The Pittsburgh Steelers fell to the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday night, 33-31, in a back-and-forth offensive shootout that saw both teams blow double-digit leads. While the game was full of fireworks on offense, defense was nowhere to be found, especially from Pittsburgh’s side.
It’s one thing to expect struggles against Cincinnati’s bottom-ranked defense, but for a Steelers unit that’s the highest paid in the league, this performance was flat-out embarrassing. Ja’Marr Chase torched the secondary with 16 catches for 161 yards and a touchdown on 23 targets, while Tee Higgins added 96 yards and a score of his own. Joe Flacco carved up the defense for 342 yards and three touchdowns.
Simply put, Pittsburgh’s defense couldn’t stop a nosebleed. The issues in an aging cornerback room were on full display, and if this team wants to stay in the playoff race, major adjustments on defense are needed fast, especially with a tougher stretch of the schedule ahead. These are three changes the Steelers need to make on defense.
Pittsburgh Steelers' defense must make these 3 key adjustments
Time for Brandin Echols to take over Darius Slay’s role
When the Steelers signed Darius Slay in free agency, it seemed like a strong move to address a starting cornerback need, though concerns about his age lingered. So far this season, however, Slay has been disappointing. It’s clear he’s lost a step, and for a defense with several older players, this unit desperately needs a spark, especially in the secondary.
Brandin Echols has been one of Pittsburgh’s more solid free agent acquisitions, and with how well he’s been playing, the Steelers should seriously consider giving him a chance to step into a starter role. As for Joe Ramsey, he isn’t the same player he once was, but at this stage of his career, he’s best suited to playing in the slot and making plays around the line of scrimmage.
The pass defense has struggled all season, and Thursday night’s game should have been a warning that changes are needed immediately. Against Green Bay, the Steelers should experiment with Echols as a starter to see if it works. If it doesn’t, then at least all options have been explored, and it may be time to consider the trade market to improve the secondary
Nick Herbig needs more snaps
Nick Herbig playing only 29 snaps against the Bengals on Thursday night was unacceptable. For a defense that struggled to stop anything and could not generate a pass rush against a very weak Bengals offensive line, Herbig, Pittsburgh’s best pass rusher this season, could have been a game-changer. His presence might have given this defense a much-needed boost, especially late in the game when a stop was critical.
Moving forward, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig’s snap counts should be nearly identical. The Steelers should also look to deploy more packages that put Watt, Highsmith, and Herbig on the field together to maximize pressure and create more impact plays.
Steelers must revamp their defense with stunts and post-snap rotations
The Steelers' defense has been predictable for years, ever since Dick LeBeau left. Ja’Marr Chase’s postgame comments were just the latest example of a recurring theme: opposing players openly ridiculing the Steelers' defense. For all the veterans on this unit and the amount of money spent on it, there is no reason it cannot be one of the top defenses in the NFL.
The scheme does not help, but if the Steelers want to fix this, they need to make real changes. They attempt to disguise their looks, but it is often easy to recognize them. With a defensive front like theirs, they should be running stunts to free up defenders and generate pressure. Instead, they often refuse to help their pass rushers, relying solely on winning individual matchups.
Mike Tomlin needs to swallow his pride and do more to put this defense in better positions. While the Steelers already blitz at a high rate, they could take a page from the Vikings' playbook by incorporating more stunts and post-snap disguises to make it much harder for opposing quarterbacks.