ORLANDO, Fla. -- Though the Steelers still list themselves as a base 3-4 defensive team, that has changed greatly over the past decade.
Fans and media get caught up in the discussions about whether the Steelers should switch the defensive alignment they have played for more than three decades, but the coaching staff doesn't concern itself with that. In fact, Mike Tomlin reiterated his stance Tuesday that the base defense isn't really that important.
With the Steelers playing their base defense less than ever before, Tomlin is looking for players who have versatility on their resumes.
"Base defense doesn't exist anymore," Tomlin said at the NFL meetings here. "We play it in the high 20s, 26, 27 percent of the time. It's about sub-package ball. The linebacker position is important in a 3-4, no doubt. But all of us are not running a base defense much any more. That's just the reality of it."
That means positions such as nose tackle are on the field less than the team's third cornerback. And the stats would bear that out. Nickel cornerback Mike Hilton played 579 snaps last season compared to 454 for nose tackle Javon Hargrave. And that number was only as close as it was because Hargrave played in some sub-package situations when defensive end Stephon Tuitt missed time with injuries last season.
Nose tackles, much like fullbacks, are becoming specialty players.
That reliance on nickel and dime defenses has also changed the team's philosophy toward the draft and what it asks of its linebackers. They are asked to rush the passer less and cover in space more.
That became apparent when the team selected Ryan Shazier at inside linebacker in the 2014 draft. At 6-1, 230 pounds, Shazier wasn't much bigger than some safeties in the league. But his speed and ability to cover running backs, tight ends and even receivers in short spaces was nearly unmatched.
With Shazier now facing a career-threatening injury, the Steelers are trying to find ways to continue to play the style of football they feel is necessary to compete in today's NFL.
Safety Morgan Burnett and linebacker Jon Bostic were added in free agency and the Steelers feel both are candidates to play linebacker in their nickel and dime defenses.
"In today's NFL, you've got to be multiple. We intend to be," Tomlin said. "What that looks like as we sit here today, I don't know. I know we've got some candidates. Morgan Burnett has done some of that in Green Bay. I've seen that on video. We'll see where the road leads us."
It could also lead them to next month's draft.
While the Steelers fully intend to use Bostic alongside Vince Williams in their base 3-4 defense, they could look to the draft to add a linebacker capable of providing better coverage ability. They also could look to fill that spot with a safety, as well.
And the proliferation of spread offenses in college football is a big part of that. Defenses have had to adjust to combat those offensive schemes, meaning players are asked to do more.
"I think you're seeing it now. It's evolution of ball, guys that are talented are asked to do a lot of things, particularly at the safety position, playing at the linebacker level and things of that nature on possession downs," Tomlin said.
That means when the Steelers are evaluating players at the linebacker and safety positions -- their two biggest needs heading into the draft -- they don't necessarily look at straight-line speed as an indicator. They base their analysis of a player on his burst and quickness more than they do the 40 time.
"It's just really how you identify speed and quickness," Tomlin said. "Quick to speed is an asset. Coverage things, possession downs, coverage against running backs and athletic tight ends, it's helpful. It's helpful in chase situations, some of the perimeter game. It's an asset, obviously, but it's not used all the time.
"Forty time doesn't always describe speed relative to some of that play."