The Pittsburgh Steelers are projected to have a good defense again in 2021, but these three players will be pivotal to the team’s success.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have shown that defense can win them. In times when offensive production was down, the Steel Curtain has been able to prevail. The Steelers are planning to exude another strong year on the defensive side of the ball during the 2021-2022 NFL season. With addition such as Melvin Ingram and Joe Schobert, the Steelers hope to end the season with the best-ranked defense.
As Pittsburgh’s secondary continues to build its strength, their defensive front has been awaiting the season’s rush. The Steelers finished the 2020-2021 season with the third-best defense in the NFL. Bud Dupree and T.J. Watt were able to create a rush off the edge, which contributed to an abundance of turnovers. But which defenders will rise to the occasion in 2021?
Which Steelers defenders will have big roles?
With the absence of Dupree this season, the Steelers will lean on Melvin Ingram III to create a disturbance in the backfield as he will spell snaps from Watt and Alex Highsmith. Ingram III was selected by the San Diego Chargers in 2012. Since entering the league, Melvin has been able to record two seasons with 10 or more sacks. Last season he experienced a knee injury that placed him on injured reserve. With plenty of time to recover, he should be an X-factor in 2021.
The Steelers have also acquired another addition at linebacker for the season to come. A sixth-round pick was the price for the Jacksonville Jaguar’s linebacker Joe Schobert. Schobert was drafted in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL draft. Since 2017, he has finished every season with one hundred or more tackles. During last season in Jackson, Schobert was able to record 141 total tackles. The addition of another linebacker is exactly what the Steelers needed to compliment Devin Bush.
Many Steelers fans are excited to see the return of Pittsburgh’s Devin Bush. Last season, Bush tore his ACL tear against the Tennessee Titans in the week 7 matchup. During his rookie season in 2019, Bush was able to record 109 total tackles and two interceptions. His presence made it harder for opposing teams to run the football, forcing them to pass. With the addition of Bush on the field, the Pittsburgh defense has shifted to a different tier.
The Pittsburgh defense will not have an easy task this upcoming season. Out of all 32 teams in the league, the Pittsburgh Steelers will face the most teams with winning records from the prior season. With the league’s most dangerous teams coming to play, the Pittsburgh defense must be ready to perform.