The Steelers’ Defensive Identity Needs to Account For the Modern NFL
Photo Credit: Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports
Let’s take a stroll down memory lane. Fair warning, it’s not a happy memory, but you’ll be okay.
Back to 2016 on a Sunday night in November. Ben Roethlisberger is leading a stellar Pittsburgh Steelers offense down the field in what looks to be another signature Big Ben game-winning drive. After a strong play, Ben and company rush up to spike the ball. The ball is snapped, Roethisberger pump fakes to the ground and then soars one to Antonio Brown for the go-ahead touchdown. Elated and bewildered, Steelers fans rejoiced in what seemed to be the game’s final points.
Unfortunately they were not. The following drive was capped off by a massive run by Ezekiel Elliot and the Dallas Cowboys won the game. I bring this up for a reason. It was a “cutting edge,” or at lease a creative move, by a savvy veteran. It caught an unsuspecting team off guard. It was good.
Unfortunately, the tables have turned. On Sunday night in Las Vegas, the Steelers were caught off guard twice by Josh McDaniels. Not Mike McDaniel. Josh McDaniels. Yes, they have similar names, but one seems to be a certified offensive genius and the other, ehhh, hasn’t earned that title.
Early in the matchup with the Raiders, Jimmy G and company found themselves in a fourth-and-short situation towards the middle of the field. McDaniels elected to go for it. Fans and clearly the Steelers anticipated a Josh Jacobs run. The box was stacked with black and gold, and the Steelers met a ball carrier empty handed. This, of course, resulted in a touchdown.
Jimmy Garopolo hits Davante Adams on 4th down for a Raiders TD!!! pic.twitter.com/t6OhKkPOR6
— Raiders Report Mitchell Renz (@MitchellRenz365) September 25, 2023
Was it critical to stop the run? Sure. A turnover on downs is demoralizing for an offense and would prime the sputtering Steelers with solid field position. But it was almost as if Tomlin and defensive coordinator Teryl Austin were daring Jimmy G to throw it, and then didn’t back it up at all. Fortunately, the Steelers responded with a long touchdown from Kenny Pickett to Calvin Austin III. Yinzers could breathe easy with the score tied and knowledge that the lesson had been learned.
Not so.
On a pivotal two-point conversion after a Raiders touchdown, aided by a plethora of yellow laundry on the field (don’t even get me started), the Steelers once again completely loaded the box. Foaming at the mouth, monsters like of Cole Holcomb, who brought it all night, were ready to fill every gap and aid Josh Jacobs in his struggles. Once again, the play action worked and Garopolo floated one over the line to Michael Mayer for an easy two, causing Steelers Nation at home to grip their IC Lights and Yuenglings a little bit tighter.
Side note: That unnecessary roughness call on Minkah Fitzpatrick on its own was atrocious, but combining that with several shots dealt to Pickett, including some blows to the head, makes it even more infuriating. That unwarranted flag changed the complexion of the game, and it is unacceptable.
Back to what I was talking about. Twice, the Steelers were fooled by a ball-less running back. Ironically, it came on a night where Chris Collinsworth repeatedly mentioned the Steelers’ identity remaining in the ‘70s. It was a painful reminder that nostalgia of past teams isn’t going to get the Steelers to realize their goals in the modern NFL.
Yes, T.J. Watt is the best player on either side of the ball, and stopping the run and getting after the passer is the Steelers’ way. I love it. My parents love it. Ninety-year-old women in Dormont love it. But it can’t be at the expense of giving up points in critical moments. It brought back memories of Week 1 against San Francisco, where a forward-thinking offensive coordinator (Pittsburgh doesn’t have one of those) was able to confuse the defense regularly.
Schematically, the Steelers have to be able to keep a lid on opponents passing games, especially if pass rushers are are accounting for play action. As the Steelers work to establish the run and utilize play-action, the defense needs to become increasingly aware during these situational downs. All areas of the field need to be addressed, not just the smash mouth components of the game. Two is a pattern as Tomlin said last week, and defensive changes need to be addressed as the road ahead holds offenses far savvier than what they saw on Sunday.
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