Steelers' defense living up to expectation despite so many new faces

Mike Tomlin coined the phrase, "The standard is the standard" and while it will probably go down in infamy once the longtime head coach of the Steelers is gone and retired, the significance of the phrase is something that echoes throughout the locker room every day.

Just take a look at this year's defense as it's one that's loaded with new faces in critical roles. Despite that, the Steelers haven't missed a beat this season. They've allowed just 153 rushing yards through two games, the fourth-lowest amount in the league, Kyle Pitt's touchdown on a broken coverage in the season opener is the only touchdown they've allowed and their four interceptions is tied for the second-most in the league.

So when one looks at the type of success the Steelers are having and then glances at the changes they went through in the offseason, one might ask, how are they doing so? 

"It’s just understanding the guys that are here and the culture and the standard," Patrick Queen told me Thursday. "It’s everything that you want to play football for. It’s the reason why you want to play football."

The Steelers and defense are synonymous. One can look through the history of the franchise and see the Hall of Fame players who have worn black and gold. So when it comes to assimilating new players and teaching them the standard of the franchise, it's something that's passed from team to team, player to player, era to era and this team has players that are more than capable of doing so.

Cam Heyward has been a piece of Pittsburgh's defensive line since being drafted out of Ohio State in 2011 and he's been voted as a captain for 10 consecutive seasons. So if there is a player who would know about assimilating new teammates and making sure they understand what they are responsible for, it would be him. 

"For the most part, it’s growing with the team, making sure guys are accountable, guys understand what we’re trying to accomplish here, understand our goals and our standards," Heyward said. "Then, it's just rallying to the ball."

However, it's not just lip service. It's about action and making sure guys are put in a position to play the right way. That responsibility often lands on the shoulders of veterans like Heyward, T.J. Watt or Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Donte Jackson is one new player in the secondary who has played a big role early on. He's tallied one interception, two pass breakups and five tackles, including one this past weekend that went for a loss. Take a look: 

When I asked Jackson about why his transition into the defense was so seamless, he pointed to the help that he received, and still receives, from Fitzpatrick and the rest of the players that have been in the locker room.

"I know when I was learning the defense and learning the standard of how it goes, Minkah made sure I knew everything," Jackson said. "He made sure I knew all the checks, he made sure I knew this is how meetings go and stuff like that. So it’s really just looking out for your brother and bringing everybody along."

There's that word again: standard.

It's like it's ingrained in the players at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on the South Side. But it's not just in the building, it's known and understood league-wide as well. Queen could see it during his time with the Ravens, so when he came to Pittsburgh, he knew what was expected.

"You see it from afar, so you already know what they are about," Queen said. "Playing against them twice a year, you knew that. So now, finally, I’m over here and getting to be a part of it, getting to go out there and lead the defense with the calling and stuff and just having everyone in the right situation. It’s what you dream of when you’re a little kid. So I don’t take anything for granted."

Outside of Payton Wilson, Cory Trice Jr. and  Beanie Bishop Jr., these new additions aren't young players getting their feet wet in the league for the first time. Queen is in his fifth year, Jackson is in his seventh and Pittsburgh is DeShon Elliott's fourth team in six years. 

So, they've been around the block and have played at a high level. While they could've come in and been at a weak link, they displayed professionalism by putting in the work and living up to the standard to make sure the team didn't suffer as a whole.

"We got some guys that are new to us, might not be new to the National Football League, but are new to us and we're getting some awesome contributions from them," Tomlin said earlier this week. "Our communication and cohesion is not suffering as much as it could. I'm appreciative of the attention, urgency, professionalism that some of those new experienced players bring.You can get to know somebody in the process, but you really get to know them once you step into these regular season games and are faced with the challenges that are our business."

Those veterans along with the ability of younger players such as Trice, who suffered a season-ending injury in the preseason last year, also raise the ceiling of the defense. While the defensive line is steadfast, the new additions give Tomlin and Teryl Austin options on the back end.

Elliott's versatility has been noticeable as he's played in the secondary alongside Fitzpatrick, assisting in coverage, but has also rolled up into the box to help stop the run. Just take a look at this stop on 3rd and 1 against the Broncos: 

Those types of plays allow the Steelers to do things that they may not have done in the past. It gives them options to solve problems they've had and fix issues or challenges that have plagued them.

"We've got lots of options and lots of things that we can do to try to handle people that maybe have given us some problems in the past, underneath stuff with tight ends and things like that," Austin said.

So far this season, despite a plethora of new faces, the Steelers defense has led the way to a 2-0 start while allowing just one touchdown and 16 total points. With the standard and talent they have in place, it seems as though that will continue to be a focal point for the success of this team in 2024.