The Pittsburgh Steelers historically have been known for a solid rushing attack and stifling defense. The "Steel Curtain" might have originated in the 1970s, but the Steelers still represent that style of play the best. In 2022, this should be no different. If the Steelers are going to have a successful campaign this season, it will be on the backs of Najee Harris, the rushing attack and the defense that's absolutely loaded with talent on all three levels! The NFL's Reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Steelers' Superstar TJ Watt has one goal in mind for this upcoming season.
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“We got to win a Super Bowl, simple as that," Watt stated on how he'd follow up his 2021 DPOY season.
Despite Watt winning the NFL's DPOY, the Steelers' defense struggled and ranked the lowest in 33 years. The Steelers have their work cut out for them to be much improved in this upcoming season. The defense has the superstars and the additional pieces to be a dominant group this season. DL Cam Heyward, FS Minkah Fitzpatrick and Watt have been among the top players at each of their respective positions for the past several years.
“With the defensive player of year [T.J. Watt] and you have guys like Minkah, those are standout pieces,” Heyward stated via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “But I like to think we got a lot more than that.”
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“We have all the talent in the world, all the experience in the world,” Fitzpatrick said Monday as the Steelers opened the third week of training camp. “It’s going to be a solid, solid defense all around the board.”
Steelers' HC Mike Tomlin has high expectations for his defense this season as well; he expects dominance on that side of the ball.
“I think it’s a reasonable expectation for us to play great defense,” Tomlin said on the WDVE morning show via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “Those are our intentions. We’re not going to be bashful about stating that as an expectation, and we’re not going to run away from it; we’re going to run to it.”“We have the men, not only in personnel but in schematics and coaching," Tomlin continued. "I expect them to be dominant.”
One of the additional pieces that I referenced above, DL Chris Wormley will be a vital piece to the Steelers' defensive line rotation as the team looks for ways to replace Stephon Tuitt. He reiterated what his teammates and head coach had to say about the potential of this Steelers' defense.
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“I think we all have high expectations,” Wormley said. “Top five or better is what we’re looking for, and I know we got the guys to do that.”“He expects us to be great with the guys that we have at all three levels,” Wormley continued on Tomlin. “We have some pretty dominant players and a lot of guys that can play great ball. We’ve been working toward greatness, and that’s what we expect of ourselves.”
The Steelers' defensive ranking took a huge hit last season due to the weakness of the run defense. The team's run defense ranked dead last in the NFL a season ago as they allowed 5-yards per carry to opposing offenses. That's the first point of attack for the Steelers to become one of the NFL's best defensive units this season!
What are yinz thoughts on the Steelers' defensive playmakers and Tomlin expecting greatness in 2022? Sound off in the comment section below, or on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram!
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