It was another week where the Pittsburgh Steelers' highly compensated defense was once again outmatched. There is blame to go around everywhere for the defensive unit after their Sunday Night collapse in the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers. They allowed 21 points in the final frame of the game, and it was an embarrassing second half by the Steelers' defensive stars.
You cannot put all the blame on Mike Tomlin and Teryl Austin, but both deserve most of it.
The players play, but it is clear they do not grasp the coaching that they have received. Most of the defensive woes appear similar to when the offense struggled under Matt Canada. Time is running out as the Steelers continue to slip in the standings. Luckily for Pittsburgh, the AFC North is in shambles right now.
Other than Tomlin and Austin getting most of the blame, don't forget to point the finger at Omar Khan, who continues to get mulligans despite his questionable moves at times. The most expensive defense in the NFL should be ashamed of themselves. They don't seem to have any heart in the fight, and it shows. The entire defense has crumbled into a dysfunctional failure.
Pittsburgh Steelers might have to fire DC Teryl Austin if defense doesn't improve
When poor performances continue to stack up, the frustration among fans becomes unavoidable. The more the team struggles, the louder the calls for change within the coaching staff grow. The Steelers have built a reputation for being cheap with their coaches. At some point, that type of approach must change, so the team can be prepared as best as possible during the season.
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Tomlin is deeply involved in calling the defense on game days. Austin may have the coordinator title, but Tomlin clearly controls that unit. He is a defensive-minded coach who keeps showing his limitations as the Steelers’ leader. His schemes are predictable, poorly designed, and frequently criticized. Tomlin is a defensive-minded coach, yet he continues to show his limitations.
Austin should be fired, and if things continue this way, he probably will be. He was never a good defensive playcaller, but he was a figurehead Tomlin could use. The longtime Steelers head coach wants someone he can influence to call plays when he decides to. It's unlikely any other defensive coordinator with other chances to coach elsewhere would accept that premise.
Four out of the Steelers' seven games this season have resulted in their opponents scoring 30 or more points.
They hold a record of 1-3 in those situations. They cannot keep up with opponents, and Tomlin and Austin are failures because of it. Expect the Steelers to be on the hunt for a new defensive coordinator if this keeps up. The issue is, the problems on defense will continue unless Tomlin wises up.