Omar Khan did plenty throughout free agency and the draft to deepen and strengthen the Steelers' defense, including an overhaul of the linebacker position.
But how exactly will everyone be deployed in this revamped group?
In 2022, the Steelers' defense was in their base personnel with four defensive backs on the field for 25% of their total snaps. For reference, that was the 17th highest in the NFL. Nickel personnel with five defensive backs on the field is the most prevalent defensive personnel usage in the NFL. The Steelers were in nickel just 49% of the time. Only two defenses used nickel less. However, the Steelers defense utilized their dime package with six defensive backs on the field 18% of the time. Just five defenses used dime a higher percentage of their snaps.
With that in mind, how should we expect the Steelers to divvy up their defensive snap counts in 2023? Of course, there will be many injuries that change these plans. There will also be players that don’t live up to expectations and lose the privilege of seeing the field as well the opposite of that with unexpected players stepping up throughout the year demanding more playing time on the defense.
Although the Steelers' offense started the season at the very bottom of the league in time of possession, they finished the season averaging 31:18 in that category, the sixth highest in the NFL. The Steelers will surely be trying to control the game with their rushing attack and keep the defense off the field, but it is uncertain if this team can once again lighten the load on the defense from a time of possession standpoint as well as they did a year ago.
Nonetheless, the Steelers' defense was on the field in 2022 for 1,064 total snaps. It is probably safe to say that that unit will be asked to play between 1,000 and 1,100 snaps once again next year, which is between about 59 and 65 snaps per game.
Again, injuries and other unforeseen circumstances aside, how should those snaps be allocated?
The Steelers' leaders in defensive snap per game last year were Minkah Fitzpatrick (62.6), Terrell Edmunds (59.1), Cam Sutton (58.2), Alex Highsmith (55.4), Levi Wallace (47.2), Cam Heyward (47.1) and Myles Jack (46.1). As a rule of thumb, smaller defenders play a higher number of snaps as the wear and tear near the line of scrimmage lends itself to defensive linemen taking a breather here and there during the course of a grueling football game.
But, gone are Edmunds, Sutton and Jack. Damontae Kazee’s role should drastically grow. Due to a five-game suspension and a forearm fracture, he only appeared in nine games during his first season with the Steelers, but he did average 30.3 snaps per game. That might come close to doubling in 2023 for Kazee.
Kazee is a different type of safety than Edmunds, but is in line to take over quite a bit of Edmunds’ playing time. Plus, the Steelers do have Keanu Neal to handle some of the traditional strong safety responsibilities. Kazee isn’t as big or physical as Edmunds, but can still make plays near the line of scrimmage as well as provide more in the deep patrol:
On this play, Kazee does his best Fitzpatrick impersonation attacking downhill from deep with excellent recognition and anticipation, contributing to one of the Steelers' league-leading 20 interceptions. Kazee had two interceptions last year, and boasts 14 over his six-year career.
Sutton’s playing time, of course, should go to Patrick Peterson and/or Joey Porter Jr., and possibly at the expense of Wallace, who won’t go quietly though. That is especially true with Sutton’s responsibilities as an outside cornerback. But in the slot, Chandon Sullivan is in line for plenty of playing time. Last year, mostly from a slot alignment, Arthur Maulet chipped in with 481 total defensive snaps, good for 28.3 snaps per game.
At linebacker, the plan is surely for Cole Holcomb to take an every-down role on the second level of his new defense. Linebacker was a revolving door last year, and while Jack averaged the most snaps per game, he finished the season with 692 snaps played compared to 659 from Devin Bush and 588 by Robert Spillane. In a perfect world -- which of course doesn’t exist in the NFL -- Holcomb challenges for the team lead in defensive snaps and is on the field for about 1,000 plays next season.
Of course, the Steelers were without their best defensive player, T.J. Watt, for a large portion of the 2022 season. Over his career, Watt has appeared in 87 games and has logged 4,879 career defensive snaps. That equates to 56 snaps a game for Watt. Ideally, with Markus Golden in the mix, Watt is out there between 50-55 plays per contest. Watt, often playing though an injury, averaged just over 50 snaps per contest last year.
If Golden can average about 20 to 25 plays per game in relief of Watt and Highsmith, that would be an ideal rotation for keeping everyone at that position fresh and as affective as possible. Malik Reed averaged 28.3 snaps per game last year, often with Watt sidelined.
Heyward is still a tremendous player, but asking him to be an extreme workhorse in terms of playing time might be a bit unwise. Expect an expanded role for DeMarvin Leal while mixing in 10 or so snaps from Armon Watts. Rookie Keeanu Benton, unlike the Steelers nose tackles last year, could see snaps when the Steelers have four down linemen in their nickel and dime groupings. Larry Ogunjobi, who played through injuries for basically the entire season, could also be equipped to chip in more than the 39.8 snaps per game he saw in 2022. In the Steelers base front, Benton and Breiden Fehoko (assuming he beats out Montravius Adams for a roster spot) should easily handle the nose tackle duties. Adams and Tyson Alualu combined to play just 572 snaps last year, which is just a combined 33.6 snaps per contest from the nose tackle position.
Quickness off the ball is Leal’s calling card, something he vividly displays late in the preseason game against the Jaguars:
Leal is quick to attack Jacksonville’s right guard’s outside shoulder and rapidly gains an advantage over his opponent. Expect more of these opportunities for Leal, who has also added bulk and strength in order to handle more interior work going forward.
What will be interesting and worth watching, as well as a bit unpredictable at this point, is what will be asked from the second true linebacker, presumably Elandon Roberts. But those duties could also go to Mark Robinson or Nick Kwiatkowski. Maybe it will be a combination of those three with the hope that one grabs the job and makes it his own.
While Roberts lacks ideal speed and athletic ability, he comes downhill with authority and brings a lot of pass rush as a second level blitzer. Roberts exudes strong Vince Williams vibes and should be used in a very similar manner with the Steelers:
On this play, without much room to operate backed up against the Dolphins goal line, Roberts keeps Josh Allen out of the end zone -- not an easy task. He is very quick to read the play, shows zero hesitation and punishes the Bills' star quarterback.
Neal certainly will not approach the 886 snaps that Edmunds logged over his 15 games next year, but he will have a role that's mostly likely near the line of scrimmage. The usage of those three linebackers and Neal could certainly change on a week-to-week basis, especially early in the year when the defensive coaching staff is really getting a feel for what they have to work with.
The 49ers are coming to town in Week 1. While it is currently uncertain who will be under center for San Francisco, Kyle Shanahan’s offense presents major tactical problems for every defense the 49ers face. Last year, only two offenses used 11 Personnel (one running back and one tight end) less than Shanahan’s offense. But, only one offense was in 21 Personnel (two running backs and one tight end) more than San Francisco and only two offenses used 22 Personnel (two running backs and two tight ends) more than the 49ers.
As the Steelers prepare for Week 1, they should expect to see a very heavy dosage of Christian McCaffrey, Kyle Juszczyk, George Kittle, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk without a lot of personnel variation by NFL standards. As you might know, McCaffrey and Juszczyk (a fullback by trade) will align all over the formation and are very adept in the passing game as receivers.
Shanahan wants to keep a defense in one personnel grouping, often base with four defensive backs on the field, and manipulate that defense with this fivesome of highly skilled and highly versatile offensive weapons that are all great with the ball in their hands. And no one does it better than the 49ers' head coach.
Overall -- and again this is very subject to change -- the Steelers' defensive depth looks much better and much more promising than what they played with on this side of the ball in 2022. Hopefully it plays out that way over the course of season.
