The Steelers' offense has taken a pounding among fans and media alike. But, the Steelers' defense has just ... taken a pounding. Period.
The switch to Kenny Pickett at quarterback may or may not spark the offense in making larger leaps toward becoming a more productive group. But, until T.J. Watt can return from his torn pectoral, there isn't an easy fix for a defense that is being shredded, especially late in games.
The defense had an alibi for the collapses against the Patriots and Browns. They were out-possessed in both games, and the Steelers had to face the elite Cleveland rushing attack on a short week. But, 146 of the Jets' 348 total yards came on their only two drives of the fourth quarter. Both produced touchdowns and erased a 20-10 lead provided by the offense's rally under Pickett in the second half.
Time of possession isn't an excuse for this game either. Not only did the Steelers have a long week because of the Browns game, but the Steelers actually possessed the ball for 30:01 -- almost exactly an even split.
I've asked several defensive players why this has become a trend over the past three games. It can't be only because of Watt's absence ... can it?
So, when the vast majority of attending media flocked over to Matt Canada for Thursday's availability with the coordinators, I stayed over at the much-less-attended meeting with Teryl Austin to get some answers.
"I just think it’s a matter of we just have to figure out how to make those same plays in the fourth quarter when it’s time," Austin said regarding the collapses in the fourth quarter. "We’ve been in position, we’ve given ourselves opportunities to win games, and then we have to come up with the plays at the appropriate times to get off the field and turn the tide and stop momentum. All those things come in. Our guys are working their butts off. It’ll come."
The defense should get credit for a well-played game through the first three quarters. The Jets were averaging less than four yards per carry. Zach Wilson only had 124 yards and was completing less than 50 percent of his passes. They even intercepted Wilson on two different occasions, and one of them helped set up the first of two rushing touchdowns by Pickett.
The problem I've seen -- which I've talked about with a few different players -- is getting gouged down the middle of the field. After passing for only 124 yards in the first three quarters, Wilson racked up 128 yards through the air on both touchdown drives in the fourth quarter against the Steelers. When he threw passes that traveled 10-20 yards in the air over the middle, he had a 118.8 passer rating.
What's Josh Allen going to do against a defense performing like that?
I asked Austin what he's seeing from the defense that's allowing those type of plays to happen over the middle of the field.
"I think it’s just a matter of things that we’re doing as a staff," he said. "We’re trying to educate our guys on how everything ties together, how we all have to work together to be a really, really good defense. It’s not that there’s giant, glaring mistakes, but there’s a mistake here, a mistake there, and it’s not just one group or one person, but at particular times, when you make those mistakes, they hurt you. So that’s what we’re really concentrating on, is trying to cut down on the amount of mistakes. Sometimes the mistakes are just a wrong line, all kinds of different things. Mike Tomlin likes to refer to it as popcorn. It’s not like you can just say, 'Okay, hey, if we fix this, we’re good.' We’ve just got to make sure we’re cutting down on the amount of small errors because they lead to big problems."
Myles Jack is just one of a few players I spoke with about this problem. He's been one of the better performers on defense as he leads the team in tackles. And from the inside linebacker position, he can see a lot of what's happening over the middle of the field. On third down situations, linebackers are sticking right at the first down marker to prevent the opposition from getting there and converting.
"You might be two yards (from the sticks), but a guy could catch it, close his eyes, fall forward and get extra yards. Now it's the first down," Jack explained. "You want to be on the sticks so that way if they do catch it, it's bang-bang. But, there's a give and take. Then there might be something behind you."
If the linebackers are sticking near the first down marker, then that means the secondary has to take away the coverage over the top, especially if there's a lot of field left for the opposition to use.
"The main thing is everybody doing their job. From top to bottom," Tre Norwood said regarding the secondary's effort to prevent those critical plays from happening over the middle. "Not trying to do anything outside of what your assignment is on that play within that call."
"Like I said, it’s just a matter of little things. Where the ball ends up is irrelevant, whether it’s outside, inside, or whatever," Austin also said. "It’s just a matter of, again, a mistake here or there by somebody in a group -- one group, different group, doesn’t matter -- and it leads to an open play. That’s really what we have to get out."
If it comes down to only ironing out those little details that lead to catastrophic plays, maybe this group can eventually get on the same page and become a better defense for a full 60 minutes.
However, this group is getting even more banged up beyond their star player going down with an injury. All five starting members of the secondary -- Minkah Fitzpatrick, Terrell Edmunds, Levi Wallace, Ahkello Witherspoon and Cam Sutton -- are on this week's injury report. Cam Heyward and Chris Wormley are banged up. With more players being thrown into the mix, that'll make it more difficult for the individual groups within the defense to communicate and execute properly.
And, that's really going to put the whole "next man up" mantra to the test.
"I think the one thing the team and people around here know is how fine the line is to win and lose games and what it takes," Austin said. "We’ve been in a lot of close games here. I think eventually it’ll turn in our favor, and we’ll start making those plays."
MORE FROM THE SOUTH SIDE
• Two significant players on defense returned to practice Thursday. Both Fitzpatrick (knee) and Edmunds (concussion) were limited participants Thursday after not practicing Wednesday. Heyward (elbow/ankle), Wormley (ankle), Sutton (groin) and Wallace (foot) all remained limited Thursday, so their participation on Friday will be key in determining their status for Sunday. Witherspoon (hamstring) did not practice again and he's not expected to play Sunday.
• Two offensive players popped up on Thursday's injury report as Diontae Johnson (hip) and Mason Cole (foot) were both limited participants in practice. Johnson had his upper right leg wrapped with some ice after practice, but didn't seem too concerned about missing Sunday's game. I had a chat with Cole as well, and he seemed to be in good spirits during our talk. Obviously, their participation on Friday will be the ultimate decider of their availability against the Bills.
• Witherspoon won't be playing Sunday, and more members of the secondary will be asked to pick up the slack for some of the other injured players in the group. Versatility will be key this week, especially for guys such as Norwood who can play both safety and cornerback.
"All hands on deck as some would say," Norwood said. "Making sure we're all ready to contribute with whatever's asked of us. As I'll continue to reiterate, injuries -- you hate seeing it. Being able to have that back room that has guys that can play those multiple positions and move pieces really helps out in times like this."
• Of course, Allen presents a huge challenge for this defense. He's one of the reasons the Bills are Super Bowl favorites. So, how do you stop -- or even slow down -- a guy like him?
"Put 13, 14 guys on the field maybe," Austin laughed.
"He’s one of those unique quarterbacks that has the ability to run, to throw, to extend plays. I think the biggest thing you do is you do the best you can to keep them in the pocket, throwing from the well, see if you can get them into holding the ball a little too long and get your rush there. But there’s going to be some plays where he escapes and he gets out, and we’ve just got to make sure when those plays happen, they don’t become catastrophic for us."
• The Steelers are obviously having a hard time getting to the quarterback as often without Watt. It's Austin's preference to only rush four to the quarterback, but that isn't always possible now that the defense isn't applying as much pressure. It's a critical decision to balance pressure and coverage, and when to decide to bring more than four against the quarterback.
"That, to me, is always predicated on if our four are getting good pressure and good rush. Then you don’t have to add," Austin explained. "But if we’re struggling and some things aren’t going correct the way we want them, then you have to think about adding extra to the rush to try to close up some lanes, get a little pressure, get the quarterback a little bit uncomfortable. But that’s always, to me, more game decision, like, 'Here’s what’s happening, how do we adjust to make it better?'"
• I asked Austin where Isaiahh Loudermilk stands among the rest of the defensive line. He hasn't gotten a helmet yet this season, and guys such as Heyward and Wormley are currently banged up.
"He's still working to get a helmet. We'll see," Austin said. "I'm confident when he does get his number called and gets a helmet, he'll do a good job. ... We'll just have to see."
• Kenny Pickett is now the starting quarterback, but it doesn't look like there's going to be a major overhaul of the offense with him in there. Corey Crisan has more on the "tweaks" the offense will make with Pickett under center.
