Patrick Graham is just getting started at laying out what he's going to do on defense. And with what the Steelers have on the roster, even before the 2026 NFL Draft, this is probably the most talent he's ever had at his disposal. And yeah, he's excited about it, even though he doesn't even know how it's going to look just yet.
"It's April," Graham said, with a laugh, during his press conference on Friday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. "Trust me, we've got some stuff cooking."
The details on that stuff has yet to be seen, and mainly, it's because even he doesn't know what it's going to look like just yet. What we do know, based on Graham's comments, is Jalen Ramsey will be a "chess piece" on the defense. There will be dynamic blitzes as part of the 3-4 base defense that will most often be a 2-4-5 look, trying to get the most out of both the inside and outside linebackers. And that secondary that has a boatload of talent, "We've got some savvy dudes. It's gonna help what's going on in this brain right now."
There's something that Graham has said repeatedly during his seven years as a defensive coordinator: "There's no Pat Graham playbook." That's because the process right now is all about Graham learning his players, and using that to build the foundation for how they'll play in 2026.
"The playbook evolves once I get around the guys," Graham said. "That first two weeks, I'm meeting them. We know what the roster configuration is going to be like. But the playbook evolved based on me getting to know the players. I have my principles. I have the things I want to do. But, to truly get a grasp of the scheme, it evolves as we go along figuring out these players and what they do best."
THE ASYLUM
Graham's laying a foundation
Patrick Graham is just getting started at laying out what he's going to do on defense. And with what the Steelers have on the roster, even before the 2026 NFL Draft, this is probably the most talent he's ever had at his disposal. And yeah, he's excited about it, even though he doesn't even know how it's going to look just yet.
"It's April," Graham said, with a laugh, during his press conference on Friday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. "Trust me, we've got some stuff cooking."
The details on that stuff has yet to be seen, and mainly, it's because even he doesn't know what it's going to look like just yet. What we do know, based on Graham's comments, is Jalen Ramsey will be a "chess piece" on the defense. There will be dynamic blitzes as part of the 3-4 base defense that will most often be a 2-4-5 look, trying to get the most out of both the inside and outside linebackers. And that secondary that has a boatload of talent, "We've got some savvy dudes. It's gonna help what's going on in this brain right now."
There's something that Graham has said repeatedly during his seven years as a defensive coordinator: "There's no Pat Graham playbook." That's because the process right now is all about Graham learning his players, and using that to build the foundation for how they'll play in 2026.
"The playbook evolves once I get around the guys," Graham said. "That first two weeks, I'm meeting them. We know what the roster configuration is going to be like. But the playbook evolved based on me getting to know the players. I have my principles. I have the things I want to do. But, to truly get a grasp of the scheme, it evolves as we go along figuring out these players and what they do best."
Want to participate in our comments?
Want an ad-free experience?
Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits!
We’d love to have you!