The epidemic of big plays that plagued the Steelers defense the past two seasons and prompted many offseason changes has found no cure through the first month of the preseason. The Buffalo Bills, with an unresolved quarterback derby and injuries that kept their best offensive players on the sideline Saturday for a preseason game, gouged the Steelers starting defense for two big plays in the first six minutes of the game.
The Bills needed just six plays to score those two touchdowns, traversing 43 yards in three plays on the first drive and 80 yards in three plays on the second.
On their first play from scrimmage, running back Fred Jackson, 34, ran 41 yards to the 2 to set up the Bills’ first touchdown. On their next offensive series, quarterback EJ Manuel threw a 67-yard pass to tight end Charles Clay for the second touchdown. Adding insult to injury, the Bills released Jackson Monday.
“Obviously, it’s caught our eye,” Steelers defensive end Cam Heyward said. “We’re looking to improve, and by the time the regular season starts, we want to eliminate that. We have a week to correct it and we’re going to move on.”
The Steelers play their final preseason game Thursday night against Carolina at Heinz Field. In nine days they open the regular season against the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots.
Coach Mike Tomlin made a few offseason moves to address the deficiencies on defense. He did not renew the contract of Hall of Fame defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau and hired Keith Butler to run his defense. Together, Tomlin and Butler have installed cover-2 defensive looks, a zone defense designed to keep big plays to a minimum.
The Steelers allowed 15 passes of 40 yards or longer and 11 runs of 20-plus yards in 2014. Buffalo isn’t the only team to beat the Steelers for big plays this preseason. The Vikings and Jaguars also scored on passing plays of 31 and 34 yards.
“We’re a young defense and there will be mistakes, but it can’t be 40-yard or 60-yard touchdowns,” Heyward said. “Against the run and pass, we have to improve. We’re not going to take anything for granted, or let it be an excuse that we’re in cover-2. It doesn’t matter what we’re in. On any given play, if there is a mistake, there is another chance for another guy to make up for it. We didn’t do that this past week.”
Strong safety Shamarko Thomas took the blame for the 67-yard touchdown. Clay, a tight end, was wide open down the hash marks when the Steelers were in a cover-2 zone defense.
“At the end of the day, it’s my fault,” Thomas said. “I have to make a tackle. I can’t slip up on the play.”
The Steelers instituted the cover-2 looks into their defense at the beginning of training camp, although its principles were introduced in the classroom at organized team activities and minicamp in the spring.
“I think it’s a good adjustment,” cornerback Cortez Allen said. “When we do run it, it makes us more multiple in the things we can do. We still have to make sure we do the things we’re known for. We continue to work on it. It’s not something that we’re used to, but our coaching staff and coach Tomlin do a really good job of teaching us the fundamentals of it. The more we work at it, the more we’ll be able to excel in it.
“We don’t do it too often. But if it’s something that can help us win or use against an opponent, then I’m sure we’ll use it. If not, then I’m sure we won’t. But we’re fully capable of doing whatever he asks us to do.”
How often does Butler call cover-2? Free safety Mike Mitchell said Butler might have called the coverage four times against the Bills.
“I think it’s being made a bigger deal than it is,” Mitchell said. “We still run a lot of different coverages.”
Perhaps veteran linebacker James Harrison summed up the defensive struggles best, saying, “I think it’s a combination of everything. It’s players. It’s calls. And the biggest thing is execution of the defense and beating the man in front of you.”
Ray Fittipaldo: rfittipaldo@post-gazette.com and Twitter @rayfitt1.
First Published: September 1, 2015, 4:00 a.m.