It’s long past time for Steelers to fire defensive coordinator Keith Butler

Steelers vs Lions – 2021

Not done with his potentially season-destroying blunders Butler failed to scheme against the run for the entire game against the Detroit Lions allowing them to humiliate the Steelers run defense. The game was full of blown tackles, defenders out of place, and confusion. Announcer, Daryl Johnston, was even remarking ‘poor run support along the edge. That the Steelers were ‘still not adjusting to this one specific run the Detroit Lions have had a ton of success starting in that late 2nd Quarter.’

Later in the game, he remarked, ‘Everybody has to have a gap’. He was talking about how  Devin Bush and Joe Schobert kept running toward the same gap and getting washed out of plays. To this Johnson said, ‘They’re not playing it straight’ meaning they weren’t manning their gaps. Butler did NOTHING to change his scheme as the Lions ripped off run after run for a season-high 229 rushing yards and 2 TDs. This was the only 200+ yard game for the Lions in 2021.

Teams then went on to use the Lions blueprint to exploit the Steelers run defense. Steelers only managed a tie in which should’ve been an easy win. That tie put them behind the eight-ball for the remainder of the season. Admittedly, the Steelers were missing starters on the front line but I don’t think Butler understands the concept of ‘gap integrity’.

This is Defensive Football 101 and was something the Steelers were great at during Dick Lebeau’s tenure. If linebackers, safeties, or cornerbacks weren’t dropping back in coverage they knew exactly which gap they needed to be in run support. Under Butler it’s clear, every game, they have no idea where they should be.