Kovacevic: Minkah's missing in action ... except for missing tackles

The problem with Minkah Fitzpatrick is that, when he's not being great, he's barely registering above a zero. Which is to say, through six full games of this NFL season, he's got:

• Zero interceptions
• Zero passes defensed
• Zero sacks
• Zero fumble recoveries
• One forced fumble

Uh-huh. And that last one constitutes the barely in that Minkah was credited with popping the ball loose from Geno Smith on the Seahawks' final offensive drive of regulation Sunday before the Steelers proceeded to win, 23-20 in overtime, Sunday night at Heinz Field.

So that's it. That's the one. And it wasn't a takeaway. That's the sum total of Minkah Magic to date.

Oh, he's had no fewer than four footballs clang off him, though one of those bounced off his facemask and up in the arms of Terrell Edmunds for one of the secondary's two interceptions all season. And he's leading the defense in tackles with 47, a figure that's 11 more than anyone else. And, though this is impossible to quantify, he's generally seen by opponents as a menacing enough presence in center field that his mere existence will chew up a chunk of territory.

But then, he's also looked a lot like this:

Late to the scene. Sloppy upon arrival.

And candidly, I'm not sure that last part should be a surprise. Even in his halcyon earliest days in Pittsburgh, it'd been clear that he wasn't some one-man tour-de-force. He wasn't the fastest player, nor the most physical, nor the one who could be utilized in wild-card ways. He was the one, plain and simple, that the ball followed around: In his first two seasons here, a span of 30 games, he piled up nine picks, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, 20 passes defensed and three touchdowns. Which earned him All-Pro honors, in addition to public discourse that he might be the NFL's preeminent safety.

And then, the ball stopped following him around.

"It's just a matter of catching everything that comes your way," Minkah said 10 days ago in his most recent media availability. "I've had multiple balls that I should've caught. With other people, the same thing. There are plays where we could've punched the ball and we didn't. I think it just boils down to us doing our job, being in the right position, not trying to do anything extra, because that's when you get beat for big splash plays."

Say what one will about outside, independent analysis such as Pro Football Focus -- because it's so scripted and secretive, it's a sport where only the players and coaches really know how well they've fared -- but it's got to mean at least something that PFF has Minkah currently rated as the second-worst safety in the entire league:

I won't take this too far. I'm certainly not here to bury the dude. He's shown to be talented on the field, tough and smart off it. He's still only 24 years old, he's got a bright future, and I'll bet it'll be right here in Pittsburgh.

Total team player, too:

But I do feel that it's fair in this, our autumn of discontent with the quarterback and little else, to underscore that one of the defense's best and brightest has underperformed, as well. Maybe worse. And because of it, what had been the Steelers' signature strength -- first in the NFL in takeaways in 2019 with 38, second in 2020 with 27 -- has become a big-time albatross instead, as they're now 27th with just ... five.

What changed?

Well, T.J. Watt sure hasn't. Cam Heyward sure hasn't. The pass rush hasn't been the same without Stephon Tuitt and Tyson Alualu, but Alex Highsmith's been fine in Bud Dupree's stead. And even though inside linebackers Devin Bush and Joe Schobert haven't been great, they're far more adept at pass coverage than their predecessors, which theoretically should free up Minkah to do more freelance ballhawking.

Look, this franchise's ticket to ride in 2021 was always based on the premise of sustaining an elite defense founded first and foremost on robbery. Bring on Baker Mayfield, bring back that other Minkah, and we'll revisit.

• I offer the above purely as penance for opening the column on a negative note. Just feel it's a legit important issue.

• All right, one last bullet on this: Remember when T.J's extension talks were being compared to the coming Minkah talks in 2022?

I'd put that on hold in the same way Kevin Colbert should put Minkah's agent on hold. There's no rush, to say the least. And really, I'm not sure I'd be averse to negotiating some one-year prove-it term. Maybe even the player would prefer that, depending on his belief in himself.

Whichever the case, no bank's about to be broken on this front.

• Although it's a bye week, the Steelers will practice today and likely tomorrow before getting their NFL-mandated four consecutive days off. Since Mike Tomlin doesn't meet with reporters again until next week, it might be a while before there'll be firm updates on the various injured players, notably Tuitt, Alualu and Zach Banner.

I'm not expecting much, if anything, on those first two. But Banner's status will surely show itself through participation, and that might make the meaningful storyline of the bye. Because we'll see how all else will shake out if/when he's reinserted at right tackle.

My vote won't count, but here it is, anyway: Banner needs to prove his health beyond any doubt this week, not next. If that occurs and he shows well in practice next week, he can start in Cleveland. If one or the other misfires, I've got Chuks Okorafor moving to left tackle and Joe Haeg starting at right.

All Haeg does is one-up everyone he replaces. Maybe just let him play.

• I'm having long, hard talks about inside linebacker, too. With all ideas being welcomed.

• Sorry, I can't even process the concept of James Washington being benched on merit for Ray-Ray McCloud as the No. 3 wide receiver. But then, Washington wound up with one catch for 9 yards, never had his name included in any injury announcement, and several offensive players -- including Ben Roethlisberger -- stated afterward they believe McCloud's been elevated.

If that's all there is to it and I'm Washington, my next trade demand will be etched in neon atop Mount Washington.

• Mandatory Chris Boswell appreciation bullet: In the first nine years of Heinz Field's existence, 2001-09, not one kicker from any team made a field goal as long as 50 yards. Boswell's 52-yarder against the Seahawks was his ninth there at 50-plus.

• So, Monday night in Nashville, the Bills faced a fourth-and-inches in the final moments, down by three points, needing a half-yard for a first down and 2 1/2 yards for the W.

If Sean McDermott chooses the chip-shot field goal, no one speaks a syllable of criticism. He'd take his chances in overtime, as coaches have done for nearly a century.

But he didn't. He's part of a management team up in Orchard Park that invests more than most in advanced analytics, so he followed that wisdom and went for the W. And fell short:

Was this dumb?

Actually, yeah, it was. But only because the Bills thought it'd be a swell idea to run Josh Allen right at Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee's terribly under-appreciated defensive end, and it went nowhere. That's bad coaching.

The other part ... really isn't:

It makes me cringe, but I get it.

Not in the playoffs, though. No way.

• The Browns are badly beaten up, not least of which is Mayfield reinjuring his non-throwing shoulder and Kareem Hunt being lost for several weeks to a calf injury, both in the 37-14 loss to the Cardinals. Already, Nick Chubb was out, so we're talking the whole backfield ... plus Jarvis Landry, who might or might not be back in time for their Thursday game against the Broncos.

Yeah, I said Thursday, the weekday, rest-free environment that invariably adds to the injury list.

Not to wish ill upon anyone. Just point out that this won't be the matchup anyone would've expected when circling dates on the schedule a few months back. Kind of how this league rolls.

• How's 4-3 sound?

OK, now how's it sound with real depth gradually returning on both lines?

Chins up.

• I'll be at the ice hockey rink tonight. An all-pucks 10 Takes will follow.