One of the biggest storylines ahead of the Pittsburgh Steelers matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6 was that Mike Tomlin's team was absolutely decimated with injuries in the secondary. Minkah Fitzpatrick, Cameron Sutton, Levi Wallace and Ahkello Witherspoon all were inactive for the game and it seemed the defense was set up to be torn apart by Tom Brady and his offensive weapons. That was far from the case as several guys stepped up who were not expected to be key pieces of the secondary heading into the season. The group did a heck of a job containing the Buccaneers offense.
Steelers cornerback, Arthur Maulet (#35) lines up on defense during a 2022 regular season game against the New York Jets at Acrisure Stadium on Oct. 2, 2022. | Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
One of the guys who played great for the Steelers against Tampa was Arthur Maulet. His important performance came a week after criticizing his teammates in the locker room after a 38-3 blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills. He had just three tackles, but was solid against the pass and backed up his talk from the week prior. He credited the secondary as a whole for not allowing Brady to utilize the entire field on offense.
"He didn't take a ton of shots. I think we did a good job of keeping a lid over the top of the defense, just rallying down, making tackles and gang tackling," Maulet said to the media on Monday afternoon.
Josh Jackson, who was elevated from the practice squad before the Bills game, also was a factor in the defense's impressive play on Sunday. Tomlin said in his postgame press conference that he was extremely impressed with the group that he put out on the field.
"I can’t say enough about that secondary group we had out there today. It was a great opportunity for a lot of those guys. First opportunity in some instances, redemption in some instances, guys getting an opportunity back in the fold. Guys that hadn’t been a part of us like Josh Jackson being one. Just can”t say enough about what they were able to do collectively. It’s a challenge when you play Tom Brady."
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 09: Josh Jackson #16 of the Pittsburgh Steelers is tackled by Stefon Diggs #14 of the Buffalo Bills after a fumble recovery during the third quarter at Highmark Stadium on October 09, 2022 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
Jackson believed it was a complete group effort throughout the contest.
"We knew we had a big task, so we had to individually step up to the plate. As a collective, step up to the plate, we had to trust each other and communicate. We had to let go of our individual perspective and have a group perspective to get the job done," Jackson said on Monday.
Brady started the game going just 3/10 in the passing game and for a guy who has torched the Steelers for the majority of his career, it was certainly a good feeling in Pittsburgh to hold his offense to just 18 points and 243 passing yards.
James Pierre was targeted seven times allowing just three receptions to go for 29 yards and the only starting member of the secondary, Terrell Edmunds played like the veteran that the defense needed him to. He led the team with 10 tackles including an impressive tackle for loss against Leonard Fournette.
Aug 21, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Terrell Edmunds (34) reacts after a defensive stop against the Detroit Lions during the second quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Tomlin was very pleased with what he saw from Edmunds.
"Man, he had to be a hub of communication. He was the only regular back there and I'm just appreciative and not only that, but he was coming off of missed action himself. I just thought he did a good job of keeping the group cool today and communicating in that calm and soothing voice that's needed sometimes when you're in a huddle with some young people."
How impressed were you with the Steelers makeshift secondary on Sunday afternoon against the Bucs? Let us know in the comments below!
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