Tag: Steelers Defense

Steelers hold tryouts for 5 USFL defensive linemen

5 USFL D-linemen were in Pittsburgh today for tryouts.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking to shore up their defensive line depth after last week’s sudden retirement of defensive tackle Daniel Archibong.

You may have missed Archibong’s retirement news because, well… Heinz Field.

Per the NFL transaction wire, the Steelers brought in five USFL players for a tryout today.

 

Where has the Steelers’ defensive identity gone?

The Steelers have been all about defense since the early 1970s. What on earth has happened?

In Week 12, the Steelers were completely embarrassed by the Bengals, 41-10, in a game in which Cincinnati running back Joe Mixon traveled 165 yards and scored two touchdowns on 28 carries. Mixon gained 117 yards in the first half alone, and that marked the first time in Mike Tomlin’s 235-game stretch as Pittsburgh’s head coach that his team allowed 100 rushing yards in a first half.

Tomlin has been the Steelers’ head coach since 2007, so it’s a fairly noticeable end to a streak. What’s even more noticeable is that it took less than two weeks for it to happen again. Vikings running back Dalvin Cook absolutely eviscerated Pittsburgh’s defense in the first half on Thursday night, gaining 153 yards and scoring two touchdowns on just 15 carries, as Minnesota ran out to a 23-0 halftime lead. The Vikings gained 300 yards and amassed 15 first downs on 37 offensive plays, and had Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson not misfired on a couple of deep passes, the damage could have been even worse.

Per ESPN Stats & Info, the Vikings were averaging 11.8 yards BEFORE contact per run, which is… not good from a defensive standpoint. Cook, who was highly questionable to even play in this game due to a shoulder injury, had five carries of 15 or more yards. To put that into perspective, Jonathan Taylor of the Colts led the league with 17 carries of 15+ yards. Cook, who had 12 such carries this season, tied Taylor for the NFL lead… in one half of football.

The Steelers have enjoyed a rare and very long stretch in which their defensive identity has been above reproach for a number of NFL eras. There was, of course, the Steel Curtain of the 1970s. There were the Blitzburgh crews in the 1990s. There were the tough and wicked-smart defenses early in Tomlin’s tenure, and there have been the sack-happy defenses of the last few seasons. The 2020 Steelers finished first overall in Defensive DVOA; the 2021 version had plummeted to 27th before this Thursday night debacle.

This is still a defense with T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward, and Minkah Fitzpatrick among its stars (though Watt was lost in the first half against the Vikings with a groin injury), and though lesser-known names like defensive backs Mike Hilton and Steven Nelson and edge-rusher Bud Dupree were lost in the offseason, and super-tackle Stephon Tuitt has been out all season with injuries, there’s still enough talent on the field to be better than this. Former Steelers have been less than subtle about their displeasure, and the extent to which Cook was able to slice through this defense made even the Mixon game look acceptable — which, of course, it wasn’t. Watt and cornerback Joe Haden have also missed time this season, which gives Tomlin and his crew some level of play, though they’re not looking for it.

Now, it’s just about fixing defensive disasters like this.

When you get smoked in-game by the opposing team’s Twitter account, that is a problem.

After the Bengals game, Tomlin was quite pointed about the need to get back on track.

“Like I said after the game, and I still feel this way, we just stunk the place up,” he said as the Steelers were preparing for their Week 13 matchup with the Ravens. “When you play the way that we played and the score is as lopsided as it is, that’s just the reality of it. We didn’t coach well enough, we didn’t play well enough, and you don’t get that stench off you in a number of days. It’ll be some time as we work our way back to respectability, and we understand that it’s gonna require good days; good focused days, good decision-making, good strategy, good play. We’re excited about that process, that element of it. I think, in order to start moving on from it—and notice I said “moving on from it,” because the times I’ve been involved in games like that, I don’t know that you get over it. I think you move on from it. I think you carry those lessons learned and I think, if you’re smart, you carry them in an appropriate way. It’s a catalyst for action, for thoughtful action, and I know it’s going to be for us, whether it’s strategic or whether it’s personnel-based. 

“We’ve got to comb through it. We’ve got to ask the critical questions: why? We’ve done that. We’ll continue to do that as we shape our next plan and make critical decisions regarding our next plan: the schematics that we choose to employ, the personnel that we choose to highlight or emphasize or de-emphasize. I think all of those variables are debatable at this juncture because what you can’t do is continue to do the things that you’ve been doing and expect a different result. We’re open to some schematic changes. We’re open to some personnel changes, obviously. They won’t be drastic in nature, probably more subtle in nature, but hopefully significant. Significant in a positive way.”

Pittsburgh’s defense was more aggressive in a positive way against Lamar Jackson and his teammates to the tune of a close 20-19 win, but it could be argued that whatever juice this defense showed in that game, none of it traveled to Minnesota.

“Well, yeah. It dadgum pisses me off too,” defensive coordinator Keity Butler recently said about a run defense that has obviously lost its way of late. “Yeah. I only look at it if we’re in the top 10. Otherwise, I say, “Later for that crap.” No, I’m not happy about it. I’m not happy about it. Anybody that’s a competitor is not happy about being where we are against the run and stuff like that. Yeah. I wanna do better. Everybody wants to do better. All of us want to do better.”

Wanting to do better is one thing. Doing better is quite another. Showing up for your second game in three with no trace of an identity your franchise has carried, for the most part, since the early 1970s? Well, that’s a much larger issue.

Steelers’ Alex Highsmith shows pass-rush potential with Hall of Fame Game spin move

At the start of his second NFL season, Steelers edge-rusher Alex Highsmith is already showing that he has what it takes to be a key cog in a great defense.

In 2020, the Steelers had the NFL’s best defense, and a lot of that came from their incendiary pass rush. Pittsburgh led the league in sacks with 56, and only the Ravens and Dolphins blitzed more often than the Steelers’ 40.3% rate. A big part of that was edge defender Bud Dupree, who amassed eight sacks and 43 total pressures before a torn ACL ended his season in Week 12.

Dupree is now in Tennessee after signing a five-year, $82.5 million contract with the Titans. That leaves the Steelers looking for T.J. Watt’s ideal bookend, and the guy who can work optimally with Cameron Heyward and Stephon Tuitt, Pittsburgh’s dynamic inside defenders. Veteran Melvin Ingram is on board with a one-year contract, and if he can stay healthy, I think Ingram can be a big part of the pass rush.

How Melvin Ingram can shore up Steelers’ already-great defense

There are other options for head coach Mike Tomlin and his staff, though. Alex Highsmith, selected in the third round of the 2000 draft out of Charlotte, had two sacks and 21 total pressures in his inaugural NFL campaign, and he saw more time late in the season after Dupree was hurt. 17 of Highsmith’s pressures came in his last six games, which augured well for his future.

Highsmith wasted no time in proving that he was able to bring it in Year two with this sack of Cowboys quarterback Garrett Gilbert with 7:51 left in the first quarter of the Hall of Fame Game. Highsmith put Dallas left tackle Ty Nsekhe through the spin cycle, and that was that.

“In regards to the loss of Bud and the expectations and the depth and things at that position, the lynchpin to that entire discussion is the natural maturation of Alex Highsmith from Year 1 to Year 2,” Tomlin said of Highsmith in April. “You know the standard of expectations that we have for our young players moving from [Year] 1 to [Year] 2. He could be the poster boy for that. We need a significant rise in terms of all areas of play from him. But I also think it’s reasonable to expect it given what he’s been exposed to, given the quality young man that he is and his work ethic and the environment we intend to put him in. I think it’s reasonable to expect him to rise up and meet the challenges.”

It’s early yet, but so far, Highsmith looks like a natural fit as a potential starter in this great defense.

Steelers sack streak record rolls on, even without T.J. Watt

The Steelers took Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield to the Kentucky Bluegrass four times on Sunday, extending their sack streak.

No T.J. Watt? No problem.

The Pittsburgh Steelers rested a slew of key starters, including Watt and defensive tackle Cam Heyward, but still, the defense pressed on and continued its weekly quarterback harassment.

In Buffalo, with Tyson Alualu’s sack of Bills quarterback Josh Allen, Pittsburgh broke the record of consecutive games with a sack previously set by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (69). The Steelers streak began in Week 8 of the 2016 season against the Baltimore Ravens.

With defensive end Chris Wormley’s sack of Browns’ Baker Mayfield on Sunday, the Steelers sack-streak extended to 73 (Watt sacked Bengals’ Ryan Finley in Week 15 and Colts’ Philip Rivers in Week 16).

Pittsburgh dumped the passer a total of four times: Wormley for nine yards, linebacker Jayrone Elliott for seven yards (really, Baker just tripped after a failed attempt to evade Alex Highsmith), Highsmith for 10 yards and defensive end Stephon Tuitt for a loss of four.

Just imagine what this defense can do with the playoffs on the line. We’ll find out Sunday when the Steelers host the Browns at 8:15 ET.

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Steelers DE Stephon Tuitt hits career milestone vs. Colts

Tuitt is quietly making his mark as part of the Steelers dominant defense.

You never know what you have until it’s gone. The Steelers knew exactly how this felt when defensive end Stephon Tuitt went down for the 2019 season in Week 6 with a torn pectoral.

It didn’t take long for Tuitt to make his presence felt this season. From the moment he registered his first sack of the season in Week 1 versus the Giants, he was back.

In Week 8, Tuitt was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his harassment of Lamar Jackson. He finished the game with two sacks, nine total tackles (three for loss) and three quarterback hits.

Tuitt has recorded at least a half-sack in each game but six this season and added another on Sunday versus the Colts. And with that, Tuitt hit the first double-digit sack season of his career.

The Steelers and the Los Angeles Rams (DT Aaron Donald, OLB Leonard Floyd) are the only two teams that have two players who rank Top 10 in sacks.

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Pittsburgh Steelers to defend Colts’ Philip Rivers with ‘pretty severe’ turf toe

Steelers defense will take on a less-than-100-percent Rivers on Sunday. He suffered a turf toe injury Week 11 but has not missed one game. 

Philip Rivers did what no franchise quarterback ever wants to do — jumped teams in the final years of his career.

In the same 2004 NFL draft class as Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Rivers spent 16 seasons with the Chargers before signing with the Colts in free agency this offseason.

The 38-year-old has been more than reliable for the Colts this season. He’s completed 68.67 percent of his passes for 3,735 yards, 22 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Tomorrow, the Steelers defense will take on a less-than-100-percent Rivers. He suffered a turf toe injury Week 11 but has not missed one game.

“I can’t get him to talk with me about it,” shared Colts head coach Frank Reich on Sirius XM NFL Radio about his injury. “But I talked to the trainers, and he’s still not 100 percent, but he’s getting better every week.”

“It was a significant toe injury. The degree was pretty severe. He really fought through it hard. We’re at the stage now where hopefully we continue this upward trend.”

Despite the serious injury, which often keeps a player out of action for several weeks, expect Rivers — and the Colts — to be trouble for Pittsburgh. Unlike the Steelers, the Colts have not yet clinched a playoff berth. They need a win in Pittsburgh to clinch a playoff berth with help from a Ravens or Dolphins loss.

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Steelers new EDGE Cassius Marsh says he’s ‘grateful for this opportunity’ with Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in need of veteran depth and they got just that on Wednesday.

With injuries piling up, the Pittsburgh Steelers have a shortage of experienced veterans and addressed some of that need on Wednesday. The team announced the signing of defensive lineman Cassius Marsh from the Indianapolis Colts practice squad.

Marsh, now in his seventh season, opened the season with the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he registered nine tackles (seven solo), two hurries and a quarterback hit in four games (one start). He logged five solo tackles and a hurry in three games with the Colts after being activated as a COVID-19 replacement. According to Colts Wire, Indianapolis’ defensive line is nearing full strength, and there likely would not have been a role for him on the active roster.

The Seattle Seahawks selected the UCLA product in the fourth-round of the 2014 NFL draft. In 91 games (nine starts), Marsh contributed 14 sacks, 173 tackles (25 for loss), five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 29 quarterback hits and 121 hurries. He’s been utilized heavily on special teams during his career, logging 1,607 snaps.

Pittsburgh marks the seventh stop for Marsh, which also includes the Arizona Cardinals (2019), San Francisco 49ers (2017-18) and New England Patriots (2017).

Marsh’s versatility makes him a perfect fit in Pittsburgh. According to Pro Football Focus, he’s spent most of his career at left and right end, but he’s also seen plenty of snaps at outside linebacker.

Currently listed at defensive end on Pittsburgh’s roster, at 6’4, 245 pounds, Marsh projects as more of an EDGE, or outside linebacker, in the Steelers system. He’s nearly identical to Alex Highsmith in stature. Marsh is likely to rotate off the right edge with Highsmith and Ola Adeniyi and spell T.J. Watt on the left.

Football is in the blood of the Marsh family. Cassius’ father, Curtis Marsh Sr., played the 1997 season with the Steelers at wide receiver. His brother, Curtis Marsh Jr., was a cornerback who last played for the Denver Broncos in 2015.

Marsh will be wearing No. 49.

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Steelers’ T.J. Watt explains what a difference-maker DE Stephon Tuitt is

Tuitt missed the Ravens game after being placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list but is expected to play Monday versus Washington.

It’s been a tough week for the Pittsburgh Steelers defense after linebacker Bud Dupree was lost for the season with a torn ACL. But the unit got some good news on Saturday when defensive end Stephon Tuitt was activated from the Reserve/COVID-19 list.

“It’ll be huge to have him back,” T.J. Watt said in a press conference on Saturday. “Tuitt is a phenomenal player in both the run and the pass. He makes the defensive front go. We’re getting a key player back, and I’m excited to play alongside him this week.”

Third on the team in sacks with a career-high seven, Tuitt is enjoying a stellar season. He’s also logged 31 tackles (seven for loss), two forced fumbles and two batted passes.

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Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster credits defense for redeeming ‘sluggish’ offense vs. Ravens

Thanks to their defensive effort, the Pittsburgh Steelers managed a “W” versus the Baltimore Ravens.

Like a broken record, it’s been said week after week: A win is a win, no matter how ugly.

The Pittsburgh Steelers were visibly disappointed in their performance against the depleted Baltimore Ravens, and for good reason.

The game should’ve been a blowout, but instead it came down to the wire.

“We played sluggish, we had a bad start. Our defense saved our [expletive] again,” said a frustrated JuJu Smith-Schuster in a postgame press conference. “… In the next 12 days we got three games, and it is what it is. We just got to go out there and play.”

Tremendous defensive plays in the first half — a pick-six from cornerback Joe Haden and a pass breakup in the end zone by Minkah Fitzpatrick on the final play before halftime — are what won the game for Pittsburgh.

The Steelers offense, which has been solid for most of the season, played uninspired football.

“Wide receivers not catching balls, not making plays when they’re supposed to be made, going down in the red zone not putting points on the board,” Smith-Schuster said when asked about their deficiencies.

The offense will have a chance to redeem itself in just four days when Pittsburgh hosts the Washington Football Team on Monday.

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Pittsburgh Steelers defense tops in league turnover margin

The Steelers aren’t likely to eclipse their 38 turnovers from 2019, but they’re doing a stellar job so far.

The Pittsburgh Steelers defense isn’t likely to eclipse its 38 turnovers from 2019, but they’re doing a stellar job so far.

With 15 interceptions and six fumbles, the defense has 21 takeaways through 10 games. The Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are behind them with 19 each.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin recently addressed his team’s success with takeaways. “We not only talk about it, but we drill it,” he said in a press conference. “We are just going to keep working in that regard. We recognize that the turnover element of play is significant and something that we have to continually work at.”

Tomlin spoke highly of the job cornerback Cam Sutton did in place of Mike Hilton. In Hilton’s absence, Sutton forced a fumble in the Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys and Cincinnati Bengals matchups.

“I can’t say enough about the effort of the guys,” said Tomlin. “Cam Sutton has forced a fumble in the last three football games, and that is the guy that doesn’t play every snap of defense. He’s more of a situational defender. I can’t say enough about his awareness and his willingness to put that on tape and how it builds and encourages others to do similar things.”

When it comes to how Ben Roethlisberger and the offense operates knowing their defense can get the ball back at any moment, Tomlin said it’s more than talking the talk. “It goes beyond conversations. It’s about action, and we start every Wednesday workday with ball handling and ball security drills for those that throw it, catch it and run it.”

“It’s just a part of our culture,” he said. “Just like pursuing and working to take care of the ball on the other side. We believe that those two things work hand-in-hand, and discussions are just the very beginnings of it. We have to make sure our actions match our words, and, as a staff, we are working extremely hard to do so from a drill standpoint in our week’s prep.”

The Steelers have had plenty of prep time for their upcoming opponent, the Baltimore Ravens. The defense will look to continue forcing turnovers Tuesday night.

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