Steelers may have finally unlocked the defensive line formula they needed

The Pittsburgh Steelers have impressive talent along their interior defensive line—nobody is questioning that. What we have been questioning, however, is how certain players have been used in recent years. 

One complaint we’ve routinely had is with Keeanu Benton. Since entering the league as a second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, former head coach Mike Tomlin and former defensive coordinator Teryl Austin pigeonholed him into the nose tackle position. Last year, Yahya Black was used primarily as a base 3-4 despite lacking foot quickness to get out in space. 

Thankfully, new DC Patrick Graham appears to be mixing up defensive line assignments in the best way possible. 

During the first week of Steelers training camp, we witnessed Benton playing right defensive end with the first-team defense and Black playing nose tackle, Alex Kozora of Steelers Depot reported. We even heard that long-time veteran Cameron Heyward was taking snaps as a base 0-tech nose tackle. 

And I have to say, this pleases me greatly. 

The Pittsburgh Steelers are finally matching defensive linemen's roles to their skill sets

It’s still very early in Steelers training camp. We don’tknow what roles each defensive lineman will ultimately play during the 2026 season. But at the very least, it seems like Graham has a great feel for the skill sets of his players. 

I’ve had a gripe about Benton’s role for the past three years. His lean 6’4’’, 309-pound frame—combined with impressive bend and hip fluidity—suggested all along that he should be playing 3-technique. His best move is clubbing past offensive linemen and knifing into the backfield. Yet the last coaching regime insisted on playing him out of position. 

Meanwhile, Black, who stands at 6’5 ¾’’ and 336 pounds and is known for stopping the run, played on the outside of the formation as a 5-tech and 4-tech as a rookie—a base defensive end in Pittsburgh’s 3-4 defense. Under Graham, Black is being used as a true nose tackle, where his lack of quickness and explosion will be masked, but his strength and anchoring ability will shine. 

I even love the fact that Heyward has seen snaps at nose tackle during Steelers camp. I doubt Graham is going to make a significant change here, considering how good Heyward is still playing late in his NFL career, but Heyward is as strong as an ox; he just doesn’t have the speed to work laterally as effectively these days. 

Based on each Steelers interior defender’s skill set, in a perfect setting, I would love to see Derrick Harmon and Keeanu Benton as the base 3-4 defensive ends, with Heyward taking some snaps at nose tackle in base defense. A brilliant secondary rotation would be one with Harmon or Benton sticking at defensive end, with veteran newcomer Sebastian Joseph-Day as the other DE and Black at nose tackle. 

Obviously, there are plenty of other subpackages the Steelers could deploy, and there will certainly be two down-lineman looks (with 1-tech and 3-tech assignments). 

For these even-front packages, Harmon, Benton, and Joseph-Day would be ideal for the 3-technique role (lined up on the outside shoulder of the guard and inside of the tackle), while Heyward and Black would be ideally suited for the 1-tech role (on the outside shoulder of the center and inside of the guard). 

It’s still possible that Graham could revert to the defensive line roles the previous coaching staff operated with, and some of the veterans might not be as comfortable switching things up at this stage of their careers. 

But if the Pittsburgh Steelers want to get the most out of their talented interior defensive line in 2026, they will deploy their players in roles that best fit their skill sets. Thankfully, that appears to be what Patrick Graham is doing so far.

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