Steelers defense earns modest grades despite containing the Falcons

The Pittsburgh Steelers defense did a good job of not giving much to the Falcons, but their positional grades aren’t as high as we would hope. 

Most predicted that the Pittsburgh Steelers would be able to take care of the Falcons offense during this contest. There was nothing deadly about Atlanta as they mostly relied on the run to get anything down the field to score. The defense held them to 16 total points and that is a winning performance no matter what the outcome is.

The defensive line did not have an immaculate day at the office

Cam Heyward did his thing against the Atlanta offensive line, which has some decent players. He was able to record a sack and bull rush right into Marcus Mariota’s face that forced the game winning interception. There were some bright moments from other defensive linemen, but it was not all pretty things for this group.

Grade: C

The Steelers defensive front was able to do enough to stop the Falcons run game to win this contest. It was not pretty as their backs totaled for over 100 yards on the ground and the group saw some big gashes in the middle. This defensive line needs an upgrade when the offseason rolls around unless DeMarvin Leal really steps up in year two.

Not much pressure came off the edge for the Steelers defense

Something is clearly wrong with T.J. Watt as he continues to play through injury this year. He is also being double teamed on top of being hurt, which has made him a shell of his normal self. Alex Highsmith had a tough matchup going into this game, but it is still tough to not see him register pressure.

Grade: D+

They were able to slip past their blocks on certain occasions, but that was not too common. Mariota did not have enough pressure in his face, and that allowed him time to make throws. Unless Watt gets healthier, this group might struggle to finish out the season on a high note.

Inside linebackers performed at their usual pace of decency

The inside linebacker spot has come to be the position where much is not expected. Devin Bush set himself up with basement-level expectations and has surpassed that. Perhaps he is hoping that it will allow for a young player like himself to see a hefty pay raise when free agency rolls around this summer.

Grade: C+

Again, nothing special from the Steelers linebackers, but they did play well as a whole. Robert Spillane came back in this game, and he did his normal performance that he provides to the Steelers. Myles Jack played well for the most part after having a tough couple of games that saw him struggle.

Drake London was a tough task, but the cornerbacks held their own

One of the best rookies in football was the main focal point of Atlanta’s offense on Sunday. Drake London has become a favorite target of Mariota’s, especially after Kyle Pitts was lost to the year due to injury. The cornerbacks allowed for him to have a good game on Sunday, but they were tackling well and staying in phase.

Grade: B-

It is kind of hard to grade the cornerbacks after a game where you play against a run-heavy offense. Cam Sutton did well against London for the most part, despite allowing a good chunk of yards. Arthur Maulet also had a big breakup in the end zone that stalled the Falcons from pulling ahead.

Minkah sealed the victory and was able to play at his high level

Terrell Edmunds did not have a great performance when compared to his previous couple of weeks. He slipped a couple of times and was put on an island on a crucial fourth-down conversion by the Falcons. Minkah Fitzpatrick had a great day that consisted of him making plays in the backfield and in the secondary.

Grade: B+

These two continue to be a great duo that gels together well. Getting Edmunds to re-sign would be a smart decision by the Steelers with him and Fitzpatrick being consistent enough to have that thought come to fruition. Fitzpatrick is a special player that made a smart play to cap off the game with his interception.

Steelers defense overall grade: B-

They were able to hold a bad offense to 16 points, but that was against the Falcons. It is hard to figure out how much of an effect this defensive group had against Atlanta’s game plan. They still need a lot of work as they will show signs of improvement and then allow a huge gash for a big gain.