Electrifying. That is the best way to describe the Steelers defensively in their week one matchup with the Bengals. However, we saw a much different Steelers defense this past Sunday against the Patriots. They weren’t nearly as tantalizing and couldn’t seem to keep the Pats from marching down the field.
Watt’s Absence
Whenever you lose such a pivotal player like TJ Watt, you are going to feel it. As everyone knows, Watt suffered a torn pec in week one and was put on the IR last week. His absence against the Patriots was felt as the Steelers couldn’t get pressure on Mac Jones, recording zero sacks in the contest. This was a game where Steelers fans were hoping to see players like Alex Highsmith step up and try to fill the void, but that was not the case.
Defensive Secondary a Step Behind
For the entirety of the game, it seemed as though Steelers defensive backs were a step behind. They seemed to be trying to stop the run after the catch rather than the catch itself. I often noticed their DBs were playing too far off receivers which in turn gave Jones easy passing lanes. Additionally, with the non-existent pressure on the quarterback, you can’t expect to stop teams from marching down the field and putting points on the board.
Going Forward Defensively
Going from tallying four interceptions and seven sacks to one interception and no sacks is unacceptable. With Watt out for the foreseeable future, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Cam Heyward will have to rally the defense to play at a higher level. They will need to get more pressure on the QB which will cause more errant throws if not sacks. The Steelers face a division rival in the Browns next week as underdogs, where we will see if they can get back to their week one antics.
For More Great Football Content
Follow us on Twitter at @GridironHeroics for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Football news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE
For More Great Football Content
Follow us on Twitter at @GridironHeroics for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Football news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE
