Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro safety, Minkah Fitzpatrick led the NFL in interceptions in the 2022 season with six. Through five games in 2023, the star safety, who has amassed 17 picks in 66 starts since his trade to Pittsburgh from the Miami Dolphins, has yet to collect one. One reporter who covers the team thinks that Pittsburgh's poor start to the season stopping the run has forced them to play Fitzpatrick in spots that aren't conducive to him being able to roam the field in search of turnovers.
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Steelers star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick communicates with his teammates in a 2022 regular season game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Steelers beat writer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Ray Fittipaldo joined Christopher Carter on The North Shore Drive Podcast on Monday morning and broke down why he thinks the team is misusing their star playmaking safety so far in 2023. He said that the Steelers' run defense, which ranks 29th in yards against after six weeks of the season, is playing a big part in a change of usage that is overall detrimental to the Alabama alum.
"They're moving him around the secondary," he said. "He's been in the slot more this year than in previous years. He's just had to provide more run support than what they would like."
Fittipaldo expanded saying that the defense hasn't had enough situations this year where they put opposing offenses in tough positions with down and distance to allow Fitzpatrick to play his usual center-fielder role. He currently leads the team in tackles with 41, but Fittiplado said that's not something Pittsburgh should be thrilled about.
"Whatever the reason is, you have got to do everything within your power to put Fitzpatrick in the role where he can help this defense best and that’s not leading the team in tackles," he said. "It’s great that he can take on that role, but they’re paying him $18 million a year to create turnovers to set up the offense and score touchdowns."
Fittipaldo highlighted Fitzpatrick's four defensive touchdowns since he joined the team as a huge positive, but added that he's not in a position to make those plays with what he's being asked to do in run support. If the Steelers want to get their true playmaking safety back, they're going to have to find other ways to cover the slot position and free up Fitzpatrick to roam for interceptions.
Steelers Finding Right Mix In Secondary Key To Utilizing Fitzpatrick Properly
The team is still searching for the right way to deploy all of their players in the secondary and find the right player or mix of players to occupy the slot corner role. Chandon Sullivan was brought in as a free agent to compete for the role. He flashed in the preseason with an interception, but has largely struggled so far in the regular season.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers cornerback Chandon Sullivan celebrates his interception of Buffalo Bills quarterback Matt Barkley during a preseason game in 2023.
The team has some other options they can try at slot corner as it stands. Desmond King II was picked up after the Houston Texans dropped him. The 2018 First Team All-Pro has only been on the field for one defensive play so far according to Pro Football Reference. He is currently listed as the co-starter at nickel cornerback on the team depth chart and getting some time to catch up during the bye week could see him get more playing time moving forward.
Elijah Riley is the backup nickel corner and he showed some flashes in the preseason too. He's played sparingly with just 10 defensive snaps, but his bigger frame could be more useful as a run-stopper.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers rookie cornerback Joey Porter Jr. intercepts a pass against the Baltimore Ravens in a Week 5 victory at Acrisure Stadium.
The potential key to sorting out the personnel in the secondary according to Fittipaldo is Joey Porter Jr. getting more reps at the outside cornerback position. Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin said during the bye week he's not ready to name Porter a starter yet, but giving him more time could unlock Patrick Peterson for some usage in the slot.
It doesn't matter how the coaching staff decides to divide up the slot corner role, but it's clear that if they want to unleash the playmaking ability of Fitzpatrick, they need one of the guys mentioned above to truly grab a hold of it.
Do you think Pittsburgh is misusing their star safety this season? How would you try to free up Fitzpatrick to get more interceptions? Comment below!
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