How different will the defense look this year
Firstly, we have a new defensive coordinator in Teryl Austin who will be calling his own plays. While it would be against the grain for the defensive sets to change much I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw different packages being used more often or less often now that it is solely Teryl Austin’s defense. Without focusing too much on the coaches I’m wondering what players will be featured in what packages.
Newcomer Myles Jack is hoping to revitalize his career in Pittsburgh in the same fashion that Tyson Alualu did a few seasons ago. Devin Bush seems to be the most likely running mate yet someone like Buddy Johnson or even Robert Spillane could push Devin Bush for snaps, especially in run-defending sets.
Tyson Alualu is working his way back from injury and while he is 35, he is just 2 years removed from being the highest graded run-defender in the league by PFF. It is hard to think that even with an expected decline in his performance due to age, he won’t be the second-best run defender on the defensive line. The first is Cam Heyward.
The big question along the defensive line is what kind of rotations should we expect. Chris Wormley took big leaps last season, Montravius Adams became a steady option in the form of late-season pick-ups, new draft pick DeMarvin Leal is a freak athlete that can play multiple positions, and the Steelers acquired Larry Ogunjobi. Ogunjobi should immediately be the second-best pass rusher of the group behind Heyward.
I am truly interested to see how the snaps will be divided up among these guys. Heyward and Wormley seem to be the best do-it-all options yet Alualu offers the most in terms of run defending while Ogunjobi is an 8+ sack-a-year lineman. DeMarvin Leal is a total wild card that could be the reason someone like Montravius Adams loses a roster spot by the end of camp.