The Steelers defense is reaching new heights as it heads into a much-needed bye week
Through six games of the 2019 NFL season, the Steelers defense is currently ranked 15th in yards per game, according to the official website of the NFL. Following an abysmal performance against the New England Patriots in the inaugural game of the season, the Steelers defense is reaching new heights as the team heads into the bye week.
Who would have thought the Steelers defense would have rebounded to achieve the ranking they presently enjoy after surrendering 465 total net yards and giving up 33 points to the Patriots? Not me, that’s for sure.
In fact, after being able to generate alone sack and to force no INTs, I was left with the feeling of ‘doom and gloom,’ expecting the defense to continue to play the entire season the way they played against the Patriots.
I know that’s a bit of an overreaction; however, the defense just did not look good in the first contest. Thankfully, they got better as the season progressed. In fact, the Steelers defense is now generating sacks and creating turnovers at an impressive clip.
We will explore those two areas of the defense shortly, but, I think it’s fair to say that after the performance in week one, the Steelers defense has become the strength of the team. In the wins against the Bengals and against the Chargers, the defense played inspired football, turning in two of the best outings thus far this season.
Let’s explore the above mentioned as well as other defensive statistics.
A Steelers rookie linebacker is playing at an exceptional level and is making the defense better in the process
When the Steelers traded up in the 2019 draft to select an undersized linebacker who played his college football at Michigan, I was skeptical of both the pick and of the player. Who trades up for a 5′ 11″ middle (inside) linebacker? Thus far, I have to say I have been proven wrong. The player to whom I am referring is none other than Devin Bush.
Bush is leading the defense in both tackles and in INTs with 32 and 2, respectively. Bush has also added one sack. His play is helping to fuel a Steelers defense that ranks in the top 5 in both sacks and interceptions. To further illustrate the rankings, the defense has racked up 20 sacks of opposing QBs and has intercepted opposing QBs 8 times.
Every Steelers fan loves sacks and the players who produce them. Leading the way on defense in that category with 4 sacks is T.J. Watt. Watt, who also has one INT, has been nothing but a bright spot for the defense since he was drafted in the first round in 2017. Rounding out the top 3 in the sack parade are Cameron Heyward and Stephon Tuitt, each of whom have 3.5 sacks.
So how did the Steelers defense rise from the ashes of the Patriots game to 15th best defense in the NFL? Let’s take a look.
A change in defensive philosophy is thus far paying dividends for the Steelers
As was stated earlier, the defense has rebounded rather nicely from its sub-par performance against the Patriots to currently enjoying the 15th best defense in the NFL. So how did we get to this point? I think that requires a brief history lesson, so please bear with me.
The Steelers defense of the 1970s played a 4-3 base (4 down lineman and 3 linebackers) with Nickel (5 defensive backs) being deployed in obvious passing situations. Those alignments were the primary alignments until 1982 when the Steelers defense switched to a 3-4 base (3 down lineman and 4 linebackers).
The 3-4 is still our base defense, but the manner in which the defense is aligned has made a seismic shift, in my opinion. Through six games, the shift in defense philosophy seems to be paying dividends. Here’s what I mean by when I say a ‘seismic shift’: The defense does not resemble the defense that was a staple from 1982 to even the 2018 season.
If you have watched the Steelers defense over the last four decades as I have, you undoubtedly noticed two distinct changes: First, we are playing more ‘sub-package’ ball than we ever have played, meaning we are in something other than the base 3-4 defense to which fans have grown accustomed. For the Steelers to open up in Nickel is not uncommon. Second, when the defense is in its base 3-4, it is essentially a ‘single-high safety’ look or something akin to ‘cover 1’.
Playing ‘cover 1’ is a double-edged sword. If teams decide to bomb it over the top, that usually results in a big play for the opposing offense. Playing Nickel is also a double-edged sword as it does allow the opposing offense to run the ball more effectively than if we were in our base 3-4. So from where did this philosophical change emanate?
I don’t think it is a stretch to say that Head Coach Mike Tomlin has influenced the defensive philosophy since Dick LeBeau left the Steelers after the 2014 season. Whether or not the change in defensive philosophy will continue to bear fruit remains to be seen, but it is also not a stretch to say the defense has not only kept the Steelers in the games we have lost but has been the reason we have won two games so far this season.
Although there is room for improvement, the Steelers defense is trending upward
The Steelers defense is currently ranked 15th best in the NFL. Since it is not ranked 1st best in the NFL, there is, obviously, room for improvement. With all the adversity the Steelers have faced through the first six games of the season, it is encouraging to see the defense leading the charge to right the ship and to continue to put the team in a position to win every game from here on out.