Steelers' Insider Reveals Team's Fresh Defensive Pivot That Should Terrify AFC North Receivers In 2023

For the Pittsburgh Steelers, the secondary portion of the defense has been wildly inconsistent over the years. Further, that part of the defense seems to either be the hero in closing out big games or the scapegoat after allowing opposing quarterbacks to pick them apart. In recent history, fans’ minds may think back to the historic defenses of the 2005 and 2008 seasons as having arguably the most reliable secondary in some time. 

Some names we can include in that breath are Ike Taylor, Deshea Townsend, Bryant McFadden and William Gay, to name a few. But since then, there has been multiple shifts in philosophies in the Steelers’ hunt for a similar cornerback room. It looks like there is another shift taking place heading into the 2023 season.

The Steelers’ cornerback room has already seen a mirage of musical chairs before camp has kicked off. Those include departures featuring a pair of starters from the past two seasons in Cameron Sutton and Arthur Maulet. In addition, the Steelers’ traded for Ahkello Witherspoon in 2019, only to cut ties from him in early May. 

In turn, they welcomed free agent, Patrick Peterson to Pittsburgh, as well as using two draft picks in this year’s draft on Joey Porter Jr. and Cory Trice Jr. With those new faces joining the team in 2023, paired with other signings in the secondary including the re-signing of Damontae Kazee and addition of Keanu Neal, this is where the new change of philosophy is beginning to be revealed as to how the Steelers want to play defense.

If we start by looking at the AFC North division, there has been a recent focus of creating top-tier wide receiver groups across the teams. The Cincinnati Bengals have been recent beneficiaries of that focus in the creation of a top-tier group featuring Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd. The Cleveland Browns traded for Amari Cooper in 2022 and include more pieces around him in Donovan Peoples-Jones, Elijah Moore and Cedric Tillman, who was drafted in 2023. 

The Baltimore Ravens made a strong effort to bolster their own receiving corps this spring by signing Odell Breckham Jr. and drafting Zay Flowers to run with Rashod Bateman. With each divisional team bringing strong receiver groups into 2023, the Steelers need to be prepared for what they’ll face six times in the upcoming season.

The Steelers Are Bringing A Fresh Philosophy To The Defense In 2023

Recently, longtime Steelers' insider Mark Kaboly of The Athletic joined Zig Fracassi and Alex Marvez on Sirius XM’s The Endzone. As a part of the segment, Marvez and Fracassi asked Kaboly about different parts of the roster and what the offseason moves indicate for 2023. Naturally, the secondary and cornerback room came to light. As a part of that, the history of the Steelers’ secondary came into focus in the form of whether or not the secondary will be the Steelers’ strength or weakness this season. Kaboly shared his thoughts on the matter.

“I think its pretty much a strength. They lost Cam Sutton to Detroit because Detroit paid him a ton of money,” he explained. “They wanted to keep him, but had to pivot a little bit when that happened. They got Patrick Peterson in. He’s a vet. They’re going to be able to move him in different parts of the defense. They have Levi Wallace they got from Buffalo last year. They love him. Of course, they drafted Joey Porter Jr. who very well could be a starter week one on the outside.”

Here is where the ‘pivot’ Kaboly mentioned comes into play. The measurables between each of the new cornerbacks that were added include every presumed starter as standing over six feet tall and weighing at least 200 pounds. Porter Jr. is the lightest entering camp, at roughly 200 pounds, with Peterson and Trice Jr. each weighing well over 200 pounds. 

For reference, in 2022, the ‘heaviest’ cornerback on the Steelers was Witherspoon at 195 pounds. If you’re noticing a trend, you are onto something; the Steelers are clearly looking at getting bigger on the outside and maintaining a tough, physical presence inside the box. Kaboly continued on that notion in talking about the secondary as a whole.

“They signed Keanu Neal, who might take up a little bit of that flex in the box, more of a stronger guy than say, Arthur Maulet was. So, I think there’s potential there, it’s just a matter of where they’re going to fit that right now,” Kaboly said. “I think where they’re going at it. They want bigger, tougher, cornerbacks and that’s what they got. They drafted Cory Trice Jr. out of Purdue. He’s like 6’3”, 220. Joey Porter Jr. like 6’2”, 200.”

“I think it may have been a bit of a pivot there so to speak to how they want to play defense with their corners. I think they’re pretty happy with their secondary,” Kaboly concluded.

The Steelers’ logic makes sense. Head Coach, Mike Tomlin knows the value of winning those tough games within the division and what they mean towards a December playoff push. Looking outside the division, the Steelers aren’t set to face any other offense that’ll necessarily blow the doors off the defense. Therefore, Tomlin and the Steelers are seemingly looking to simplify the schedule this season in how they’ll craft the cornerback room. 

If they can create a formula to be tougher, more physical and stand as tall as the top receivers in the division, everything else will take care of itself come the playoffs. This will certainly be fun to watch as we inch closer to the preseason slate of games.

Do you like this new pivot the Steelers took to the cornerback room? Do you think Joey Porter Jr. will be a starter in the first game? Let us know in the comments below!

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