Steelers' Teryl Austin Seems Unsure About Defense's Ability To Replicate Sensational Minkah Fitzpatrick

The Pittsburgh Steelers walked away from their 2023 Week 8 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars with a few extra bumps and bruises, but two in particular cut deeper. Kenny Pickett expressed that he believes fully that he will be available for Pittsburgh's Week 9 matchup with the Tennessee Titans. However, their jack of all trades in the secondary, Minkah Fitzpatrick, will not be on the field for the Titans clash. Steelers Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin didn't express too much confidence when he spoke about the defensive game plan ahead of Thursday's Week 9 game.

Steelers Challenged To Recreate Fitzpatrick's Impact

When Fitzpatrick went down with a hamstring injury in the first quarter of their defeat to the Jaguars, the ripples were immediate and widespread. 2023 hasn't been a year to remember for Pittsburgh so far anyway, but without Fitzpatrick, the secondary lost its superstar and big-play catalyst. Mike Tomlin confirmed that the injury would keep him out of Thursday night's matchup against the Titans, but that isn't where the impact from the injury stops.

Austin spoke on Tuesday about what it would take not to lose too much of what Fitzpatrick brought to the table, and he admitted the difficulty of the task before both himself and the defense. As expected, rather than try and put it all onto a single player to replicate, it will be teamwork that tries to make Fitzpatrick's absence less painful.

That wasn't anything unexpected; no one assumed anyone else on Pittsburgh's roster would be able to do what Fitzpatrick does. However, as Austin continued, it would have been great to hear something more than mild assurance in his words. Considering that the Steelers are 4-3 and haven't looked the part of a contender all season, fans would like to hear that the defense will be prepared with a surefire plan on Thursday night. Instead, Austin described the work as achievable and not much more when he was asked what the possible negative impact was on the other defensive players.

"In terms of the other guys, it may put a little more on their plate in terms of where they have to be and how they have to get there. I think it’s doable."

Austin won't be expected to negate Fitzpatrick not playing altogether, but in terms of putting together a plan to ensure that the Titans don't carve the Steelers up, some direct confidence would be welcome right about now. Instead, Austin sees the challenge as doable, and that doesn't feel like enough.

Steelers Will Be Pressed For Time Defensively

The quick week is never something that NFL teams look forward to, but considering how early teams know their schedules, you expect professionalism when those moments arrive. Pittsburgh was dealt an extra blow with Fitzpatrick's extended injury, but that doesn't mean that the shortened week suddenly crept up on anyone. Having less time to prepare, especially without Fitzpatrick, isn't something that anyone considers easy, but the answers Austin gave regarding the timing issue didn't seem sufficient for someone leading one of the league's most expensive defenses. 

“We’ll be working this right up until game time in terms of the things they’re going to do and what they’re comfortable with. We won’t have as much time, but I think we have enough time to get what we need done.”

Let's all hope that Austin feels better about the situation when the Thursday night game kicks off because, at the moment, the entire mood seems incredibly unsure and more of a wait-and-see attitude than some fans feel comfortable with. There is a fine line between giving the benefit of the doubt and considering the magnitude of the loss to the secondary. However, the amount of their defensive game plan that was built around Fitzpatrick had to include some preparation for injury or what would happen when Fitzpatrick wasn't able to be out there.

During their 2023 training camp, Fitzpatrick touched on the difficult nature of Pittsburgh's defense and how each piece was vital to the final product. Now, on this side of Fitzpatrick's injury, it becomes all the more critical for Austin and his assistants to go back to the drawing board and ensure that their defense is up to the challenge.

“It allows all of us to do whatever we want to do, honestly. If [Neal] wants to blitz, I can come down in coverage. If [Neal] wants to stay in coverage, I can go work in the box and do different things in the box. I can be in the post. It allows us to not be static. Offenses are not able to predict what we’re in. Chess pieces. Interchangeable chess pieces.”

The Steelers don't have all their chess pieces on the board right now, and it will be up to Austin to show the kind of defensive coordinator he is with whatever occurs defensively on Thursday night. Pittsburgh is struggling to stay over .500 right now, and at 4-3, they are doing a dangerous balancing act. The way the defense responds to this adversity may spell out the direction that the remainder of 2023 takes, which means the Steelers have never needed TJ Watt more.

How many points will Pittsburgh's defense give up to the Titans without Fitzpatrick on the field? Comment below!

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