Sean Davis hasn't exactly been the invisible man in the Steelers' defense, but he's not been particularly active on many occasions, either.
That's just the way he likes it.
Davis wasn't sure how well he'd like the move to the free safety position this year after spending the first two at the strong spot, but it's working out just fine for the Steelers.
The Steelers are giving up fewer big plays than they did a year ago, something that likely will be put to the test Sunday when they travel to Baltimore to face the Ravens.
No team attempts more deep passes in the league than Baltimore (4-4). Joe Flacco has attempted more deep passes -- considered by the NFL to be ones that travel 15 or more yards through the air -- than any other quarterback in the league. The trouble for the Ravens has been that despite attempting 65 such passes, Flacco has completed just 22 of them.
It's a big reason why his passer rating on deep passes is just 52.1, ranking him 33rd in the league on such attempts in a league with 32 teams.
Conversely, the Steelers (4-2-1) have allowed opponents to complete just 22 of 63 deep passes (34.9 percent). Only Dallas (33.3 percent) has been better this season.
Davis, a 2016 second-round draft pick, has literally been at the center of that resurgence. So, too, has the Steelers' pass rush.
The Steelers have 24 sacks through their first seven games, ranking second in the NFL only to the Ravens -- who have 27, but have yet to have their bye. The Steelers also got plenty of pressure on opposing quarterbacks last season, leading the NFL with a team-record 56 sacks. Yet they had the third-most number of 40-yard pass plays allowed with 13.
This season, that number has been cut to just four thus far, which ranks as the 10th fewest, a far cry different than last season when the oft-injured Mike Mitchell was at free safety.
"We felt like when we got (Davis) here, he was a good free safety in that he covers a lot of ground, has a lot of range," Keith Butler said Thursday after practice at the Rooney Complex. "We had to use him the way we used him because of who we had. We tried to fit our guys the best we could according to what they did best and what was best for the defense. So Sean being the free safety wasn't what was best for our defense last year, as it has been this year."
Davis hasn't let the ball get over his head much, and while he's also not making many big plays on the back end, he's not being tested often.
"It’s been a little quiet," Davis admitted to me. "That could be a good thing. I’ve just got to be ready to make those splash plays. I’m waiting for that pick, because it’s coming. I’m going to stay back there, keep my poise, keep my confidence and if a play comes over the top, I’ve got to be there and ready to grab it. It’s been eight weeks. I’ve just got to be patient. We’ve got nine more."
Davis has made 31 tackles and has three passes defended, but the interceptions haven't come just yet. He did have one in the regular season opener at Cleveland, but that was negated by a penalty on rookie Terrell Edmunds, who has been the primary strong safety.
The Steelers would like more turnovers from their secondary, but will settle for not allowing the big plays that plagued them in 2017.
Davis, however, has shown good hands in the past. He had one interception as a rookie and matched Ryan Shazier for the team lead last season with three.
But because the coverage has been better downfield this season, he hasn't had as many opportunities.
"That’s what I think. I like that feeling," Davis told me. "I want more balls in the air, though. I want picks. I’m cool where we are right now, though."
That could certainly change against the Ravens, who did connect on two long passes in their 26-14 win over the Steelers at Heinz Field Sept. 30. Flacco threw a 33-yard touchdown pass down the sideline to speedy John Brown in the first quarter, then found Brown again later for a 71-yard bomb with Edmunds playing the deep middle. Fortunately for the Steelers, the Ravens fumbled at the 1-yard line right after that play.
But the Steelers will be cognizant of Baltimore's propensity to push the ball downfield, even if they haven't had much success of late.
Flacco has completed just one of his past deep 13 passes. The lack of explosiveness puts too much pressure on Baltimore to grind out long drives. His 5.89 yards per attempt in October was the worst in the NFL.
The Steelers have seen Flacco turn things around in games against them before. They're not going to rest on their mid-season laurels, especially considering Flacco threw for 363 yards and two touchdowns in their previous meeting this season.
"We gave up one to these guys the last time we played them," Butler said. "(Brown) got deep for a touchdown down the sideline behind us. If we can keep the ball in front of us, the better chance we'll have to win the game."
