The Pittsburgh Steelers have a unique approach to winning compared to other teams in the NFL. While most teams invest heavily on the offensive side of the ball, the Steelers focus goes towards their defense. Head Coach Mike Tomlin has always preached a defensive philosophy, and since joining the organization has boasted several top units that have at times been forced to carry the load.
AP
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin, left, and former Defensive Coordinator, Dick LeBeau, talk on the sideline during a 2010 preseason game.
The 2024 Steelers look to be headed in that same direction, with the defense being tasked to keep the team in games until the very end. The highest paid defense in the NFL made several standout signings and draft selections to ideally bring the unit back to its top five form. Linebackers Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson were brought in to fill the hole left by injuries at the position over the past few seasons, while DeShon Elliott was signed to provide more versatility in the secondary.
Though the Steelers certainly got better on paper, there has been little done to improve an aging defensive line. In his weekly Steelers Chat, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, discussed the team's defense, and its ability to consistently hold opponents to under 21 points per game.
"That's what we are going to find out. I think Patrick Queen may be the biggest addition of the offseason, but nothing has been done to improve the defensive line."
The Steelers did make depth additions to the defensive line in defensive tackles Dean Lowry in free agency, and drafting Logan Lee out of Iowa, but failed to add any significant playmaker to the room. In fact, there is an argument to be made that the defensive line got worse due to the contract situation of Cam Heyward, who has sat out portions of early offseason activities in hopes of receiving a new deal.
Lucy Schaly / Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward is the definition of what it means to be a Steelers player.
Keeanu Benton had a solid rookie season with the team in 2023, and the Steelers have several other players with something to prove on the roster. With nothing concrete on paper to validate the potential of certain players however, it feels as though the team has done nothing more than put a Band-Aid over the problem, rather than outright fixing it.
The Steelers' Philosophy In 2024
Long gone are the days of Joe Greene or Casey Hampton patrolling the defensive line. In a league that now puts so much more emphasis on throwing the ball deep, the focus on defense has similarly shifted towards the secondary and bringing down the quarterback. The Steelers have players who can get after the quarterback, and have been adamant in bolstering the secondary. They seem to have forgotten about the other offensive phase, however.
Associated Press
“Mean” Joe Greene was a cornerstone of Pittsburgh’s Steel Curtain in the ’70s.
The Steelers have had trouble over the past few seasons in stopping the run, especially when Heyward is absent on the field. Being prepared for life without the 35 year old veteran is something the team is likely not ready for, which puts Heyward in the driver's seat for his contract extension. There have been attempts to create a succession plan over the years, but between cap constraints, and failure to live up to potential, the franchise has yet to come up with a future solution at the position.
It's unlikely that anything more gets done this offseason on the defensive side of the ball, unless an injury happens prior to Week 1. For the Steelers to return to a top unit though, they must get back to what helped them to become the dynasty of the '70s and one of the most feared teams of the early 2000s: being tenacious on defense, stopping the run, and creating havoc for opposing quarterbacks.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter / x: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Despite plenty of talent for Steelers defensive lineman, DeMarvin Leal, he has disappointed in the early portions of his career.
It's been understandable that there have been more pressing needs on the offensive side of the ball over the past few seasons, but not addressing the defensive line may become a bigger problem than expected if a solution isn't found soon. Bringing in players to play on either side of the line isn't usually seen as the "sexy" pick, but it's a valuable portion of the team the Steelers simply haven't put enough effort into lately. Omar Khan, who has put an emphasis on bolstering the trenches since taking over at general manager, seems to be the man to solve that problem in Pittsburgh.
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