In responding to a question about Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson’s scrambling ability, his improvisational skills and, by extension, his tendency to hold the ball longer than, say, Tom Brady, it was Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler who spun out of the pocket, took a sharp left turn and went off script after practice Thursday.
“Brady don’t have to,” Butler said of the New England Patriots passer. “He’s got everybody picking for him. That’s what they did to us, they picked a little bit; some of it was legal, some of it wasn’t. Hey, that’s part of the game.”
At that point, Butler got back on track and began breaking down Wilson’s mannerisms within the Seahawks offense, but the wheels were turning. He seemed to be at odds with the legality of the various crossing patterns and wide receiver rub-routes the Steelers encountered for much of the game Sunday night in New England.
Frustration is natural. Heck, Butler began his post-practice session with a tongue-in-cheek but not-at-all-disingenuous opening statement of sorts in reaction to the 33-3 whipping his defense caught in Week 1.
“All right, let’s get this over with,” Butler said before he paused, then started up again in a mock-grilling of himself. “Yeah, we gave up 33 points. Does it suck? Yes, it sucks. We could’ve done a lot better, guys. It was coaching and playing. We busted some dadgum assignments. We as coaches didn't do a good enough job of getting these guys ready to get the right communication on the field, and that was the cause of busted assignments. They scored on those busted assignments three times. They got us. They scored touchdowns.”
But was there a less-than-fair reason for that? Butler didn't mention anything about “pick” plays — when a receiver illegally but intentionally gets in the way of a defender trying to guard another receiver — until evaluating the performance of rookie inside linebacker Devin Bush.
Bush was covering versatile Patriots running back Rex Burkhead on the perimeter midway through the first quarter when he realized he was on an island pre-snap as Burkhead went in motion toward the ball. So, he walked down toward the line of scrimmage in order to jam Burkhead on his route, but once Brady got the snap, tight end Ryan Izzo stopped in his tracks and made contact with Bush. That put Bush behind the eight ball and he allowed a 17-yard catch-and-run by Burkhead that sparked New England’s first scoring drive.
“He made one little minor mistake. He jumped down there and tried to press a guy, and he had a guy next to him that picked him,” Butler said of Bush. “As a rookie, you learn stuff like that. He was trying to do the best he could because he wanted to cover the guy, and he felt like covering the guy, he could get on him and put his hands on him and stuff like that. It just so happens that another guy was right next to him at the same level, and they picked him.”
#Patriots RB Rex Burkhead beats #Steelers rookie LB Devin Bush for 17 yards.pic.twitter.com/yUhFikDe6y
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 9, 2019
For his part, Bush said Wednesday that particular play stood out to him because he actually could’ve played it tighter. Ostensibly, the speedy first-round pick believes he has the quickness and burst to keep up with Burkhead, 29, but just didn't play it right.
“The 17-yard pickup, definitely that play, I wish I could get that one back,” Bush said. “That’s the learning process, getting smarter.”
To his coordinator, everyone needs to get smarter. Not just to rebound from their most points allowed in Week 1 since 2011, but also in case another Patriots matchup comes to pick — er, pass.
“I’m just saying they get away with a lot of stuff — which, hey, it’s an offensive game. That’s how we sell tickets. That’s how we all get paid. All of us get paid because of the game, know what I’m saying? So, the game, they’re going to make it as exciting on possible and they can sell it on TV, which, hey, I’m all for it, man,” said Butler, who spent 10 seasons in the NFL and has coached in it every year since 1999. “That’s been my whole career. I’m not going to bitch about it too much. They did a good job with it. We’ve just got to make sure we’re aware of it, and do a better job coaching.”
Offensive injuries
Offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner said Thursday he expects to have his entire offensive line against the Seahawks, including injured center Maurkice Pouncey, who hurt his ankle Sunday night and missed practice for the second day in a row, according to the Steelers’ injury report.
“Knock on wood, I believe we’ll be healthy again this week and get another opportunity to show we’re better than last week,” Fichtner said.
Fullback Roosevelt Nix (knee) remains out until further notice.
Defensive injuries
Butler is “still hoping” that cornerback Joe Haden, who has a right shoulder injury that kept him out of practice again Thursday, will be able to play Week 2.
“I think they’ll be OK at the end of the week,” he said of his banged-up defensive backs. “Still hoping for Joe. I’m not sure about what’s going on with him. ... He tells me he’ll be ready to play. ... We’re hoping and thinking we’ll have everybody available.”
At outside linebacker, T.J. Watt said before practice he expects to play Sunday and then got in a full day's work after being limited Wednesday.
Brian Batko: bbatko@post-gazette.com and Twitter @BrianBatko.
First Published: September 12, 2019, 7:34 p.m.
