which great things are expected. Last year they gave up too many big plays even though they ranked in the top ten in the league but now have better communications with a better secondary coach.
He teaches tackling, imagine that. Vince Williams leads the linebackers with eight sacks a year ago and has stated that he knows he left at least four more on the field. Obviously, he was not the problem.
The loss of Ryan Shazier was monumental because he was and is irreplaceable which was compounded by Bud Dupree still trying to find his way to the light switch. For a rookie, T. J. Watt, had a decent year but didn’t overwhelm but showed a lot of promise and expectations are for him to have a JJ Watt out of body experience.
The addition of Jon Bostic at inside linebacker should settle down the position better than last year but there is a diamond in the rough waiting in the wings to take his chance to fly – Matthew Thomas.
Preseason showed us a lot in terms of the entire linebacker core capabilities and just on the surface alone, they will be much better then last years, why, because they have to be. Dupree looks like he found the switch, Watt’s light is on already, Williams is, well, Williams so that’s three good out of a possible four with one maybe, Bostic or Thomas. I dare to be overly optimistic and give this group a surprising grade…