The division of labor intentionally remains a mystery when it comes to the Steelers’ defensive braintrust. It’s one of those Steeler-unique secrets — like their draft-day, decision-making hierarchy — that might have seemed cool a long time ago, back when they were winning big games.
Now it just seems silly.
But it also doesn’t matter in regard to the just-concluded season. Whether it was coach Mike Tomlin or defensive coordinator Teryl Austin making the majority of the calls, or the biggest calls, it worked — at least to the point of giving the team a chance to win most games. And to justify the two-year contract reportedly headed Austin’s way.
It was not a dominant group, by any stretch. Nobody’s going to give it a catchy nickname. But under the circumstances, it did about as much as could be expected in finishing sixth in the NFL in points allowed (according to Pro Football Reference), sixth in red-zone defense, eighth in takeaways (including third in forced fumbles) and 11th in sacks.
These were the circumstances ...
• A Steelers offense that was literally working against the defense — actively harming it — for most of the season. Matt Canada’s crew was a three-and-out machine. Worse, the offense never staked the Steelers to significant leads, the kind every defense loves because it makes the opposing offense one-dimensional. It enables the defense to take chances and dive deep into the creative portion of that week’s blitz package.
Constantly compensating for a historically hideous offense is going to wear down any defense — unless you're talking about the 1976 Steelers or the 2000 Ravens — and force unrealistic expectations.
In fact, the predicament led to one of the most ridiculous statements Tomlin has offered in 17 years as coach.
Two days after his defense forced three Jacksonville turnovers in a 20-10 loss to the Jags, including an end-zone interception — saving points — Tomlin delivered this beauty: “We were able to get some turnovers, but they weren’t the type of turnovers that tee up the offense in terms of being on a short field. Although I do appreciate them — they kept the score down — they weren’t the type of ones that teed up the offense. ... We got some, but not really the type that’s advantageous.”
Wait, so you want your defense to play offense, too?
Actually, the defense did just that in beating the Browns in Week 2. Heading into Week 3, the defense had as many touchdowns as the offense. Linebacker Alex Highsmith was the team's best offensive player.
I didn’t blame Damontae Kazee for trying to return that interception out of the end zone against Jacksonville, either. He only made it two yards out and was subsequently ripped for his “blunder.” I thought it was more than worth the risk to try for a big return. How else was this team going to reach the end zone?
Those were the depths to which this offense sank, absolutely killing their colleagues on the other side of the ball.
• The Steelers were not merely injured on defense. They were ravaged. It reached the point where I had to check numbers on game day to make sure I knew who was playing, and I’d guess coaches did the same.
Tomlin and Austin were deploying people who used to play football for a living. Myles Jack was an airplane pilot when the Steelers called. Mykal Walker might as well have been. Blake Martinez was selling Pokemon cards. I’m not sure what Eric Rowe and Trenton Thompson were doing, but at some point, it’s no longer about “next man up” and all that. It becomes a legitimate explanation for deficiencies.
Two of the Steelers’ three best defenders — Minkah Fitzpatrick and Cam Heyward — basically lost the season on account of injury, and then T.J. Watt missed the playoff game.
Heyward essentially missed seven games and never looked himself. Fitzpatrick missed 8 1/2. Those two played full games together twice.
And yet, outside of terrible performances against 49ers, Texans and Colts — the kinds of days where you need an offense to bail you out — the defense allowed the following point totals: 22, 18, 17, 10, 20, 16, 19, 13, 10, 24, 21, 11, 23, 10.
These guys weren’t the problem.
Joe Starkey: jstarkey@post-gazette.com and Twitter @joestarkey1. Joe Starkey can be heard on the “Cook and Joe” show weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on 93.7 The Fan
First Published: January 25, 2024, 2:39 p.m.
Updated: January 26, 2024, 1:26 p.m.
