Still Curtain
FanSided

3 ways the Steelers defense improved in 2019

By Tommy Jaggi

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - DECEMBER 13: Cornerback Steven Nelson #20 of the Kansas City Chiefs intercepts a pass intended for wide receiver Tyrell Williams #16 of the Los Angeles Chargers during the game at Arrowhead Stadium on December 13, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - DECEMBER 13: Cornerback Steven Nelson #20 of the Kansas City Chiefs intercepts a pass intended for wide receiver Tyrell Williams #16 of the Los Angeles Chargers during the game at Arrowhead Stadium on December 13, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

If you have been following the Steelers closely this off-season, there is little doubt their defense has improved since last year. Pittsburgh didn’t lose any high-impact defensive players since the end of the 2018 season, and gained assets that only stand to make them better.

Here are 3 reasons why the Steelers defense will undoubtedly be improved in 2019:

Overhaul of the Linebacker position

If there is one single area the Steelers have improved the most this off-season, it is the linebacker position. Jon Bostic – who was widely considered one of the worst starters on Pittsburgh’s defense – was recently cut. In his stead, the Steelers drafted a premier prospect in Michigan’s Devin Bush.

Though he’s just a 20-year-old rookie, Bush is a former team captain and Big Ten defensive player of the year. As an athletic and instinctive linebacker, Bush offers a brilliant blend of tools to be one of the best at his position. Devin Bush may not be a finished product from the gate, but he will be a better option than Bostic from day one.

New faces at cornerback

Aside from linebacker, cornerback was a huge area of need for the Steelers this off-season. Like Bostic, Coty Sensabaugh was regarded as a player that really needed replaced for the Steelers. Pittsburgh did that in a pretty big way – signing Steven Nelson in free agency and drafting Justin Layne in the 3rd round.

Nelson is all but guaranteed to start as the Steelers right outside corner this season, while former wide receiver, Justin Layne, will likely be groomed behind Joe Haden. The combination of Sensabaugh and Artie Burns simply was not working for the Steelers last year. Something tells me this ‘new look’ group is going to be better.

Added Depth

In addition to landing Bush with the 10th overall pick, the Steelers drafted two more linebackers: Sutton Smith and Ulysees Gilbert III. As a pair of 6th round picks, neither are considered to be major contributors (or even locks to make the roster). However, the Steelers made it a point to improve their defense by overhauling the linebacker position. Smith and Gilbert should provide much needed depth to the weakest position on the Steelers roster.

The Steelers also got significantly deeper at cornerback after adding Justin Layne. This should make it so Artie Burns (if even on the roster in 2019) rarely has to see the field again for Pittsburgh. Many had Layne slated as an early 2nd round prospect in the draft, as he offers a skill set that hasn’t been possessed by a Steelers corner in a very long time.

Finally, Pittsburgh beefed up their defensive line with the addition of former Alabama defensive tackle, Isaiah Buggs. With virtually no depth outside of nearly 32-year old defensive lineman, Tyson Alualu, Buggs will have a chance to be a rotation player on the Steelers roster.

Home/Steelers News