The Pittsburgh Steelers made a pair of changes to the defensive side of head coach, Mike Tomlin's staff on Monday. The team promoted Denzel Martin to outside linebackers coach and hired Jason Brooks in a quality control role. Brooks is coming over from the Baltimore Ravens after having a couple of different jobs in two different tenures with the Ravens.
Photo Credit: Steelers.com
Steelers' new defensive quality control coach, Jason Brooks, comes to Pittsburgh after two separate stints with the Ravens.
After four years as the Steelers assistant OLB coach, Denzel Martin has been promoted to OLB coach. He's been with the team eight years total, starting out as a scout.
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) March 20, 2023
Steelers also announce the hire of Jason Brooks, previously with the Ravens, as defensive quality control coach
Martin, as ESPN's Brooke Pryor points out has been with the Steelers for eight years, spending four as the assistant to the job he's got now and four more before that as a scout. He played in just one game in his college career at the University of Missouri but had an important role in leading the scout team while being a part of a program that has meant a lot to his family. Martin, a St. Louis native, graduated with a degree in interdisciplinary studies before getting his Master's in Education while serving as a graduate assistant.
Photo Credit: Steelers.com
Steelers' new outside linebacker coach Denzel Martin.
Brooks has been around football his whole life. His father, Clarence coached in the NFL for 25 years with the Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, and Ravens. The father-son duo was on the staff for Baltimore's championship in 2012 with the elder Brooks serving as defensive line coach and the younger as an offensive quality control assistant. He has also served in collegiate coaching roles with Charleston Southern, Colby College, Florida International, and Norwich University.
Peter Diana / Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Steelers Teryl Austin talks with defensive backs
Is The Steelers Defensive Coordinator Chair Getting A Little Warm?
Defensive coordinator, Teryl Austin seems to be off the hook in the national media despite the unit trending downwards in 2022. Yes, that was with arguably the most important player on the defense, TJ Watt, out for a good chunk of the season, but that's no excuse. There's always a question about how much influence Tomlin has on the unit, but with these coaching moves it's fair to wonder if the front office is putting some pressure on Austin.
There were bound to be some changes to the defensive coaching staff in the offseason following the departure of Brian Flores to the Minnesota Vikings as he took their vacant defensive coordinator post. If the Steelers truly thought wanted to keep Flores, they would've had to have moved on from Austin much earlier in the offseason program.
The team also brought in former Seattle Seahawks first-round draft choice Aaron Curry to soften the blow of losing Flores, who had been in charge of the linebacking group.
While more moves could still be made, as it sits now, Austin's staff is Martin, Curry, and Brooks as well as veteran defensive line coach and rising star defensive backs coach, Grady Brown.
So, Steeler Nation, do you like the moves to add some experience from both inside and outside the organization to the defensive coaching staff? Is Austin under pressure if the unit struggles early in 2023? Who would you have promoted to take over if Austin does get fired? Let us know in the comments or on our social media.
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