Halicke: Defense's flaws keep getting exposed, and they might be fatal

HOUSTON -- The Steelers have a terrible offense. Another poor showing is just par for the course. 

However, there’s an expectation that the Pittsburgh defense could be good enough to make this a competitive team. But when the defense turns in a putrid performance in a lopsided, embarrassing 30-6 loss Sunday afternoon at NRG Stadium, it raises some serious concerns over whether this group is as formidable as everyone thought.

There's no doubt that the Steelers wouldn't have won two of their first three games without the defense contributing two crucial touchdowns in their Week 2 win over the Browns. Additionally, they effectively contained Josh Jacobs, last year's rushing champion, and secured three interceptions against Jimmy Garoppolo in last week's win over the Raiders.

However, in stark contrast, this same defense allowed a young offense led by rookie C.J. Stroud, and an offensive line held together by duct tape, to explode for 30 points and rack up a staggering 451 yards of total offense. The theme going around the Steelers' locker room after the game was undoubtedly the 139 yards the Texans gained on the ground.

"We knew what they were going to come in and do: Establish the run," Elandon Roberts said after the game. "We've just gotta be better. That starts just by watching the film and getting better. Luckily, it's earlier in the season, so we've got some opportunities to fix it. But, it's a collective."

Listen, the Texans' offensive line isn't just banged up. Both of their regular tackles were out, as well as the primary swing tackle. They've got two centers on IR and a guard on IR. This should be catastrophic for a team that's facing a defense that boasts T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith. That's even considering Cam Heyward's absence while he recovers from groin surgery.

Instead, the Texans imposed their will on the Steelers' defense, and they did it right from the start. They used the running game early and often, and it helped propel them down the field for a first drive that looked all too easy. If anything, the Steelers were the ones barely holding together while the Texans were in perfect sync on just about every play.

Houston even mixed things up and used the Steelers' aggressiveness against them to execute a flawless screen to Dameon Pierce, who shredded the Steelers often Sunday afternoon: 

And, even when the Texans began to shoot themselves in the foot with back-to-back penalties at the goal line, Minkah Fitzpatrick handed the momentum right back to them with a pass interference penalty.

"We're a defense, man," Roberts said. "No matter how long or how short, we've gotta go out there and do our job. That's how I look at that first drive. It doesn't matter how the first drive came about -- any of that. As a defense, we have to take it one play at a time. Just ... play defense."

It wasn't all that long ago that the Steelers were dreadful against the run. They finished dead last in that category in 2021, and worked hard to correct it last season. They accomplished that goal, ranking ninth against the run in 2022.

However, the Steelers have now regressed and find themselves back near the bottom of the league, allowing 148.5 rushing yards per game. This needs to be fixed yesterday.

"We're not going to get where we desire to get defensively until we settle the run down," Tomlin said. "We didn't do that today. They were in manageable possession downs. You don't get them one-dimensional, you don't get the opportunity for splash -- the splash that we thrive on."

Therein lies the problem. The Steelers need splash plays in order to be successful on defense. It's just part of their DNA. If teams figure out how to stay two-dimensional against this defense, the amount of money spent toward that side of the ball won't matter.

This isn't something the Steelers will just try and flush. Sometimes, teams do a lot of stuff right and just get beaten. These players know there are some fatal trends developing here, and two of the Steelers' four opponents have put how to do it on film for the world to see.

"No, you've gotta correct this. You've gotta correct this," Roberts said. "I don't feel like there's any loss you can shower off. You've gotta correct this."

• Just as the run defense is reverting back to its 2021 self, the secondary has yet to really prevent teams from getting chunk plays. That was a huge problem in this game. 

Levi Wallace continues to struggle. Patrick Peterson looks old. Even though he seriously needs to work on his tackling, we might need to start seeing more of Joey Porter Jr. These chunk plays through the air have to stop.

• If the Steelers' problems on defense can be summed up into one quote, Montravius Adams delivered with an honest, astute review.

"On the run (defense), I can remember talking to one of our coaches in Week 1. He was like, 'If we just be physical and whoop people's asses, we wouldn't have to worry about a lot of the stuff we're worrying about,'" Adams told me. "I think if we do that instead of just thinking about assignments, we'll be OK. At the end of the day, we didn't play our best, they came to play. We've just gotta get better."

Thinking too much, huh?

"Yeah. Most definitely."

Hmmm.

• You know it's a bad day at the office when you get fooled this badly by a trick play in the red zone:

• I'm not going to stand for Najee Harris slander. He certainly still has room to grow. He had a run early on that should have gone for longer if he made just one man miss. 

However, he was still the Steelers' best player on offense today, and looked like the Najee we saw near the end of last season.

The offensive line finally gave him some daylight in the second half, and he feasted on it, gaining 71 yards on 14 carries. Harris has not been the problem with the running game.

• Speaking of Najee, he best represents a theme I noticed in the locker room today: These guys were absolutely pissed off about that performance. I was turned down multiple times for interviews, but not because they didn't want to talk. It was because they were more focused on talking with each other about what happened on the field beforehand.

Najee outright refused to speak to the media. I'm not going to try to assume the reason. But, I do know he will be addressing the team at some point this week, and he was visibly as pissed off as anyone I saw in that locker room. Maybe he's preventing himself from saying something to the media that he shouldn't. Maybe he just wanted to blow us off. Who knows?

Whatever the reason, he wasn't happy. No players were. They're frustrated, and I'd even say many in that locker room were embarrassed by Sunday's performance.

• I really don't want to add insult to injury here. But, Pickett really, really needs to stop bailing from the pocket early. 

I fully understand the line has been terrible in pass protection. I also understand that in no universe should this be the play call on fourth-and-1. However, Pickett once again leaves a clean pocket when he doesn't have to. And, he spun himself right into somebody, and got himself hurt in the process.

This really sucks to see. He has to alter his game. Otherwise, it just won't happen for him at this level.

• I repeat: The offensive line sucks. They were terrible again today. Chuks Okorafor and Mason Cole were constantly pushed backward. One time, Cole was even pushed back so far, he indirectly helped tackle Harris.

I have no rhyme or reason for the dropoff from the end of last season until now. This unit should be better than it is.

• Stroud is the real deal, folks. I was really impressed by his film this week. He anticipates throws so well, and he just doesn't get rattled out there. He doesn't make mistakes.

"I don't want to take any credit away from (Stroud)," Watt said. "He played a great game. He was getting the ball out quick. He was getting the ball in his playmakers' hands. He was able to extend plays. They were able to run the ball, too, which controlled the time of possession and tempo of the whole game."

Give credit where credit is due. Yes, the Steelers' defense played bad. But, this kid looks the part of the next great franchise quarterback.

• Finally, I don't know what else to say about Matt Canada that hasn't already been said. The concepts are bland. The playcalling is predictable. And, even when the Steelers find a little success with something, he finds a way to screw that up, too.

The Steelers actually ran the ball well to start the second half. When the Texans started overloading the box, what did they do? They kept running.

I'm so tired of talking about it. Just ... enough. Even if all 11 guys execute to perfection, this offense has a low ceiling. I'll stick by that until proven wrong.

Also, I seriously doubt firing Canada is part of Tomlin's coming changes. Goes against every precedent.