The Steelers enter the 2024 season with a new roster, some positions have been overhauled for the better. Others, such as quarterback, come with more questions than answers. That's why in order for the Steelers to meet the high level of urgency to snap a horrid streak of seven consecutive seasons without a playoff win, it'll all begin with defense.
"I approach every season with a big-time sense of urgency," Mike Tomlin said with a laugh during his Tuesday press conference at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. "We'll have an opportunity to put some tape out this weekend that's kind of reflective of that discussion. I'm more of a doer than a talker. Talking glowingly, particularly when you're undefeated this time of year is easy, and I'm not attracted to easy. We're just going to work, and we'll put tape out there that's reflective of our intentions."
In order to preview this Steelers season, I'm breaking this up into two parts. No predictions, no win totals, just breaking down each side of the ball in order to better know what to expect from this team in 2024. The defense is the strength of the team, so I figured it's a good place to start.
I'll break this down position by position, and finally provide a general overview for how and why the defense ought to perform a certain way.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Projected starters:
• DT1: Cam Heyward
• DT2: Larry Ogunjobi
• NT: Keeanu Benton
Notable additions: Dean Lowry
Notable losses: Armon Watts
Rookies: Logan Lee
This is perhaps the weakest portion of the defense, though cornerback poses some issues, too. However, most of the concern rests on a player that's worth betting on.
Heyward, the heart, soul and leader of the defense, played a whole 13 snaps before suffering a serious groin injury on this 14th snap of the 2023 season opener. The injury cost him six games to recover from surgery, then hampered him as he essentially played on one leg for the remainder of the season. Heyward recorded just two sacks on the season, the lowest of his career since 2012 when he wasn't even a starter. His 33 tackles and six tackles for loss were also his lowest marks since the 2016 season when he was limited to just seven games.
Due to Heyward's injury, other interior defenders were forced to step up. For starters, Ogunjobi wound up playing more than expected, logging 767 snaps, the most of any of the team's defensive linemen, and his most since 2019. Ogunjobi recorded three sacks, 43 tackles (three for loss), one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.
Another lineman that was forced to step up, and a bit earlier than expected, was Benton. The second-round rookie was known more for his pass-rushing prowess in college, and immediately became a guy who could help create pressure despite being a nose tackle.
Regardless of who all contributes up front, Heyward returning to form would be the game-changer here. When Heyward's at the top of his game, he's a monster up front. And he believes he still has that type of football left in him. It's why he wanted a contract extension prior to the season. And, he and the Steelers agreed on one, so the team obviously has some belief that he can still be the Cam Heyward we all know.
Even with Heyward banged up, the defensive line is significantly better with him there. In Weeks 1-7 last season, the defense surrendered 137.1 rushing yards per game. After Heyward returned in Week 9, they only allowed 99.6 rushing yards per game. That's with Heyward essentially playing on one leg.
Heyward appears to be healthy heading into the season, so that's a good sign for the defensive line.
Player to watch: Keeanu Benton
In 2023, Benton recorded 14 hurries, seven quarterback hits and two passes batted down at the line of scrimmage. While comparing those numbers to the likes of Ogunjobi, they don't seem very significant. However, Benton recorded his numbers while playing 198 fewer pass rush snaps. And, even for the analytic nerds that hold Pro Football Focus' pass rush win rate in such high esteem, Benton had won 10.5% of his pass rush reps compared to Ogunjobi's 8.4%.
Benton is a breakout candidate in 2024. He looks quicker off the ball and he has had more time to add to his arsenal of pass-rushing moves. Any type of leap forward in his development only makes this unit even stronger.
EDGE DEFENDERS
Projected starters:
• OLB1: T.J. Watt
• OLB2: Alex Highsmith
Notable additions: N/A
Notable losses: Markus Golden
Rookies: N/A
The Steelers didn't make any additions to this spot on the roster, except for a quick reunion with Golden during training camp until he retired less than a week later. However, this is a position in no need of further additions.
Sure, it'd be nice to have a fourth guy, but let's be real here. T.J. Watt is the best defensive player on the planet. He's coming off a season in which he led the NFL in sacks (again), and was a game-wrecker in every sense of the word. As long as the Steelers have this guy on the field, they've got a chance to win. He's that impactful.
Highsmith is still a solid guy on the opposite side of Watt. His sack total dipped in 2023, but he remains a consistent run defender and can still wreak havoc in the backfield. There's little to complain about regarding Highsmith.
Herbig's role will be elevated in his second season. After spending his rookie season primarily on special teams with the occasional snap on defense, Herbig's the unquestioned third edge rusher. Given the workload distribution for Watt and Highsmith, Herbig will get plenty of snaps.
As far as a fourth edge defender goes, Demarvin Leal could get a look. He's been worked at multiple spots up front throughout training camp and the preseason. And, he's impressed a lot of people while doing so.
Player to watch: Nick Herbig
We know what to expect from Watt and Highsmith. Herbig is the type of lightning rod that could be a catalyst for the defense. He just seems to make a play every time he's on the field. He's learned pass-rushing technique from Watt and former Steelers great James Harrison. And Herbig possessing very underrated closing speed to make plays in the flat and close to the line of scrimmage in space.
While Benton's a strong breakout candidate in 2024, Herbig could very well leapfrog him. He could be a budding star.
INSIDE LINEBACKERS
Projected starters:
• ILB1: Patrick Queen
• ILB2: Elandon Roberts
Notable additions: Patrick Queen
Notable losses: Kwon Alexander, Blake Martinez
Rookies: Payton Wilson
There's no denying that inside linebacker's been a position of weakness for this team ever since Ryan Shazier went down with a career-ending injury in 2017. But, with just a couple of moves, this position all of a sudden looks like a formidable strength.
One offseason after adding Cole Holcomb, Roberts and Alexander to the mix, Omar Khan was very active in upgrading the inside linebacker position, making a big splash in free agency by signing Queen to a three-year, $41-million contract. Queen had grown into one of the game's better linebackers over four NFL seasons, so adding a player of his caliber provided a jolt to a position that desperately needed it. But the icing on the cake was stealing him away from the Ravens.
But Khan wasn't done adding to the room. With the 98th overall pick in the NFL Draft, which was acquired from the Eagles in the Kenny Pickett trade, the Steelers selected Wilson out of N.C. State, who was coming off a season in which he won the Butkus Award (top linebacker in the country) and Chuck Bednarik Award (top defensive player in the country). Concerns from other teams over his medicals caused Wilson to nearly fall out of the top 100 in the draft, despite being arguably the most talented and accomplished off-ball linebacker in the class.
Roberts is still in the mix, as he's coming off one of his better seasons. Everyone knew of him as a veteran thumper, but his overall play made him a quality linebacker in all packages. All in all, Roberts led the team with 101 tackles, was second on the team with 10 tackles for loss, had two passes defensed and contributed 2.5 sacks. He was a constant amid a slew of injuries at the position, including season-ending injuries to Holcomb and Alexander.
Tyler Matakevich was brought in this offseason to help boost the quality on special teams, and Mark Robinson made the roster cut as a fifth inside linebacker. Robinson's got potential, and is still relatively new at the position. Now, there's not a lot expected of him, which frees him of high expectations.
As for Holcomb, his future is unknown. He'll start the season on the PUP list as he continues to recover from a horrific leg injury. If he's able to come back and be anything close to what he was, it'll only make the position even stronger. But, the Steelers are at a point in which they aren't having to bank on that.
Player to watch: Payton Wilson
With Wilson, the sky is the limit. The reason he fell so low in the draft was due to a lengthy injury history and reports of him missing an ACL. But outside of those concerns, Wilson checks nearly every box of what NFL teams need from an off-ball linebacker.
Wilson pairs this freak athleticism and speed with football smarts and awareness. He's always got his eyes up, whether it be reading the run or remaining fixated on the quarterback when dropping into zone coverage over the middle. Wilson's a little undersized at 6-4, 233 pounds. But, his potential makes him worth the risk.
"He's a talented guy," Tomlin said Tuesday. "He's a quick and eager learner. He doesn't make a lot of mistakes twice. He's got a skill set that might allow him to contribute particularly in some passing circumstances. He's an easy runner. He can cover people. We'll just continue to carve out a role for him. But, make no mistake, we're excited about the prospects and his talent level."
CORNERBACKS
Projected starters:
• CB1: Joey Porter Jr.
• CB2: Donte Jackson
• Nickel: Beanie Bishop
Notable additions: Donte Jackson, Cam Sutton
Notable losses: Levi Wallace, Patrick Peterson, Chandon Sullivan, James Pierre
Rookies: Beanie Bishop
Porter's emergence as a legitimate shutdown cornerback as a rookie gives the Steelers stability on at least one side here. He may have only intercepted one pass, but quarterbacks only had a 65.9 passer rating when throwing in his direction. And that's while he earned the right to take on each team's No. 1 receiver on a weekly basis.
However, the Steelers were very weak opposite Porter. Neither Levi Wallace nor Patrick Peterson became an answer over there, creating a large void in the secondary. Khan addressed that in the Diontae Johnson trade, acquiring Jackson from the Panthers.
Jackson came into the league with a 4.32 40-yard dash, which is elite speed. He's not quite as fast as he was then, and dealt with an Achilles injury in 2022. But, even as recent as last season, Jackson still showed the ability to run with a lot of receivers. And, he's very good at using the sideline to his advantage. Jackson's a smart football player, and he's much stronger playing off the ball, which he did often in Carolina.
The pair of Porter and Jackson give the Steelers a solid starting duo at cornerback. Nickel corner is a different story. Cam Sutton was inititally brought back to play that role, but the reason he was even available was because the Lions released him from a three-year, $33-million contract signed the prior offseason due to a domestic violence charge. While the Steelers brought him back to Pittsburgh, Sutton was suspended for the first eight games of the season. Sutton did not appeal, so he won't be available for nearly half the season.
Undrafted rookie Beanie Bishop will assume the role to start the season. He started training camp with impressive play there to throw his name into consideration, though Tomlin preferred guys such as Grayland Arnold at that spot. However, injuries paved the way for Bishop to earn that spot when the roster was cut down to 53 players. Bishop's skill set fits the nickel corner role better than lining up outside, but he's got a lot to prove in order to keep that spot. This is the most concerning position on the defense to start the season, especially since the Steelers line up in their nickel package more often than anything else, including their base 3-4 defense.
Cory Trice Jr. and Darius Rush are two young cornerbacks to provide some depth behind Porter and Jackson, with Trice having the upper hand over Rush. Trice has flashed some potential throughout the preseason, but is coming off a major knee injury, so he's got a lot to prove.
Player to watch: Joey Porter Jr.
Trice is a good candidate here, but Porter has the potential to turn into a superstar.
By season's end last year, Porter played a total of 535 coverage snaps and was targeted only 53 times, which is 10.1 snaps per target. In other words, quarterbacks weren't throwing in his direction, even though Porter earned the right to follow around the opponent's top receiver a vast majority of the time. On those 53 targets, Porter allowed 24 catches, 45.3% of the targets, for 352 yards and one touchdown. And, as previously stated, quarterbacks posted a 65.9 passer rating when targeting Porter.
Want to understand the significance of these numbers? In Sauce Gardner's rookie year -- a year in which Gardner won Defensive Rookie of the Year for three different news outlets, was named first team All-Pro and finished eighth in Defensive Player of the Year voting -- he played 642 coverage snaps and was targeted 73 times (8.8 snaps per target), allowing 33 catches for 361 yards and one touchdown. That's 45.2% of the targets that were caught, an almost identical number to Porter's. Gardner had two interceptions (Porter only had one), which helped Gardner post a ridiculous 53.5 passer rating against when targeted.
Porter's numbers weren't quite as good as Gardner's. The Jets' star cornerback not only had one more interception, he had 14 pass breakups while Porter only had six. But, Porter was very much in the same ballpark as Gardner. And as for his tackling issues, Porter missed only 5.6% of his tackle opportunities from the time he became a starter in Week 8 through the end of the season.
Any jump forward for Porter, and the Steelers have a potential All-Pro on their hands.
SAFETIES
Projected starters:
• Strong safety: DeShon Elliott
• Free safety: Minkah Fitzpatrick
Notable additions: DeShon Elliott
Notable losses: Keanu Neal
Rookies: Ryan Watts (injured reserve)
We all know what Fitzpatrick is capable of. When he's at the top of his game, he's arguably the best safety in the game.
Now, he's got a more formidable partner in crime. Adding DeShon Elliott to the mix gives the Steelers one of the better strong safeties they've had in a long time, perhaps the best since Troy Polamalu.
Elliott's an instinctive player in both run and pass defense, and possesses exceptional closing speed. He's a much better run defender than he is in coverage, having the ability to read, react and make tackles in space. And, he only missed 8.7% of his tackles last season, according to Pro Football Focus, and is coming off his two best seasons in that regard.
While he's more inconsistent in coverage, he can react quickly and close in fast on plays in front of him. And, he still had six pass breakups last season, which is half of his career total. He's not a liability back there.
In addition, adding Elliott gives the Steelers the ability to run back the three-safety package with him, Fitzpatrick and Damontae Kazee, with Elliott serving in place of where Terrell Edmunds played when the defense utilized the package two seasons ago. This is the Steelers' answer for playing out of the nickel while still maintaining flexibility to defend the run better while being able to also be ready for the pass.
Miles Killebrew is in this group, too. But, he's on the roster to be a special teams ace. He's an All-Pro there for a reason, and it's why he's one of the Steelers' four captains.
Watts won't get a chance to contribute after being drafted in the sixth-round in April. He suffered a season-ending neck injury in the preseason finale in Detroit.
Player to watch: Minkah Fitzpatrick
Yes, we all know Fitzpatrick's great. There's not much else to learn about his game. But he's coming off a rather disappointing season.
For the first time in his six-year NFL career, Fitzpatrick failed to force any turnovers, putting up zeros in interceptions, forced fumbles and fumble recoveries, and he turned in career lows with three passes defensed and 64 tackles. There's no doubt that part of the problem was Fitzpatrick playing a career-low 10 games due to various injuries, and even played less than 100% at times. But injuries only tell half the story.
Teryl Austin admitted this offseason that they played Fitzpatrick out of position in 2023, and that they "want to get back to really what makes him special."
It doesn't take much digging to find a huge discrepancy in Fitzpatrick's usage. While he played the vast majority of his snaps at the traditional free safety position from the time the Steelers acquired Fitzpatrick in 2019, he spent significantly more time playing out of that position in 2023.
Fitzpatrick lined up in the box or in the slot 49.7% of the time last season, according to Pro Football Focus. Compare that to percentages of 29.1% in 2022, 19.7% in 2021, 21.2% in 2020 and 14.6% post-trade in 2019. That's a vast shift in how Fitzpatrick was used.
This season, Fitzpatrick will be lining back up in his traditional free safety position. He's a player to watch because when he's able to be a ball hawk in center field, that's when he's at his best. And that's reason to believe this defense could reap the benefits from it.
DEFENSIVE OVERVIEW
By most standards, this defense underperformed last season. They ranked 19th against the run, 17th against the pass and 21st in overall defense. For the most expensive defense in the NFL, they have to be better.
However, they ranked sixth in scoring and fifth in red zone defense. And, the advanced metrics looked pretty good, too. They ranked seventh in EPA/play, eighth in overall success rate against and dropback EPA, ninth in dropback success rate against and fifth in rushing success rate against.
With an improved roster on the defensive side of the ball, all they need is to stay healthy and this has the potential to be a top-five defense in the NFL. It's very realistic for them to build off of these numbers, especially when the metrics are so promising. They can get after the quarterback and they should be able to take the ball away plenty, too. Even last year, they finished only four takeaways behind the Ravens and Giants for the league lead, and that was without Fitzpatrick recording any takeaways.
As I said, the only thing that should be standing in the way of this being a great defense is injuries. And, if a team doesn't have a legitimate franchise quarterback, the history of the game says the best way to compete is with dominant defense.
They can do that part. Now, about the offense, well, that's a different story.
For a preview of the offense, ► READ HERE
