It's been a rough couple of weeks for the Pittsburgh Steelers' defense, specifically when it comes to stopping the run. They allowed 249 yards in a loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 13, and the Baltimore Ravens ran wild for 217 yards despite Pittsburgh winning 27-22 in Week 14.
There is no sugar-coating it; this team has been outclassed in the trenches in a way that fans can hardly stomach. That's why head coach Mike Tomlin's recent injury update is music to Steelers fans' ears.
Rookie defensive tackle Derrick Harmon is set to begin practicing in a limited capacity to start the week, his first time back on the field since injuring his knee in Week 12. His stats this season may not jump off the page, but it isn't a coincidence that the run defense has struggled in his absence.
Derrick Harmon's return could be the spark the Steelers' defense needs
It's a small sample size, but the difference in the Steelers' run defense stats with and without Harmon this season is staggering.
In the four games Harmon has missed this season, Pittsburgh has allowed an average of 191.25 rushing yards per game, nearly 40 yards worse on average than the bottom-ranked run defense is allowing this season. With him, however, they are allowing just 96 yards per game, which would rank sixth-best in the league.
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Even with a small sample size, there is a clear difference in how this defense can hold up against the run when Harmon is out there. His size and athleticism make him hard for offensive linemen to displace, and his motor prevents running backs from being able to be patient behind the line of scrimmage.
Keeanu Benton is a better pass rusher right now, and fellow rookie Yahya Black has more raw mass to clog up rushing lanes, but neither has the blend of skills that Harmon has already shown. If the Steelers are going to shore up their run defense in time for a pivotal game against the Miami Dolphins this week, getting the 2025 first-round pick back in the lineup is a must.
That isn't to say he will fix all of their issues stopping the run, but it should at least give them a fighting chance against one of the hottest rushing attacks in the league. Dolphins' running back De'Von Achane has been lighting up defenses all season, and it won't be easy to slow him down whether Harmon is in the lineup or not. Here's hoping he at least gets a chance to make a difference.